2025 Dodge Durango vs 2024 MINI Countryman

The 2024 MINI Countryman embraced its playful heritage with classic Mini styling, featuring a wraparound windshield, floating roof, and Union Jack tail lights. It offered a variety of customization options, including paint treatments and wheel designs. Despite its charm, the Countryman had some quirks, such as optional dark-tinted rear privacy glass. The lineup included several models, each with distinct drivetrains, from the underpowered Cooper to the plug-in hybrid Cooper SE. Our test car, a Cooper S with Iconic trim, boasted premium features like leather seats, a head-up display, and a dual-panel moonroof, all for an MSRP of $41,945.

In contrast, the 2025 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, especially with the Silver Bullet special edition package, exuded a more aggressive and muscular presence. The Triple Nickel paint, satin black hood, and dark badges added to its visual appeal. Inside, the Durango maintained a subdued yet premium feel with dark red Nappa leather and carbon fiber trim. Despite its high price tag of $115,315, some plastic surfaces detracted from the overall luxury experience. The Durango's design catered to those seeking a bold and powerful SUV with a touch of refinement.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered a range of powertrains, with the John Cooper Works (JCW) model standing out for its performance. The JCW featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 301 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The Cooper S, with 189 hp, provided a zippy drive, reaching 60 mph in 7.2 seconds. Despite its sporty nature, the Countryman excelled in daily driving scenarios, offering a fuel economy of 28 mpg combined, though our test averaged 25.4 mpg.

The 2025 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat was a powerhouse with its 710-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine, delivering 645 pound-feet of torque. It accelerated to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and had a top speed of 180 mph. The Durango's towing capacity reached 8,700 pounds, making it versatile for various needs. However, its fuel economy was a downside, with an EPA rating of 12/17/13 mpg. The Durango's performance was enhanced by its AWD system, adaptive damping suspension, and Brembo brakes, providing a thrilling driving experience.

Inside the 2024 MINI Countryman, there was room for four adults and their luggage, making it suitable for road trips. The Iconic trim added dual-zone climate control, premium leather, and heated front seats. While the Countryman offered good visibility and parking ease, its cargo space was limited to 17.6 cubic feet, expandable to 47.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2025 Dodge Durango excelled in space and comfort, with heated and ventilated front seats and a spacious interior. The second-row captain’s chairs provided comfort, though they sat low. The third row was accessible and offered adequate space for adults. Cargo capacity was generous, with 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 85.1 cubic feet with seats folded. The Durango's thoughtful features included rear climate controls and multiple charging ports.

The 2024 MINI Countryman featured a user-friendly infotainment system with an 8.8-inch touchscreen and multiple interaction methods, including voice recognition. However, it lacked Android Auto, offering only Apple CarPlay. The Iconic trim included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, enhancing the audio experience.

The 2025 Dodge Durango came equipped with a Uconnect 5 system, featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The system supported dual-phone Bluetooth pairing and included SRT Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics. While the voice recognition system was effective, it required specific commands.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered basic safety features, including forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking. However, it lacked advanced systems like blind-spot monitoring. The IIHS rated it highly in crashworthiness evaluations.

The 2025 Dodge Durango included standard safety features such as forward-collision warning and blind-spot monitoring. Optional upgrades included adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating, while the IIHS noted concerns in certain crash tests.