MINI Countryman vs Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2025 MINI Countryman was a visually appealing vehicle, maintaining traditional Mini design elements such as wide-eyed headlights, a floating roof available in various colors, and vertical Union Jack taillights. These features were wrapped in modern sheet metal, giving the car a contemporary yet classic look. Depending on the model, paint, interior, and wheels, the Countryman could appear as a conservative crossover or a custom-tailored performance SUV. Buyers had to choose between the Cooper S, John Cooper Works (JCW), and SE models, each offering different power and performance levels. The interior was stylish, with Vintage Brown artificial leather seats and a unique dashboard fabric made from recycled polyester. The Countryman was customizable, allowing for a personalized driving experience.

In contrast, the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold design that could polarize opinions. Its grille, spanning the entire width of the front end, was particularly divisive. The Telluride's personality changed significantly with different color and trim levels, with body-colored vertical strakes at each edge. The X-Line and X-Pro models replaced these strakes with rectangular grille blocks and featured distinctive amber accent lights. The side profile was bold, with angular fender sculpting and black plastic tabs atop each wheel well. The rear view adopted a different style, with rounded corners and vertical taillights reminiscent of a Range Rover. Inside, the Telluride's interior was less controversial, featuring a simple horizontal dashboard layout and a modern, buttonless appearance. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim offered a luxurious two-tone palette, though some buttons were difficult to read.

The 2025 MINI Countryman Cooper S was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 241 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It featured a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The Countryman could accelerate to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds and had a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The vehicle offered different driving modes, including Core and Go Kart, which adjusted the driving dynamics and engine sound. However, the Countryman lacked refinement, with a clunky dual-clutch transmission and touchy brakes. Despite these issues, the Countryman was quick and nimble, providing a fun driving experience. Fuel economy was estimated at 27 mpg in combined driving, but the test vehicle returned 24.5 mpg.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid featured a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The Hybrid model added electric motors, increasing output to 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. It was paired with a six-speed transmission and was not available in the off-road-capable X-Pro trims. The Telluride Hybrid offered a smooth and quiet ride, with a seamless transition between electric and gas power. The X-Pro Prestige trim provided a comfortable ride, even with a lifted off-road suspension. The Telluride was composed and controllable on winding roads, though not particularly sporty. The brake pedal effort was soft, but the vehicle tracked straight during panic stops.

The 2025 MINI Countryman offered seating for four adults, with a snug but comfortable back seat. The front seats were comfortable, and the artificial Vescin leather was convincingly upscale. The Countryman provided good outward visibility and an excellent surround-view camera system. Storage was generous, with a power tailgate revealing 25 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 56.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid provided ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rearmost row was better suited for smaller passengers. The second row featured power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation, offering a reclining feature comparable to a business-class airline seat. The Telluride offered 22.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 89.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Hybrid models lost only about one cubic foot of cargo space. The Telluride could tow up to 5,000 pounds, or 4,500 for the Hybrid.

The 2025 MINI Countryman featured a 9.4-inch OLED touchscreen infotainment display, though it received mixed reviews. It included cloud-based navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. The Intelligent Personal Assistant, Spike, was inactive in the test vehicle, and the infotainment system was cluttered with menus and settings. A head-up display provided helpful information, given the cluttered center display.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. The infotainment system was easy to use, though it required a hard tap to register. The Telluride offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and dual wireless phone chargers. A 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system delivered powerful sound. The infotainment screen could be customized with themes from various brand collaborations.

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 featured adaptive cruise control with Assisted Driving and Assisted Driving Plus technologies. The Countryman received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS in 2024.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid included standard safety features such as frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and highway driving assist. Higher trims offered a surround-view camera system and automatic reverse braking. The driver attention monitor had operational issues, but the highway driving assist was helpful on longer trips. Crash test scores were not available at the time of writing.