Compare the2026 MINI Countryman SEVS 2026 Fiat 500e

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Countryman SE are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The 500e doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The MINI Countryman SE has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The 500e doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Countryman SE has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The 500e doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Countryman SE has standard Rear Collision Prevention that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The 500e doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Countryman SE has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The 500e doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Countryman SE offers an optional 360-degree camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The 500e only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Countryman SE has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the 500e’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Countryman SE has standard Cross Traffic Warning and Brake Intervention automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Fiat charges extra for Rear Cross Path Detection on the 500e and the 500e’s Rear Cross Path Detection does not include automatic braking.

Both the Countryman SE and the 500e have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The MINI Countryman SE weighs 1636 pounds more than the Fiat 500e. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

The Countryman SE’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the 500e’s (12 vs. 5 years).

MINI pays for scheduled maintenance on the Countryman SE for 3 years and 36,000 miles. MINI will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Fiat doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 500e.

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 Countryman SE’s reliability 17 points higher than the 500e.

The Countryman SE’s electric motors produces 191 more horsepower (308 vs. 117) and 202 lbs.-ft. more torque (364 vs. 162) than the 500e’s electric motor.

As tested in Motor Trend the MINI Countryman SE is faster than the Fiat 500e:

	Countryman SE	500e
Zero to 60 MPH	4.7 sec	7.9 sec
Quarter Mile	13.4 sec	16.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	102.6 MPH	85.2 MPH

The Countryman SE can travel longer on a full charge than the 500e on a full charge:

			Miles
Countryman SE
		18-inch wheels Electric Motors	212 miles
		19-inch wheels Electric Motors	204 miles
500e
		Electric Motor	149 miles
		All Season Tires Electric Motor	141 miles

The MINI Countryman SE has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the 500e. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The Countryman SE stops much shorter than the 500e:

	Countryman SE	500e
70 to 0 MPH	171 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the Countryman SE has larger standard tires than the 500e (225/55R18 vs. 205/45R17). The Countryman SE’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 500e (245/45R19 vs. 205/45R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Countryman SE has standard 18-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the 500e. The Countryman SE offers optional 19-inch wheels.

For superior ride and handling, the MINI Countryman SE has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Fiat 500e has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Countryman SE’s wheelbase is 14.6 inches longer than on the 500e (106 inches vs. 91.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Countryman SE is 4.3 inches wider in the front and 4.4 inches wider in the rear than on the 500e.

The Countryman SE’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the 500e’s (58.9% to 41.1%). This gives the Countryman SE more stable handling and braking.

The Countryman SE handles at .85 G’s, while the 500e pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Countryman SE has standard seating for 5 passengers; the 500e can only carry 4.

The Countryman SE has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 7.6 inches more front hip room, 4.6 inches more front shoulder room, 2 inches more rear headroom, 7.5 inches more rear legroom, 11.1 inches more rear hip room and 7 inches more rear shoulder room than the 500e.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Countryman SE’s rear seats recline. The 500e’s rear seats don’t recline.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Countryman SE. The 500e doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Countryman SE’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by waving your foot, leaving your hands completely free. The 500e doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

The Countryman SE has a 2645 lbs. towing capacity. The 500e has no towing capacity.

Optional Trailer Stabilization Control on the Countryman SE uses the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The 500e doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

When two different drivers share the Countryman SE, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The 500e doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Countryman SE’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The 500e doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Countryman SE has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The 500e doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Countryman SE’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. Fiat does not offer a locking feature on the 500e’s standard power windows.

The Countryman SE’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The 500e’s power windows’ switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Countryman SE the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the 500e can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Countryman SE to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The 500e doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Countryman SE has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The 500e doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Countryman SE’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Fiat charges extra for heated mirrors on the 500e.

When the Countryman SE with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The 500e’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Countryman SE’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The 500e offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the MINI Countryman SE and Fiat 500e offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Countryman SE features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the 500e’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The Countryman SE has standard heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the 500e.

On extremely cold winter days, the Countryman SE’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The 500e doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Countryman SE has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The 500e doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Countryman SE offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the 500e.

The Countryman SE’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The 500e doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Countryman SE has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The 500e doesn’t offer rear vents.

Compared to the Fiat 500e, the MINI Countryman SE eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

The Countryman SE’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The 500e doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Countryman SE first among small suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The 500e isn’t in the top three.

The MINI Countryman outsold the Fiat 500e by over 11 to one during 2025.