2023 Jeep Wrangler vs 2024 MINI Countryman

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler had a rugged, no-nonsense design that was reminiscent of driving a brick. The fourth-generation JL Wrangler featured a boxy aesthetic with minimal curves, available in both two-door and four-door configurations. The doors could be removed for an open-air experience, and the optional Dual-Door Group provided half doors for better visibility. The Wrangler’s windshield folded down, and it offered various top options for open-air exploring. The wide fenders, iconic seven-slot grille, round headlights, and old-school exterior hood latches added to its rugged charm. The tailgate swung out, and the rear glass lifted up for easy cargo access. The interior was practical with easy-to-clean floor mats and seats, a body-colored dash, chunky HVAC controls, and a manual transfer case shifter.

The 2024 MINI Countryman, like all Minis, didn’t take itself too seriously. It featured classic Mini styling cues, an erect wraparound windshield, a floating roof, and Union Jack tail lights. The Countryman could be customized with various paint, roof, and mirror cap treatments, and multiple wheel designs. The lineup included Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper SE, and John Cooper Works models, each with different drivetrains. The Cooper S specification with the Iconic trim package included dark-tinted privacy glass, an adaptive damping suspension, and 19-inch wheels. The interior boasted premium leather, power-adjustable front seats, a head-up display, wireless smartphone charging, and a semi-autonomous parking system. The dual-panel moonroof allowed plenty of natural light into the cabin, making the Countryman a unique and stylish small SUV.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler was built for off-road performance with solid axles front and rear and optional differential lockers. It offered a variety of engine options, including a standard V6 with 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Torque enthusiasts could opt for the 3.0-liter Ecodiesel V6 with 260 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque. The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 featured a 6.4-liter V8 with 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid offered 21 miles of all-electric range. The 392 model had impressive off-road capabilities but suffered from vague steering and inadequate brakes for its power.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered different performance levels depending on the model. The John Cooper Works (JCW) model featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 301 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed sport automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The Cooper S model had a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 189 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque, available with front-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic or all-wheel drive with an eight-speed sport automatic. The Cooper S was quick enough for daily driving, with a 0 to 60 mph time of 7.2 seconds. The Countryman excelled in commuting and errand-running but wasn’t as engaging for spirited driving as the JCW model.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler’s front seats were comfortable, but heated seats were only available with the 392 model or a cold-weather package. The rear seat could fit three passengers in the four-door models, but it was a tight fit, and the small rear doors made entry and exit challenging. Storage for small items was limited, with a flat dash and tiny glove box and center console. The Wrangler offered 72.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. The hard top could be removed in one piece or in two front panels, and the soft top was fairly easy to remove. The Sky One-Touch power soft top provided a quick open-air experience. The Wrangler had ample charging points, including USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, and a 115-volt outlet.

The 2024 MINI Countryman provided room for four adults and their luggage for a week-long road trip. The Iconic trim package included dual-zone automatic climate control, premium leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The seats were small but supportive, and the rear seat offered enough legroom and foot room for comfort. Outward visibility was excellent, and the Mini’s compact dimensions made it easy to park. Interior storage was reasonable, but the smartphone charging pad blocked access to the tray beneath it. The Countryman had 17.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, expandable to 47.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The 40/20/40-split folding back seat design allowed for carrying longer items.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect infotainment system, with an optional 8.4-inch screen. The system initially appeared complicated but was intuitive once familiar. It included off-road pages with information about power distribution, temperatures, oil pressure, pitch and roll, and GPS coordinates. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. The Wrangler had a forward-facing camera for off-road trails and four auxiliary switches for aftermarket accessories. However, it lacked advanced tech features like a digital key and over-the-air updates for vehicle performance.

The 2024 MINI Countryman wasn’t a technology powerhouse but offered useful features. It had a small digital instrumentation display and a head-up display projecting information on a small screen. The 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system used BMW’s iDrive technology and offered five ways to interact: touchscreen, volume and tuning controls, steering wheel controls, a control knob and buttons on the center console, and voice recognition. The system lacked Android Auto but included Apple CarPlay. The Iconic trim featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, which provided excellent audio quality.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler had limited standard safety features, including a rearview camera, electronic roll mitigation, and stability control. Advanced safety features like blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control were standard only on the top 392 model and optional on other trims. Lane-keeping assist was not available. The IIHS gave the Wrangler mixed ratings, with some trims receiving Poor ratings for headlights. The NHTSA awarded the Wrangler four out of five stars for frontal crash tests and three out of five stars for rollover ratings.

The 2024 MINI Countryman had limited advanced driving assistance systems. Standard features 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, with adaptive cruise control available on higher trims. The Countryman lacked blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and a surround-view camera system. The IIHS gave the Countryman the highest rating of Good in crashworthiness evaluations.