2024 MINI Countryman vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 MINI Countryman exuded a playful charm, staying true to its British roots with classic Mini styling cues. Its design featured an erect wraparound windshield, a floating roof reminiscent of a bimini top, and Union Jack tail lights that proudly declared its heritage. The Countryman offered a variety of customization options, including numerous paint treatments and wheel designs, although it was peculiar that dark tinted rear privacy glass was optional rather than standard. Inside, the Countryman maintained its retro appeal with digital instrumentation, an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a design that was unmistakably Mini. The Iconic trim added premium touches like leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and a dual-panel moonroof, enhancing the overall experience.

In contrast, the 2025 Land Rover Defender presented a rugged and robust appearance, with the Defender 110 four-door model striking a balance in design. The Defender lineup allowed for extensive customization, with base prices ranging from $58,525 to $153,625 for the new Defender OCTA. Our test vehicle, a Defender 130 in X trim, featured the Extended Black Exterior Pack and upgraded interior materials. The Defender's interior embraced an industrial theme, with quality materials and a purposeful design. The cabin was spacious, offering three rows of seating and a panoramic sunroof that bathed the interior in natural light. Despite its rugged exterior, the Defender's interior provided a sense of openness and comfort, making it a versatile choice for both urban and off-road adventures.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered a range of powertrains, with the John Cooper Works (JCW) model standing out for its performance. The JCW featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 301 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed sport automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. It could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds, making it the choice for those seeking speed. The Cooper S model, with its 189 horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, provided a zippy and athletic driving experience, reaching 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. While the Countryman excelled in daily commuting and errand-running, it wasn't designed for off-road adventures. The test vehicle achieved an EPA fuel economy rating of 28 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing yielded 25.4 mpg.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender, on the other hand, boasted a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system, delivering 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive, provided robust acceleration and a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds. The Defender 130 X accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. Equipped with an adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes, the Defender excelled in off-road capability. It offered impressive ground clearance and wading depth, making it a formidable off-road vehicle. However, on-road performance was less engaging, with a focus on comfort and stability rather than spirited driving. The test vehicle achieved an observed fuel economy of 16.2 mpg, falling short of the expected 19 mpg.

Inside the 2024 MINI Countryman, there was room for four adults and their luggage for a week-long road trip. The Iconic trim added dual-zone automatic climate control, premium leather upholstery, and power-adjustable heated front seats. While the Countryman had seatbelts for five, it was more comfortable for four passengers. The rear seat offered ample legroom and foot space, but squeezing in a fifth person was challenging. The Countryman provided reasonable interior storage, though the smartphone charging pad blocked access to the tray beneath it. Cargo space was limited, with 17.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 47.6 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 offered three rows of spacious seating, with 12-way power-adjustable front seats featuring heating and ventilation. The Defender's tall seating position provided excellent forward visibility, though the square side mirrors seemed undersized. The test vehicle included a Clearsight digital rearview mirror and a surround-view camera system, enhancing visibility and ease of parking. The Defender's interior felt open and airy, thanks to the panoramic sunroof and large windows. While storage space was plentiful for the driver and front passenger, it was less accommodating for rear passengers. The Defender 130 excelled in third-row seat accessibility and comfort, offering a heated and roomy third row. Cargo space was limited, with 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row and 89 cubic feet with all rear seats folded.

The 2024 MINI Countryman featured a digital instrumentation display and a head-up display projecting information on a small screen. The 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed in a round casing reminiscent of classic Mini models, used BMW's iDrive technology. It offered multiple ways to interact, including touchscreen, steering wheel controls, and voice recognition. While the system lacked Android Auto, it provided Apple CarPlay connectivity. The Iconic trim included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, delivering excellent audio quality.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was equipped with the Pivi Pro infotainment system, accessible via an 11.4-inch touchscreen. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and connected services. The system's response to voice commands was slower than desired, but its accuracy was impressive. The user experience was more intuitive, with fewer dead ends. The Defender's Meridian premium sound system provided excellent audio quality. Additional features included a head-up display, a ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system, enhancing visibility and ease of use.

The 2024 MINI Countryman came with Active Driving Assistant, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Rear parking sensors and an emergency SOS call button were also standard. Adaptive cruise control was available on higher trims. The Countryman lacked blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view camera system. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Countryman as Good in crashworthiness evaluations.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured a comprehensive suite of driver aids, including automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. A Driver Assistance Mode menu allowed customization of assistance levels. The lane-keep assist decisively corrected potential lane departures, though it occasionally attempted to steer the vehicle into a turnout area. Crash-test ratings for the Defender were unavailable at the time of testing.