Lexus GX vs MINI Countryman

The 2024 MINI Countryman embodied the playful and unique styling for which Minis were celebrated. It featured classic Mini styling cues, including an erect wraparound windshield design and a floating roof that resembled a bimini top. The British heritage of the vehicle was loudly declared through its Union Jack tail lights. Owners could customize their Countryman in various ways with numerous paint, roof, and mirror cap treatments, as well as multiple wheel designs. However, dark-tinted rear privacy glass was a surprising option rather than standard equipment.

The 2024 Lexus GX, by contrast, went for a more geometric, aggressive appearance, moving away from the softer, rounded corners of its predecessor. Retaining the brand’s spindle grille, the newer iteration made the grille less pronounced and added standard triple-beam LED headlights, giving the SUV a more vertical, commanding stance. The hood, with its raised humps above the front wheels, aided driver awareness during off-road driving. Lexus aimed for a rugged yet sophisticated look, with minimal horizontal character lines and a low-sitting window beltline for enhanced visibility.

In terms of trim levels, the 2024 MINI Countryman offered Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper SE, and John Cooper Works (JCW) models, each denoting different drivetrains. The Cooper S and JCW models were more performance-oriented, while the Cooper SE was a plug-in hybrid. Trim packages included Classic, Signature, and Iconic, with the latter being the most luxurious. Conversely, the Lexus GX featured six trim levels: Premium, Premium+, Luxury, Luxury+, Overtrail, and Overtrail+. While the Premium+ was expected to sell the most, the Overtrail+ and Luxury+ showcased the SUV’s highest capabilities, focusing on luxury and off-road prowess, respectively.

Our test of the MINI Countryman came in Cooper S specification with Iconic trim, featuring premium leather, adaptive damping suspension, 19-inch wheels with summer performance tires, and various customization options. The MSRP totaled $41,945. This trim level included power-adjustable front seats, head-up display, wireless smartphone charging, semi-autonomous parking, and a power tailgate. The Lexus GX, in its Overtrail+ trim, offered Nuluxe leatherette upholstery, 18-inch wheels with 33-inch all-terrain tires, and an Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System for enhanced off-road capability.

While the MINI’s interior retained a retro, character-filled design with an 8.8-inch touchscreen housed in a round casing reminiscent of older Mini models, the Lexus GX adopted a more minimalist and advanced setup with a large 14-inch touchscreen and fewer physical buttons. The GX provided standard heated and ventilated front seats, more robust materials for off-road durability, and a flat, upright dashboard for easier operation.

The performance aspects of the 2024 MINI Countryman varied considerably across its different models. While the standard Cooper felt underpowered with its turbocharged three-cylinder engine, the Cooper S and JCW models packed more punch. The JCW version, equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivered an impressive 301 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds. An eight-speed sport automatic transmission and all-wheel drive rounded out this high-performance option.

The Cooper S model also used a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine but produced a more modest 189 horsepower and 206 lb-ft of torque. This model offered front-wheel drive with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission or an optional all-wheel-drive system paired with an eight-speed sport automatic. Mini claimed the Cooper S could reach 60 mph in 7.2 seconds (or 7.1 seconds with all-wheel drive). Despite the adaptive damping suspension and summer performance tires, the test vehicle showcased its strengths in everyday driving scenarios rather than spirited canyon carving, as it averaged 25.4 mpg in real-world testing against an EPA rating of 28 mpg combined.

The 2024 Lexus GX aimed to deliver robust performance, courtesy of a new twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 engine producing 349 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. The transition from a V8 to a V6 resulted in better power delivery, especially at lower RPMs, crucial for off-road driving. The GX’s 10-speed automatic transmission provided smooth and confident gear changes without excessive hunting for gears. Equipped with full-time four-wheel drive and a locking Torsen limited-slip center differential, the GX promised reliable performance in various driving conditions.

The Overtrail trims added a locking rear differential and the sophisticated Electronic Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, enhancing wheel articulation and ensuring better ground contact. The GX’s acceleration was strong in both stop-and-go traffic and highway conditions, with effective braking despite its over-5,000-pound weight. On-road, the GX demonstrated more composed handling compared to its predecessor, with less body roll and a smoother driving experience. Off-road testing was limited by environmental conditions, but the GX still managed to navigate less aggressive terrains comfortably.

Entering the 2024 MINI Countryman revealed a spacious interior for a small SUV, accommodating four adults comfortably for long trips, though it offered seatbelts for five. The Iconic trim added dual-zone automatic climate control, premium leather seats, power-adjustable heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. While rear legroom and foot room were adequate for taller passengers, seating three in the back would be tight unless they were children.

The Countryman boasted excellent outward visibility and easy maneuverability thanks to its compact dimensions. However, it lacked advanced parking aids like a surround-view camera. Interior storage was practical but limited, especially with the smartphone charging pad obstructing access to the central tray. Cargo capacity was modest, with 17.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expandable to 47.6 cubic feet with the seats folded, though the plug-in hybrid variant had slightly reduced space.

The Lexus GX’s interior invoked a new minimalist elegance with practical button placements. The spaciousness accommodated adults comfortably in the first and second rows, featuring 41.2 inches of legroom in the front and 36.7 inches in the second row. The third row, optional in Premium and Luxury trims, was better suited for children due to its tight 31.7 inches of legroom. The GX’s primary competitor, the Land Rover Defender 110, offered comparable but tighter dimensions.

In terms of cargo capacity, the GX stood out. It provided 10.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 40.2 cubic feet with it folded. Total cargo space reached 76.9 cubic feet. The Overtrail models, which omitted the third row, offered more cargo space with 45.6 cubic feet behind the second row and an expansive total of 90.5 cubic feet.

The MINI Countryman's technology suite was functional if not groundbreaking. The digital instrumentation display, complemented by a head-up display, provided essential information. The 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, encased in a circular housing, carried a version of BMW’s iDrive system, offering multiple interaction methods: touchscreen, physical volume and tuning controls, steering wheel buttons, a central control knob, and voice recognition. Despite its intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, it lacked Android Auto, supporting only Apple CarPlay. The Iconic trim's 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system delivered quality audio, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2024 Lexus GX excelled in technology with a stylishly integrated 14-inch touchscreen, numerous USB-C ports, and an available wireless charging pad. The Overtrail models benefited from additional USB-C ports, with standard ones in the rear for other trims. A 120-volt AC outlet in the trunk added versatility. The Lexus Interface infotainment system supported Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, accompanied by the Drive Connect service featuring an intelligent voice assistant. Subscriptions for Drive Connect and Remote Connect came free for three years, post which users faced monthly fees of $15 to $25.

A 10-speaker audio system was standard, while the Luxury and Overtrail+ trims offered an impressive 21-speaker Mark Levinson stereo as standard. The attractive and user-friendly Lexus Interface, despite its subscription-based features, offered a premium technological experience.

The 2024 MINI Countryman’s safety offerings reflected its age. While it included basic ADAS features through its Active Driving Assistant, such as forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights, it missed out on more advanced features like blind-spot monitoring and a surround-view camera. Adaptive cruise control was available only in higher trims like Signature and Iconic. Despite its limitations, the Countryman earned a “Good” rating in available crashworthiness tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2024 Lexus GX made significant advancements with its inclusion of Lexus Safety System+ 3.0. This comprehensive suite featured pre-collision detection, braking, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-tracing assist, lane-departure warning with steering assist, road-sign recognition, and proactive driving assist. Though neither the IIHS nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had tested the 2024 GX, the modern GA-F architecture and advanced safety features instilled confidence in its safety capabilities.