MINI Countryman vs Kia Carnival

The 2024 Kia Carnival made a bold design statement by adopting SUV-like features to attract buyers who might otherwise lean towards SUVs. Its prominent grille, slab sides, and pronounced hood gave it a rugged appearance, although the sliding doors and lack of ground clearance still marked it as a minivan. The Carnival's styling included unique details like a concave grille with disco-ball-like trim and filament-like taillights. The SX Prestige model's 19-inch wheels were well-proportioned, enhancing its distinctive look compared to competitors like the Chrysler Pacifica. Inside, the Carnival continued the SUV theme with chunky switchgear and a large shifter, making it appealing to image-conscious buyers. The interior materials were robust, acknowledging the wear and tear expected in a family vehicle, with options ranging from cloth to real leather upholstery.

The 2025 MINI Countryman retained traditional Mini design cues, such as wide-eyed headlights and a floating roof, while wrapping them in modern sheet metal. Depending on the model and customization choices, the Countryman could appear as a conservative crossover or a performance SUV. The Cooper S model was popular, while the John Cooper Works (JCW) offered more power, and the SE was an electric variant. The Countryman allowed for extensive personalization, including trim packages, style options, and color selections. Our test vehicle, a Cooper S with Iconic trim and Favoured style, featured bright British Racing Green paint and 20-inch wheels, making a bold statement. The interior was stylish, with Vintage Brown artificial leather seats and ambient lighting, creating a sense of quality and uniqueness.

The 2024 Kia Carnival featured a straightforward powertrain with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 290 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. While it lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid options, the Carnival's V6 offered more horsepower than the Honda Odyssey's similar engine. The Carnival was pleasant to drive, with well-balanced steering that made maneuvering easy and a comfortable ride for long trips. The transmission shifted smoothly, and the V6 emitted a satisfying growl at full throttle. Despite not being the most efficient setup, the Carnival's powertrain was refined and enjoyable.

The 2025 MINI Countryman Cooper S came equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 241 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It featured a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The Countryman accelerated to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds and had a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The vehicle offered different driving modes, including Go Kart mode for spirited driving. However, the Countryman lacked refinement, with clunky shifting and a noisy ride. The steering had an on-center dead spot, and the brakes were touchy. Despite these issues, the Countryman was fun to drive, especially in Go Kart mode, but its fuel economy was below expectations.

The 2024 Kia Carnival offered versatile seating configurations, with seven-passenger seating standard on the base LX trim and eight-passenger seating on higher trims. The SX Prestige model featured second-row captain's chairs with footrests, and optional VIP Lounge seats provided luxurious comfort. The Carnival had power-sliding rear doors and a power liftgate on higher trims. While headroom and legroom were competitive, third-row legroom was slightly less than rivals. The Carnival excelled in cargo space, offering 40.2 cubic feet with all seats in place and 145.1 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The interior was well-organized, with easy-to-use controls and ample storage.

The 2025 MINI Countryman accommodated four adults comfortably, with the option to squeeze in a fifth passenger. The front seats were comfortable, and the artificial leather upholstery felt upscale. Visibility was good, aided by oversized side mirrors and a surround-view camera system. The Countryman offered more room than its predecessor, making it suitable for a family of four. However, the back seat remained snug, and clearance for child safety seats was tight. Storage solutions were creative, with a funky storage box on the center console and a deep tray for larger items. The power tailgate revealed 25 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 56.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2024 Kia Carnival's base LX trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims upgraded to a 12.3-inch touchscreen and digital instrument cluster, with wired versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 12-speaker Bose audio system was available, along with Bluetooth voice recognition and a Wi-Fi hotspot. USB ports were accessible in all three rows, and the infotainment system was user-friendly with clear graphics. The Carnival also offered a cabin camera system and an intercom for communication with rear passengers.

The 2025 MINI Countryman featured a 9.4-inch OLED touchscreen infotainment display, though it received mixed reviews. It included cloud-based navigation, connected services, and a smartphone app for remote features. The Countryman supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a Harman Kardon audio system. An Intelligent Personal Assistant named Spike was supposed to recognize voice commands, but it was inactive in the test vehicle. The infotainment system had a complex menu structure, and the head-up display was helpful for navigation and safety information.

The 2024 Kia Carnival received mixed safety ratings from the IIHS, with top scores in some crash tests but lower ratings in updated tests. The SX Prestige model's headlights were rated "Good," while other trims received "Poor" ratings. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2025 MINI Countryman was well-equipped with safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. It also had adaptive cruise control with Assisted Driving and Assisted Driving Plus for greater automation. The Countryman received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS in 2024. However, the Assisted Driving Plus feature had limitations and was not available on all roads.