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The Mini Countryman SUV is the first subcompact crossover style of vehicle produced by BMW under the Mini marque, first launched in 2010. It was then given several facelifts before the launch of the second generation model in 2017. After an update in 2020, the current Mini Countryman feels like the grown up and more serious sibling to the Mini hatchback.
The Audi Q2 launched in 2016 and is built on the Volkswagen Group's MQB A1 platform, which is shared with the SEAT Ateca and Volkswagen T Roc. It's Audi's first attempt at a compact crossover design and combines their luxury styling with great equipment and lower running costs.
Our guide will compare the Audi Q2 VS Mini Countryman and highlight where these cars differ so that you can choose whichever model will suit you and your needs best.
The design of the Mini Countryman has been divisive since it's initial launch, primarily due to the size and shaping of it, with many people disliking the squared off shape at the back and bulkier proportions.
Mini gives you more personalisation options for the Countryman than Audi do for the Q2. As well as the expected paint colour and alloy styles Mini let you customise the colour of the roof, the bonnet stripes, and the mirror caps to truly make it your own car. Audi is a lot more uniform in design and style with only paint and alloy choices.
The Audi Q2 is built with a light and strong chassis which gives sharp handling and refinement and has also allowed designers to create a very distinctive style. The most recent facelift saw an increase in size to the air vents and lowered the top of the front grille. The Q2 has a strong range of paint options too, meaning that you can choose to really make your model stand out if you choose.
The Countryman is the larger car of the two in all dimensions which means that it's going to be more comfortable for a full car of passengers. Head room for rear passengers increases from 944mm in the Q2 to 972mm in the Countryman and you can expect there to be more rear legroom too.
The Mini Countryman wins again with boot space, it has 115 litres more room than the Audi Q2 before you have to start folding any of the rear seats. With the rear seats folded the Countryman opens up from 450 litres to 1390 litres whilst the Q2 goes from 335 litres to 1090 litres.
There are similarities in finishes, such as chrome trims around the air vents, a leather covered steering wheel, and reasonable amounts of cabin storage, but ultimately these two cars manage to maintain very distinctive styles of their own.
Looking at equipment you can expect a range of shared standard features on the entry level Mini Cooper Countryman and Audi Q2 Technik such as LED headlights, cruise control, rear parking sensors, and a multi function steering wheel.
The Audi Q2 adds a few more luxury pieces of equipment such as four way electric lumbar support for the front seats and a power operated tailgate which sets it's entry level trim apart from the equivalent for the Mini Countryman, but it then includes some features that many now expect to find on a new car such as keyless entry.
Both have a distinct centre console, the iconic round screen for the Mini Countryman and the rectangular screen which sits on top of the dashboard for the Audi Q2, and have extensive connected services available through them.
Increasing your trim level on either model will then add and upgrade the equipment including changes like leather seats, body styling kits, and different styles of alloy wheels. Mini, again, gives you more options here for personalisation including choosing your headlining, interior trim finishes, and seat upholstery. The Countryman also gives you the option to add on the Premium Plus Pack which includes equipment like a panoramic glass sunroof and wireless phone charging.
The Countryman has the engine with the most power in the form of the John Cooper Works, a 2.0 litre petrol engine capable of 306HP and a top speed of 155mph. For comparison, the Audi Q2's1.5 litre petrol engine is capable of only half of that at 148HP and a top speed of 131mph, although it then performs better on fuel economy as a result.
The most economical engine also falls to the Mini Countryman with its plug in hybrid offering. Currently Audi are offering hybrid from the Q3 and above or select cars from their sport back and saloon models.
Mini's plug in hybrid offers a 1.6 petrol engine supported by an electric battery and offers 143PS, placing it just under the Audi Q2's 1.5 full petrol engine. However, as you would expect form a hybrid, it's performance on fuel is what sets it apart. Mini estimate that you can expect as much as 156.9 mpg combined from its hybrid and emissions as low as 41 g/km.
It appears that at the time of writing there is no option to order the Audi Q2 Quattro all wheel drive, which had been popular, meaning that the Q2 is currently front wheel drive only. Contrastingly the Mini Countryman plug in hybrid offers four wheel drive
The Mini Countryman and the Audi Q2 will both do a very similar job in terms of performing as a family car. Both provide good amounts of room and a sensible amount of engine options. However the Countryman pulls ahead slightly in terms of performance and additional room which is useful if you have a full car.
If you're still comparing the Audi Q2 vs Mini Countryman then our knowledgeable teams at our Audi sites in Aberdeen and Dundee and our Mini sites in Aberdeen and Tayside are always available to help you choose your next car.
