Compare the2025 Ford EscapeVS 2025 MINI Countryman

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Escape have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The MINI Countryman doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Ford Escape 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 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 Ford Escape achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The MINI Countryman has not been tested.

Both the Escape and the Countryman have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Escape 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than MINI covers the Countryman. 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 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 30 times as many Ford dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escape’s warranty.

The Escape has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Countryman doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Escape’s reliability 18 points higher than the Countryman.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is rated lower.

The Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 9 more horsepower (250 vs. 241) than the Countryman S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Escape gets better mileage than the Countryman:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Escape 1.5 Turbo’s fuel efficiency. The Countryman doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Escape uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The JCW Countryman requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Escape AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Countryman (15.7 vs. 14.3 gallons).

The Escape has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Countryman doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Escape higher (6 out of 10) than the MINI Countryman (5 to 6). This means the Escape produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Countryman every 15,000 miles.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Escape, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Countryman.

For better maneuverability, the Escape’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Countryman S’ (37.2 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The Escape’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the JCW Countryman’s (37.2 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The Ford Escape may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 500 pounds less than the MINI Countryman.

The front grille of the Escape 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 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Escape has 2 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 3.7 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Countryman.

The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Countryman with its rear seat up (37.5 vs. 25 cubic feet). The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Countryman with its rear seat folded (65.4 vs. 56.2 cubic feet).

While the Countryman JCW is not recommended to tow, any Escape can tow a minimum of 2000 pounds.

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Escape, using the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the Countryman.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Escape’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Countryman doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Assist eCall can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Escape has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Countryman only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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

Compared to the MINI Countryman, the Ford Escape Elite/Platinum eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its standard integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the driver’s visor.

The Escape is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Countryman doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Ford Escape and the MINI Countryman, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Ford Escape outsold the MINI Countryman by almost 13 to one during 2024.