Compare the2026 MINI Countryman SEVS 2026 Subaru Solterra

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Countryman SE and the Solterra have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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.

Warranty

The Countryman SE comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Solterra’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Countryman SE’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Solterra’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. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Solterra.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that MINI vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in long-term dependability. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Subaru is rated below average.

Engine

The Countryman SE’s standard electric motors produces 75 more horsepower (308 vs. 233) than the Solterra’s standard electric motors.

Transmission

The Countryman SE’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Solterra doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

The Countryman SE stops much shorter than the Solterra:

	Countryman SE	Solterra
70 to 0 MPH	171 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	135 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Countryman SE’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Solterra (245/45R19 vs. 235/60R18).

The Countryman SE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Solterra Premium’s standard 60 series tires. The Countryman SE’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Solterra Limited/Touring’s 50 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Countryman SE handles at .85 G’s, while the Solterra Touring pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Countryman SE executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Solterra Touring (25.7 seconds @ .73 average G’s vs. 26.7 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

Chassis

The Countryman SE is 9.6 inches shorter than the Solterra, making the Countryman SE easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Countryman SE has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 3 inches more front hip room, 1.7 inches more rear legroom and 11.5 inches more rear hip room than the Solterra.

Cargo Capacity

The Countryman SE has a larger cargo volume than the Solterra with its rear seat up (24.8 vs. 23.8 cubic feet).

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

Towing

The Countryman SE has a 2645 lbs. towing capacity. The Solterra 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 Solterra doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The Countryman SE uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Solterra uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

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 Solterra doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Countryman SE’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Solterra’s power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 Solterra doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Countryman SE has a standard rear wiper. The Solterra doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

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

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 Solterra has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The MINI Countryman SE has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Solterra Limited/Touring.

The Countryman SE has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Solterra Limited/Touring.

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 Solterra.

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 Solterra Limited/Touring’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Recommendations

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 Solterra isn’t in the top three.

The MINI Countryman outsold the Subaru Solterra by 21% during 2025.

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