Compare the2027 BMW iX3 VS 2026 MINI Countryman SE

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the BMW iX3 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 SE doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The iX3’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Countryman SE doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The BMW iX3’s optional Surround View has integrated front and rear camera washers, ensuring clear, all-weather visibility without the need for manual cleaning. In contrast, the MINI Countryman SE lacks camera washers, requiring you to manually clean the cameras for optimal performance.

Both the iX3 and the Countryman SE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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.

The BMW iX3 weighs 566 pounds more than the MINI Countryman SE. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

There are over 3 times as many BMW dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the iX3’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. With 22 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than MINI.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 1 more problem per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, MINI is rated lower.

The iX3’s electric motors produces 155 more horsepower (463 vs. 308) and 112 lbs.-ft. more torque (476 vs. 364) than the Countryman SE’s electric motors.

On the EPA test cycle the iX3 gets better mileage than the Countryman SE:

			MPGe
iX3
		20" Summer Tires Electric Motors	125 city/110 hwy
		21" Summer Tires Electric Motors	112 city/98 hwy
		21" All Season Tires Electric Motors	111 city/98 hwy
		22" Summer Tires Electric Motors	111 city/97 hwy
		20" All Season Tires Electric Motors	107 city/97 hwy
Countryman SE
		18-inch wheels Electric Motors	99 city/94 hwy
		19-inch wheels Electric Motors	94 city/88 hwy

The iX3 can travel longer on a full charge than the Countryman SE on a full charge:

			Miles
iX3
		20" Summer Tires Electric Motors	434 miles
		21" All Season Tires Electric Motors	399 miles
		21" Summer Tires Electric Motors	398 miles
		22" Summer Tires Electric Motors	392 miles
		20" All Season Tires Electric Motors	383 miles
Countryman SE
		18-inch wheels Electric Motors	212 miles
		19-inch wheels Electric Motors	204 miles

The iX3’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 iX3 has larger standard tires than the Countryman SE (255/45R20 vs. 225/55R18). The iX3’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Countryman SE (F:255/40R21 & R:275/40R21 vs. 245/45R19).

The iX3’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Countryman SE’s standard 55 series tires. The iX3’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Countryman SE’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the iX3 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Countryman SE. The iX3’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Countryman SE.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the iX3’s wheelbase is 8.1 inches longer than on the Countryman SE (114.1 inches vs. 106 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the iX3 is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Countryman SE.

The iX3 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Countryman SE doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The iX3 has 3.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Countryman SE.

The iX3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Countryman SE with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 24.8 cubic feet). The iX3 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Countryman SE with its rear seat folded (65 vs. 56.2 cubic feet).

The iX3’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Countryman SE’s (4400 vs. 2645 pounds).

Trailer Stabilization Control is standard on the iX3, using 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. A trailer sway program costs extra on the Countryman SE.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the Countryman SE, the iX3 has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The iX3’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.

The iX3’s standard Comfort Access allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from pocket or purse. Comfort Access standard on the Countryman SE doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear doors.

Both the iX3 and the Countryman SE have standard heated front seats. The iX3 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Countryman SE.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the iX3 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 BMW iX3 has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the infotainment. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. MINI charges extra for Homelink® on the Countryman SE.