2025 Volkswagen Atlas 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 paint and wheel options, though dark tinted rear privacy glass was oddly optional. The lineup included Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper SE, and John Cooper Works models, each with distinct drivetrains. The Cooper S, with its turbocharged four-cylinder engine, was a popular choice, while the Cooper SE provided a plug-in hybrid option. The Iconic trim added luxury touches like premium leather and a head-up display, making the Countryman a unique and customizable small SUV.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, available in five trims, showcased a robust design with polished aluminum detailing and sizable 21-inch wheels. The SEL Premium R-Line trim, tested in Mountain Lake Blue, offered a luxurious Shetland Beige leather interior. The Atlas impressed with its upscale appearance and practical features, including a surround-view camera and excellent outward visibility. Despite its size, the Atlas was easy to park and provided a comfortable ride, though the touch-sensitive controls for temperature and volume were less user-friendly.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered various engine options, with the John Cooper Works model standing out for its 301 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque, reaching 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The Cooper S, with 189 hp, provided a zippy drive, especially with the optional ALL4 AWD. It was quick enough for daily driving, though not ideal for off-roading. The test vehicle averaged 25.4 mpg, slightly below its EPA rating of 28 mpg.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas featured a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Despite initial skepticism, the engine proved refined and capable for daily tasks. The Atlas returned 19.2 mpg on a test loop, below its EPA rating of 21 mpg combined. The ride quality was less impressive, with a brittle suspension and excessive body motions at highway speeds. However, the handling was predictable, and the brakes performed well under stress.

The 2024 MINI Countryman accommodated four adults comfortably, with supportive seats and excellent visibility. Interior storage was reasonable, though the smartphone charging pad blocked access to a storage tray. Cargo space was limited, with 17.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 47.6 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas excelled in interior space, offering a comfortable third-row seat and a cavernous cargo area. The front seats were heated, ventilated, and massaging, though the leather felt stiff. The second-row bench provided ample room, and the third-row access was outstanding. The Atlas offered 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 96.6 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2024 MINI Countryman featured a user-friendly 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with 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.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas used the MIB3 operating system with a 12-inch touchscreen. The lack of traditional controls made it challenging to use, and the voice-recognition system was unreliable. However, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provided a better experience, and the Harman Kardon audio system was impressive.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered basic safety features like forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control was optional, but it lacked advanced systems like blind-spot monitoring. The IIHS rated it highly for crashworthiness.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas included comprehensive IQ.Drive features, such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. It earned a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA and was a 2024 IIHS Top Safety Pick. The safety systems were accurate and reliable during testing.