Compare the2026 Subaru Solterra VS 2026 MINI Countryman SE

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Solterra have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The MINI Countryman SE doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Solterra are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The MINI Countryman SE doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Subaru Solterra achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The MINI Countryman SE has not been tested.

The Subaru Solterra’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the MINI Countryman SE does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Solterra and the Countryman SE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, all-wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Solterra 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than MINI covers the Countryman SE. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Countryman SE ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 6 times as many Subaru dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Solterra’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is rated below average.

The Solterra XT’s standard electric motors produces 30 more horsepower (338 vs. 308) than the Countryman SE’s electric motors.

As tested in Motor Trend the Solterra XT is faster than the MINI Countryman SE:

	Solterra	Countryman SE
Zero to 60 MPH	4.4 sec	4.7 sec
Quarter Mile	13 sec	13.4 sec

On the EPA test cycle the Solterra gets better mileage than the Countryman SE:

			MPGe
Solterra
	AWD	Premium Electric Motors	131 city/109 hwy
		Limited Electric Motors	128 city/105 hwy
		XT Electric Motors	128 city/105 hwy
Countryman SE
	AWD	18-inch wheels Electric Motors	99 city/94 hwy
		19-inch wheels Electric Motors	94 city/88 hwy

The Solterra can travel longer on a full charge than the Countryman SE on a full charge:

			Miles
Solterra
	AWD	Premium Electric Motors	288 miles
		Limited Electric Motors	278 miles
		XT Electric Motors	278 miles
Countryman SE
	AWD	18-inch wheels Electric Motors	212 miles
		19-inch wheels Electric Motors	204 miles

The Solterra’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Countryman SE are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Solterra has larger tires than the Countryman SE (235/60R18 vs. 225/55R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Solterra Limited/Touring has standard 20-inch wheels. The Countryman SE’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Solterra’s wheelbase is 6.2 inches longer than on the Countryman SE (112.2 inches vs. 106 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Solterra is .8 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Countryman SE.

For better maneuverability, the Solterra’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Countryman SE’s (36.7 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Solterra has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Countryman SE (8.3 vs. 7.4 inches), allowing the Solterra to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the Solterra uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Countryman SE doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Solterra has 1.7 inches more front legroom, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Countryman SE.

The Solterra has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Countryman SE with its rear seat folded (63.5 vs. 56.2 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than MINI. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With an 8% lower rating, MINI is ranked fourth.

The Solterra’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Countryman SE.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Solterra has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Countryman SE doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Solterra has standard extendable sun visors. The Countryman SE doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the Solterra and the Countryman SE have standard heated front seats. The Solterra Limited/Touring also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Countryman SE.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Solterra Touring XT keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Countryman SE doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Subaru Solterra stands out above the MINI Countryman SE by offering not one, but two Qi-compatible phone chargers. This convenience helps travelers with multiple devices to keep powered up on-the-go. Wireless charging eliminates lost or cluttered charging cables and two of them provide more flexibility.

The Solterra Limited/Touring has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Countryman SE doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.