MINI Countryman vs Nissan Rogue

The 2024 MINI Countryman didn’t shy away from its unique and playful heritage. Bearing the classic Mini design elements, it sported an upright, wraparound windshield design, a bimini top-like floating roof, and proudly displayed Union Jack tail lights. The myriad customization options allowed owners to dress the Countryman in various paint and mirror cap treatments, paired with multiple wheel designs. However, unlike many of its competitors, it strangely offered dark-tinted rear privacy glass as an optional feature rather than standard equipment.

The 2024 Countryman lineup included the Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper SE, and John Cooper Works models, each differentiated by their powertrains. The entry-level Cooper had a modest turbocharged three-cylinder engine, while the Cooper S and John Cooper Works models used a turbocharged four-cylinder engine tuned in different states. The Cooper SE was a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with an 18-mile electric range before switching to hybrid mode, achieving 29 mpg combined.

Our test vehicle was a Cooper S with Iconic trim, featuring dark-tinted privacy glass, adaptive dampers, and 19-inch wheels with summer performance tires, tallying to an MSRP of $41,945, including destination charges. The Iconic trim equipped the Countryman with high-end features like premium leather seats, power-adjustable front seats, a head-up display, wireless smartphone charging, a semi-autonomous parking system, and more customizable options. The digital instrumentation, an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and distinctive Mini design elements stood out, enhanced by a dual-panel moonroof flooding the cabin with light.

In contrast, the 2024 Nissan Rogue received its first significant facelift since the 2021 model launch. Its lineup maintained the S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims. Notably, the larger grille integrated seamlessly with its stacked headlights and distinctive daytime running lights. While the rear fascia claimed updates, the primary change was redesigned inner taillight elements. Additionally, the exterior updates included satin-finish badging, new wheel designs, and increased black trim for the top Platinum grade, alongside an optional black roof.

Inside, Nissan made notable changes to accommodate a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, enhancing the Rogue’s premium feel. Rogue SV models received new materials on door panels, seats, center console, and dashboard. Higher trims, like our Platinum test car, boasted leather seats available in a new Chestnut brown color with quilted stitching, offering a high-quality feel. The redesigned dashboard and upscale materials contributed to a cabin that felt appropriately premium for the segment.

The 2024 MINI Countryman's engine offerings began with the underwhelming Cooper and Cooper SE models, the latter offering an unremarkable electric range and slight fuel efficiency improvement. However, the Cooper S and John Cooper Works models were more performance-oriented. The John Cooper Works was the high performer, featuring a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 301 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed sport automatic transmission to all four wheels. Mini claimed the JCW could sprint to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds.

The more practical choice for many people was the Mini Cooper S Countryman, also with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, generating 189 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel-drive models came with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, while the AWD variant shared the JCW's eight-speed sport automatic. The Cooper S clocked 0-60 mph in 7.2 seconds (7.1 seconds with AWD) and felt zippy during daily drives thanks to peak torque arriving at just 1,350 rpm. However, it struggled to engage enthusiast drivers on twisty roads, especially with the summer performance tires and adaptive damping suspension. The test vehicle's fuel economy was rated at 28 mpg combined, but real-world testing returned 25.4 mpg.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue’s powertrain was a standout due to its engineering ingenuity. The 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine featured Nissan’s VC-Turbo technology, varying its compression ratio for optimal power or fuel efficiency. It delivered 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, outperforming several rivals’ engines, such as the Honda CR-V’s 1.5-liter turbo and the Subaru Forester’s 2.5-liter boxer-four.

Despite the impressive engine, the Rogue's continuously variable transmission (CVT) underwhelmed with its sluggish responsiveness. The SUV offered standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive but didn’t excel in sporty handling. In our Platinum test car, the firm suspension degraded ride quality without enhancing cornering eagerness, yet the cabin remained quiet.

In terms of space, the 2024 MINI Countryman accommodated four adults comfortably, with enough luggage space for a week-long trip. The Iconic trim added dual-zone automatic climate control, premium leather seats, power-adjustable heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Despite seatbelts for five, the rear seat was best suited for two adults. The upright seating position and excellent visibility made the Countryman easy to park, complemented by parking sensors and a reversing camera. However, the smartphone charging pad under the center armrest obstructed access to the tray beneath.

Cargo space in the Countryman was limited, with 17.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 47.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. This space is adequate for two full-size suitcases lying flat, but configurations like the Cooper SE PHEV offered slightly less space.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue, benefiting from its compact crossover segment competitiveness, provided ample passenger space, akin to rivals like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The significant difference lay in legroom, with the Tucson excelling in rear-seat space. The Rogue offered 36.5 cubic feet of cargo room with the rear seats in place and 74.1 cubic feet when folded. This placed it between the CR-V and Tucson in terms of volume but ahead of the Forester.

Nissan enhanced the Rogue’s utility with the Divide-N-Hide system, allowing for either flat cargo floor with hidden storage or a lower floor for additional height. The cargo area included a built-in space for grocery bags and an optional power or motion-activated liftgate for easy access. The front console featured a pass-through storage area below, although its accessibility was somewhat awkward.

The 2024 MINI Countryman focused on practical technology rather than overwhelming features. Our test vehicle included a small digital instrumentation display, a practical head-up display, and an 8.8-inch touchscreen housed within a nostalgic round frame, echoing classic Mini designs. The infotainment system, derived from BMW’s iDrive, could be controlled via touchscreen, steering wheel buttons, center console control knob, voice commands, and physical volume/tuning controls.

Despite lacking Android Auto, the infotainment system was intuitive and versatile once users became familiar with it. The Iconic trim added a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, delivering impressive audio quality.

For the 2024 Nissan Rogue, the tech upgrades were significant. Lower trims (S and SV) got an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims (SL and Platinum) boasted a new 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and Amazon Alexa connectivity. Nissan’s integration of Google built-in software, which included Google Maps, Assistant, and Play Store, set the Rogue apart in its segment. However, it required a data plan for third-party apps post-trial period.

This two-screen setup greatly improved the Rogue’s user experience, featuring modern graphics and user-friendly menus despite occasional slow boot-ups in pre-production models. The Rogue also provided numerous charging options, including USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad in higher trims. The extended trial period for Nissan Connect Services allowed for connectivity features like remote engine start and vehicle health reports.

Regarding safety, the 2024 MINI Countryman’s advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) were minimal, which some might see as a benefit. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beams, alongside rear parking sensors and an SOS call button. Adaptive cruise control was optional in higher trims, but the absence of blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and a surround-view camera was noticeable.

Crashworthiness evaluations from the IIHS were incomplete but promising, with top ratings of Good in the tests performed.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue excelled in safety ratings, securing top marks from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, although rollover and frontal crash tests received four stars. Standard safety features covered automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic emergency braking.

Optional ProPilot Assist on higher trims enhanced adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering. While ProPilot Assist wasn’t the most advanced system available, it was an improvement over many rival offerings, adding a layer of convenience and safety.