Mini Countryman vs Lexus RX450H
What's the difference?

Mini Countryman

$45,900 - $77,800

2025 price

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Lexus RX450H

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2019 price

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Land Rover Discovery Sport

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes-Benz G63

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLS

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Mini 3D Hatch

Mitsubishi ASX

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Polestar 2 Long Range

Polestar 2 Standard Range

Summary

2025 Mini Countryman

2019 Lexus RX450H

By Emily Agar

By Peter Anderson

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Inline 4, 2.0L

V6, 3.5L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Premium Unleaded/Electric

Fuel Efficiency

7.7L/100km (combined)

5.7L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Gorgeous Mini styling
Strong on-road performance
Lots of personalisation available

Beautiful build quality
Plush ride
Lots of tech gear

Dislikes

Lacking a few features for a top-grade model
An expensive endeavour for a Mini
Not much separates the two trim levels

Baffling entertainment system
Heavy
Ho-hum drivetrain

2025 Mini Countryman Summary

The Mini Countryman is the not-so-mini cousin to the iconic and smaller Mini Cooper.

The new generation offers a larger body-size, fun new interiors and a whole suite of updated technology.

We're in the flagship John Cooper Works grade in Favoured trim to find out if this small SUV is still urban-friendly and fun after all of these changes.

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2019 Lexus RX450H Summary

This is a review with a difference. For three days, I had a Lexus RX450h and thought it was pretty terrible to drive. Every time I turned the steering wheel, the tyres would squeal as though they weren't inflated with air but instead with tiny, fluffy kittens.

I was bitterly disappointed. How could a car get out the door of the Lexus engineering division with such an aversion to corners. I mean, I know it's not meant to be a corner-carving monster, but normal cornering should have been okay.

After those three days, I'd had enough. The low tyre pressure warning light came on and the penny dropped. I hadn't even thought to check the pressures. They were very, very low. Like only at two-thirds of recommended. So after visiting three separate establishments to find a working pump, I had a whole different car.

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Deep dive comparison

2025 Mini Countryman 2019 Lexus RX450H

Verdict

The new Mini Countryman John Cooper Works in Favoured trim offers everything you’d expect it to - the iconic Mini styling, a powerful driving performance and a well-equipped cabin. It’s a wonderfully quick urban dweller that you can park anywhere but is just as happy on the open-road. For me, this is pure fun and offers more personality than a lot of its rivals.

Verdict

The RX is a little frustrating - it's going after Mercedes and BMW and Audi in a hotly-contested space and falls over in a couple of key areas. The media/sat nav system is hopelessly outdated and the drivetrain fails to deliver a significant performance or fuel benefit (although, given its 2.2 tonnes, perhaps it delivers a miracle).

It does come with a rock-solid, scandal-free reputation, a reputation for spectacular customer service, it has a lovely cabin and it's certainly an individual looker. For plenty of people, that's quite enough.

Mini Countryman vs Lexus RX450H What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Mini Countryman vs Lexus RX450H
What's the difference?