2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2024 MINI Countryman

The 2024 MINI Countryman was a vehicle that embraced its playful heritage with classic Mini styling cues. It featured an erect wraparound windshield design, a floating roof reminiscent of a bimini top, and Union Jack tail lights that proudly declared its British roots. Buyers could personalize their Countryman with various paint, roof, and mirror cap treatments, as well as multiple wheel designs. However, it was peculiar that dark tinted rear privacy glass was an optional feature rather than standard. The Countryman lineup included several models, each with distinct drivetrains, from the underpowered Cooper to the plug-in hybrid Cooper SE, which offered a modest 18 miles of electric range. The Cooper S and John Cooper Works models provided more spirited performance with turbocharged four-cylinder engines. The test vehicle, a Cooper S with the Iconic trim package, boasted premium leather, power-adjustable front seats, and a head-up display, among other features, with an MSRP of $41,945.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 retained its distinctive appearance, drawing retro comparisons to the Lancia Delta while maintaining a unique presence on the road. The mid-cycle refresh brought subtle changes to the lower front fascia, but the "Parametric Pixel" headlights and taillights, round wheel arches, and high rear spoiler remained. The new XRT trim stood out with red tow hooks and black plastic bumper cladding featuring a "digital camouflage" pattern. Exclusive colors like Ultimate Red and Cosmic Blue Pearl were available for the XRT, while the color palette expanded for other trims. New wheel designs were introduced, with 19-inch wheels standard on SE and SEL trims, 20-inchers on the Limited, and rally-style 18-inch wheels exclusive to the XRT. Inside, the Ioniq 5's cabin retained its minimalistic and modern feel, with minor changes to the center console for improved functionality. The XRT trim leaned towards a rugged aesthetic with its dark interior and all-weather floor mats.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered a range of performance options, with the John Cooper Works (JCW) model standing out as the most powerful. It featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 301 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed sport automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Mini claimed the JCW could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds. For those seeking a balance of performance and practicality, the Cooper S was a suitable choice. It also used a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 189 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. The Cooper S offered front-wheel drive with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission or optional all-wheel drive with an eight-speed sport automatic. It could reach 60 mph in 7.2 seconds (7.1 seconds with all-wheel drive). The Countryman excelled in daily driving scenarios, offering a zippy and athletic feel, but it wasn't designed for off-road adventures. The test vehicle achieved an EPA fuel economy rating of 28 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing yielded 25.4 mpg.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT introduced a Terrain Mode button on the steering wheel, allowing drivers to cycle through Snow, Mud, and Sand modes, adjusting throttle mapping, wheel slip, power distribution, and regenerative braking. The XRT handled off-road conditions admirably, with all-wheel drive as standard. The Ioniq 5 lineup offered various powertrain options, with rear-wheel drive models producing 168 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque with the standard-range battery, or 225 horsepower and 258 pound-feet with the long-range battery. All-wheel drive models featured dual motors, delivering 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. The Ioniq 5's battery capacity increased for 2025, resulting in longer ranges: up to 318 miles for rear-wheel drive models and 259 miles for the XRT. Despite its weight, the Ioniq 5 provided an enjoyable driving experience, thanks to the instant torque of its electric powertrain.

Inside the 2024 MINI Countryman, there was room for four adults and their luggage for a week-long road trip. The Iconic trim package added dual-zone automatic climate control, premium leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. While the Countryman had seatbelts for five, four passengers would be more comfortable. Rear legroom and foot space were adequate, but squeezing in a fifth person was challenging. The Mini's compact dimensions made parking easy, though it lacked advanced parking technologies like a surround-view camera. Interior storage was reasonable, but the smartphone charging pad blocked access to the tray beneath it. Cargo space was limited, with 17.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 47.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 addressed previous complaints by adding a rear windshield wiper as standard. The interior featured a movable center console with fore-and-aft cupholders and a wireless charging pad. Heated front seats were standard, with a heated steering wheel available from the SEL trim. The Limited trim offered front seat ventilation and driver's seat memory, but heated rear seats were unavailable. Interior dimensions remained unchanged, with generous headroom and legroom. Cargo space measured 26.3 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 58.5 cubic feet with them folded down, plus an additional 0.85 cubic feet in the "frunk." The Ioniq 5 transitioned to the North American Charging System (NACS), allowing access to Tesla Superchargers, and included a Combined Charging System (CCS) adapter for public and fast charging.

The 2024 MINI Countryman featured a small digital instrumentation display and a head-up display (HUD) projecting information on a small screen. The 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed in a round casing reminiscent of classic Mini speedometers, used BMW's iDrive technology. It offered five interaction methods: touchscreen, volume and tuning controls, steering wheel controls, a control knob on the center console, and voice recognition. While the system lacked Android Auto, it supported Apple CarPlay. The Iconic trim included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, providing a significant audio upgrade.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 retained its dual 12.3-inch screens for infotainment and digital instrumentation, with improved functionality and faster processing speeds. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, enhancing smartphone connectivity. The Bose Premium Audio system was available on the XRT and Limited trims, while SE and SEL trims had a six-speaker system. Standard features included navigation, dynamic voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity for two devices, and five USB-C ports. The Ioniq 5 offered a head-up display on the Limited trim and a wireless charging pad starting at the SEL trim.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered limited advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). It included Active Driving Assistant with 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 standard, with adaptive cruise control available on higher trims. However, the Countryman lacked features like blind-spot monitoring and a surround-view camera. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Countryman as Good in crashworthiness evaluations.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 received high safety ratings, earning a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). New standard safety features included an enhanced driver attention system, reverse and forward parking-distance warning, and a surround-view monitor on the XRT and Limited trims. Highway Driving Assist 1 and 2 were available, with HDA 2 offering lane-changing capability and machine learning for improved performance.