2024 MINI Countryman vs 2025 Subaru Outback

The 2024 MINI Countryman exuded a playful charm, staying true to its British roots with classic Mini styling cues. Its erect wraparound windshield, floating roof, and Union Jack tail lights made it stand out in a crowd. The Countryman offered a variety of customization options, from paint treatments to wheel designs, allowing owners to personalize their ride. Despite its compact size, the interior was a blend of retro design and modern technology, featuring digital instrumentation and an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Iconic trim added premium touches like leather upholstery and a head-up display, enhancing the overall experience.

In contrast, the 2025 Subaru Outback embraced a rugged, adventurous aesthetic, with chunky wheel-arch flares and skid plate-like fascias. Its design clearly communicated its off-road capabilities, appealing to those seeking adventure beyond paved roads. The Crimson Red Pearl paint of our test car complemented its black leather interior, though earthy tones seemed to suit the Outback best. The wagon's shape provided practicality, with easy entry and exit, and a lower roof height for convenient roof rack loading. The interior was spacious, offering more passenger volume than many crossovers, and the cargo area was both flat and square, maximizing usability.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered a range of powertrains, but the Cooper S and John Cooper Works (JCW) models were the most compelling. The JCW boasted a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 301 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed sport automatic transmission. It could sprint to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds. The Cooper S, with its 189 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque, was quick enough for most, reaching 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. The Countryman excelled in daily driving scenarios, though it wasn't the best choice for off-road adventures. Fuel economy was decent, with an EPA rating of 28 mpg combined, though our test averaged 25.4 mpg.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured Subaru's signature Boxer engine, available in two forms. The standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder produced 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque, while the XT models benefited from a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine with 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both engines ran on regular unleaded gas and were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive. The turbocharged engine provided a noticeable performance boost, making it a worthwhile upgrade. The Outback's 8.7 inches of ground clearance and X-Mode enhanced its off-road capabilities, with the Wilderness model offering even more rugged features. On the road, the Outback was smooth and comfortable, with light steering and powerful brakes.

Inside the 2024 MINI Countryman, there was room for four adults and their luggage for a week-long trip. The Iconic trim added dual-zone climate control, premium leather, and power-adjustable heated front seats. The seating position was upright, with supportive seats and a delightful steering wheel. While the Countryman technically seated five, four passengers were more comfortable. Visibility was excellent, and the compact dimensions made parking easy. However, cargo space was limited, with 17.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 47.6 cubic feet with them folded.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's wagon shape offered practicality, with easy entry and exit and a lower roof height for loading. The cargo area provided 32.6 cubic feet with the rear seat up and 75.6 cubic feet with it folded. Despite its lower roofline, passenger space was generous, with 109 cubic feet of total volume. The Outback's towing capacity was 2,700 pounds, increasing to 3,500 pounds with the turbocharged engine. Buyers could choose between different trims, each offering unique features and driving experiences.

The 2024 MINI Countryman wasn't a tech powerhouse, but it offered useful features. The digital instrumentation display and head-up display provided essential information, while the 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system used BMW's iDrive technology. There were five ways to interact with the system, including a touchscreen, control knob, and voice recognition. However, the system lacked Android Auto, offering only Apple CarPlay. The Iconic trim included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, delivering excellent audio quality.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's technology package was a mixed bag. The 11.6-inch touchscreen was bright and easy to use, but the Starlink infotainment system was slow to respond. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, with wireless connectivity on most models. The Harman Kardon audio system performed well, though frequent Starlink disturbances were a drawback. The dashboard featured a mix of physical controls and touchscreen functions, with a surprising inclusion of a CD player in the Touring trim. USB-A and USB-C ports were available for device connectivity.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered limited advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). It included Active Driving Assistant, with 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 standard, with adaptive cruise control available on higher trims. The Countryman earned a Good rating in IIHS crashworthiness evaluations.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured Subaru's EyeSight driver-assist technology, with adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency steering. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Outback earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.