Hyundai Tucson vs MINI Countryman

The 2024 MINI Countryman was designed to evoke a sense of charm and playfulness, without taking itself too seriously. Echoing classic MINI design elements, it featured an upright wraparound windshield, floating roof reminiscent of a bimini top, and Union Jack tail lights, loudly proclaiming its British heritage. Buyers could personalize their Countryman with a variety of paint, roof, and mirror cap options and select from multiple wheel designs. However, it was curious that dark-tinted rear privacy glass was offered as an option rather than standard equipment.

The Countryman lineup included several models: Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper SE, and John Cooper Works, each representing a different drivetrain. The base Coopers featured a turbocharged three-cylinder engine, which felt underpowered. The Cooper S and John Cooper Works (JCW) models came with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in two states of tune, while the Cooper SE was fitted as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle offering 18 miles on electric power before switching to gas-electric hybrid mode, achieving 29 mpg in combined driving.

Trim packages for the Countryman varied by model, including Classic, Signature, and Iconic, along with occasional special-edition versions offering unique combinations of paint, wheels, interior, and equipment. Our test model—a Cooper S with the Iconic trim—was equipped with dark-tinted privacy glass, an adaptive damping suspension, and 19-inch wheels with summer performance tires, arriving with an MSRP of $41,945, including the $995 destination charge.

Notable features of the Iconic trim included premium leather, power-adjustable front seats, a head-up display, wireless smartphone charging, a semi-autonomous parking system, and a power tailgate. Despite its age, the Countryman had an appealing retro design and plenty of character, with a dual-panel moonroof that bathed the cabin in natural light. Overall, the MINI Countryman's styling and interior provided a unique experience that was a refreshing change from the often-bland small SUV category.

The fourth-generation Hyundai Tucson was unveiled in 2022 and largely remained the same through to the 2024 model year. Its sharp, modern design stood out, featuring taut angles and unique elements like headlights that seamlessly integrated into the grille. Hyundai's current design language drove the Tucson's handsome and contemporary appearance, which looked excellent even in white—typically a challenging color for vehicle photography.

Hyundai retained distinct design elements across its models, ensuring that each vehicle had its own unique styling. Trim levels for the 2024 Tucson included SE, SEL, XRT, and Limited. The SE trim came with 17-inch alloy wheels and roof rails, while the SEL, with its convenience package, added 19-inch wheels. XRT trim featured unique black 19-inch alloy wheels, side steps, dark exterior trim, and functional roof racks. Limited trim, which we tested, included a dark chrome grille and upgraded headlights.

The interior of the Tucson carried on with this refined and modern design, offering intuitive technology without overwhelming the driver. Despite some quirks, such as touch-capacitive buttons and the absence of a volume dial in favor of a steering wheel toggle, the layout was user-friendly, positioning essential controls conveniently near the shifter and cupholders.

Standard features for the base SE included two USB ports, remote keyless entry, a manually adjustable driver’s seat, HD radio, power windows, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Moving up to the SEL trim added push-button start, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, wireless device charging, and more USB ports. The SEL Convenience package upgraded the upholstery and added a larger touchscreen with navigation.

The top-tier Limited trim came with ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, genuine leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, an upgraded Bose premium stereo system, and driver’s seat memory settings.

When evaluating the 2024 MINI Countryman, it was clear that the Cooper trim felt sluggish with its underwhelming three-cylinder engine. Alternatively, the Cooper S and John Cooper Works (JCW) models stood out for their performance capabilities.

The JCW trim packed a punch with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 301 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque, combined with an eight-speed sport automatic transmission to drive all four wheels. MINI claimed this model could reach 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds, making it an ideal choice for those seeking speed and fun.

For general use, the Cooper S proved to be a balanced option. It featured the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine but delivered 189 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. With front-wheel drive, the power was managed by a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which exhibited some typical DCT behavior. The optional ALL4 all-wheel-drive version used an eight-speed sport automatic, like the JCW. The Cooper S’s capabilities allowed it to achieve a 0-60 mph time of 7.2 seconds (7.1 seconds with ALL4), providing a zippy and athletic feel suitable for daily driving.

The Countryman thrived in day-to-day urban driving and errand running, though it wasn’t particularly suited for serious off-road ventures. Our test Cooper S came with summer performance tires and an adaptive damping suspension, offering reasonable handling on twisty roads, yet true performance enthusiasts would likely prefer the JCW or a MINI Clubman for sportier driving.

From a fuel economy perspective, our test model was rated at 28 mpg in combined driving by the EPA. However, during our driving in Mid and Sport modes on Southern California's mountainous roads, we averaged 25.4 mpg. Potentially, switching to the available Green mode could have yielded better results.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Tucson was equipped with a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain was available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

The only engine option for non-hybrid Tucson models felt underwhelming, particularly during highway driving and acceleration. Pushing the throttle hard was required for swift maneuvers, and the resulting engine noise was noticeable. Drivers seeking more robust performance had better options in the Tucson Hybrid (226 horsepower) or the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid (261 horsepower).

One downside of these more powerful hybrid versions was the inclusion of a button-style shifter, standard only on the Limited trim of the gasoline model. This design required some acclimatization, which might be inconvenient if different drivers frequently used the vehicle. Nonetheless, Hyundai’s intuitive shifter design was neatly integrated into the center console area.

Where the Tucson really excelled was in its balanced handling and ride quality. It expertly combined ride comfort with cornering capability, absorbing road irregularities effectively and providing a smooth experience on long trips or commutes. The precise, well-weighted steering enhanced its driving dynamics, though it wasn't as athletic as competitors like the Mazda CX-5.

Upon entering the 2024 MINI Countryman, the interior was laid out to comfortably accommodate four adults with their luggage for a week-long journey. The Iconic trim on our test model added premium amenities, including dual-zone automatic climate control, premium leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel.

The seating in the Countryman was designed to offer an upright position, providing good support despite the small size. While the rear seat had sufficient legroom and foot space for two adults, fitting a third person would be a challenge unless all passengers were small children.

Visibility from the driver’s seat was excellent, and the compact size of the Countryman made parking straightforward. However, the vehicle lacked some advanced parking aids like a surround-view camera and rear cross-traffic alert, relying instead on parking sensors and a basic rearview camera.

Interior storage was adequate for the vehicle's size, though the location of the wireless charging pad under the center armrest could obstruct access to the storage tray below. Cargo capacity was modest: 17.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats, enough for two full-size suitcases when laid flat. Extending the cargo space by folding down the 40/20/40-split rear seats allowed up to 47.6 cubic feet of storage. The PHEV version offered slightly less cargo space.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson outclassed many of its rivals with up to 74.8 cubic feet of cargo space when the rear seats were folded down, and up to 38.7 cubic feet with the seats in place. These figures were among the best in the compact SUV category, aside from the Honda CR-V, which slightly surpassed it.

The SE trim of the Tucson came with a manual liftgate, while higher trims, including SEL and above, featured a hands-free power liftgate. This smart liftgate system allowed for easy operation without the need to wave a foot under the bumper, enhancing convenience when carrying groceries or children.

Passenger space in the Tucson was generous, accommodating up to five adults comfortably with ample headroom and legroom. Both rows of seating were designed to support long journeys, which was more than what many small SUVs could offer.

Practical storage solutions included deep cup holders throughout the cabin and a convenient center tray between the shifter and the center stack, where the standard wireless charging pad was also located.

In terms of technology, the 2024 MINI Countryman was not overflowing with features but offered practical and easy-to-use systems. Digital instrumentation perched on the steering column, complemented by a useful head-up display (HUD).

The infotainment system was situated in the middle of the dashboard within a distinctive round housing—a nod to MINI's traditional design. The 8.8-inch touchscreen was part of the BMW iDrive system, offering five interaction methods: touchscreen, physical volume and tuning controls, steering wheel controls, a center console control knob with buttons, and voice commands.

Although this multifaceted approach could seem convoluted, it actually made the system intuitive and user-friendly. Voice recognition worked accurately during our tests, but it was worth noting that Android Auto was absent, leaving only Apple CarPlay for smartphone connectivity.

The Iconic trim included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, which significantly enhanced the audio experience compared to the standard six-speaker setup.

The Tucson's standard infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, known for its straightforward and user-friendly operation. The intuitive layout included home buttons for key functions and convenient thumb rollers for volume control, minimizing distraction while driving.

Higher trims such as SEL with the Convenience Package, XRT, and Limited came with a fully digital instrument panel and a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen. However, this upgrade sacrificed the wireless connectivity of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and used an irritating haptic volume toggle instead of thumb rollers. A notable benefit, though, was that the buttons remained functional while wearing gloves.

Hyundai's remote start system was particularly user-friendly, allowing drivers to hop in and drive away seamlessly after a remote start without pressing the start button again.

The MINI Countryman's age was evident in its limited advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). It came standard with Active Driving Assistant, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Parking sensors and an emergency SOS button were also included, with adaptive cruise control available on Signature and Iconic trims.

However, it lacked more advanced features such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and a surround-view camera system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Countryman highly in crashworthiness tests but did not provide a complete set of ratings due to newer testing procedures.

The Tucson came with a broad array of standard driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Upgrading to the Limited trim added front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system, and Hyundai’s Smart Park remote-parking feature. This trim also included a blind-spot camera system that provided a real-time video feed when activating the turn signal in either direction.

The 2024 Tucson received top marks from the IIHS, being named a Top Safety Pick+ and scoring “Good” in most crash tests. It earned “Superior” ratings for crash-prevention technology. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had given it five stars in frontal crash tests and four stars in rollover tests, showcasing the Tucson’s robust safety credentials.