Should I buy an Audi SQ2 or Mini Countryman?
2021 Audi SQ2 v Mini Countryman JCW comparison review
One may be British and the other German, but both these premium compact SUVs are bristling with character and can show an enthusiastic driver a good time. But which is the better choice?
Overview
So you want a compact premium SUV with style and spunk? A sporty, spicy machine that’s as home in the urban jungle as it is carving through the countryside. But not just any SUV will do; you want one that looks and feels premium, one that spoils you as you drive.
With the Audi SQ2 and Mini Countryman we’ve got two distinctive and desirable vehicles that tick these boxes and more, but which one is the better premium compact SUV?
Let’s find out.
Introduction
Audi SQ2
The Audi SQ2 is an interesting car, and I'm glad it has been introduced to Australia. Ironically, Audi has timed its run well, given its cross-stable challenger known as the Volkswagen Golf R has been on hiatus for around a year now.
Not only does the 2021 Audi SQ2 have the full-fat 228kW/400Nm version of the 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder that the Aussie Golf R missed out on, but it's also packaged a bit differently.
In terms of Audi model hierarchy, the SQ2 sits atop its range. When ordered new, it can be configured with a choice of 13 options, some of which are free, some of which are extra. One no-cost option example is having its seats clad in fine Nappa leather and embossed with S logos. Another is body-coloured rear pillar trims.
In fact, the selection of nine body colours comes at no extra cost, meaning our car's fancy Apple Green duco is a free decision to make. Options that do cost money include an external gloss-black styling pack, one-off custom 'Audi Exclusive' paint, a sunroof, and some fancy 19-inch wheels.
Overall, our car features those fancy wheels and grey-painted cladding totalling $1500. It raises our test car's before-on-roads cost to $65,900, or around $71,000 driving in traffic.
Mini Countryman
Some car brands, rightly or wrongly, carry strong emotional links. You think of camping and wilderness when you think of Subaru, for instance, and the mention of Mini likely conjures up fun, spirited driving.
But thinking of Mini and practicality in the same sentence is a bit of a no-no. Or at least, it was. In the case of the 2021 Mini Countryman John Cooper Works, you can split the difference with a fun driving package that lets you share the fun with a full complement of passengers.
As the jewel atop the Mini crown, the Countryman is the biggest model in the range, and the John Cooper Works is the quickest and most driver-focussed.
The effect is a well-proportioned SUV with external dimensions right at home in the city, enough space inside to work cooperatively with young families, and that iconic Mini driving enjoyment baked in.
Get a great deal today
Interested in one of these cars? Complete your details and we'll connect you to our team.
Available in either Cooper, warmed-up Cooper S, or hot hatch in disguise John Cooper Works variants, the Countryman range steps up in power and performance at each step.
On top of picking a powertrain, you can also pick a trim package, with the John Cooper Works available as an entry-level Essential from $63,850 plus on-road costs, mid-level Classic from $68,850, or a more decked-out Mini Yours specification as seen here from $73,650 plus on-road costs.
Key details | 2021 Audi SQ2 | 2021 Mini Countryman |
Price (MSRP) | $65,300 plus on-road costs | $73,650 plus on-road costs |
Colour of test car | Apple Green | Sage Green |
Options | 19-inch Audi Sport wheels in gloss black – $1200 Bumper and lower sections in Manhattan Grey – $300 C-pillar blade in Manhattan Grey – no cost Sports front seats in nappa leather with S embossing – no cost Pearl-effect paint – no cost | Black roof and mirror caps – no cost Black sport bonnet stripe – no cost |
Price as tested | $65,900 plus on-road costs | $73,650 plus on-road costs |
Inside
Audi SQ2
Audi interiors are always top shelf, regardless of whether it's an entry-level A1 or high-end A8. You could argue that the Audi SQ2's interior finish surprises for the $65,000 price tag it wears. The doors feature a unique, microsuede trim that's bristly, tactile and looks interesting, plus its ambient lighting is dappled in shapes across the dashboard.
It's a funky-looking car inside, edgy, and proudly in-line with the car's against-the-grain ethos. Audi interiors can often be one-dimensional, with layers and layers of black leather and plastic, so it's also refreshing to see some diversity.
Other nice things include a pair of the factory-fitted sports seats up front, which are wonderfully comfortable and feature four-way electrically adjustable lumbar support (up/down/out/in). The leather feels supple, so be careful with kids and shoes, but it does wipe down easy enough with water.
Over in the second row, space is harder to find. Behind my own driving position (I'm 183cm tall), I found my knees grazing against the front seatbacks, feet left with ample space, and my head clear of the roof. It's worth noting that the design of the Audi SQ2's glasshouse means it can feel dark and claustrophobic, as the rear window doesn't extend far back into the cabin.
Still, you can fit two child seats in the back easily enough. If your kids are younger and still in rearward-facing seats, you'll have to adjust both front pews slightly to allow enough room. Other trinkets in the second row include two USB ports, a 12-volt power outlet and bottle holders, but surprisingly no middle armrest and no cupholders.
The Audi SQ2's boot measures up at 355L with all seats in play and 1000L with the second row of seats folded. As a gauge on space, a compact stroller will fit, but requires some persuasion due to a lack of width. Under the boot floor there's a subwoofer and tyre repair kit.
Mini Countryman
With a design that’s likely to split opinions, the Mini Countryman range tries to preserve some traditional Mini flavour. There's a large circular central display pod in the centre of the dash, and some toggle-type switchgear that looks like a madcap blend of modern and kitsch.
The retro aesthetic isn’t to all tastes, and it brings some ergonomic challenges – particularly in instances where new technologies meet Mini design hallmarks.
Even with relatively compact interior dimensions, interior space is pretty generous. Overall, the Mini is shorter nose-to-tail than the Mercedes-Benz GLA, Audi Q3 and BMW X1, but interior space defies those dimensions in a couple of ways.
Like the X1 on which the Countryman’s mechanical package is based, the wheelbase is an identical 2670mm, shorter than both the Audi and Mercedes, but the rear seat is still pushed back, and the tall roof ensures a nice airy feel in the cabin.
The Mini’s external shape, while being tall and boxy to the aid of spaciousness, does create some wind noise and rustling around the windscreen pillars on the move. There’s also a little more road noise than is ideal from coarse-chip road surfaces too.
The rear seat is the star in this car – to a degree, the front seats are a little oddly shaped, and the puffy padding and rounded shape tends to force you into a splayed-leg seating position.
Worse still, for the driver, the steering wheel is offset from the centre line of the seat, and Mini’s new ‘digital instrument’ (really a multi-function screen between two traditional gauges with a dark tint cover to look all-digital) is offset further still to fit the void left by the old analogue gauges.
It’s an untidy solution and an ergonomic compromise that the driver’s car of SUVs should be able to overcome.
To the boot, and the Countryman’s 450L boot is roomy, and the low, flat opening lip makes loading a breeze, as does the powered tailgate. The rear seat folds in three separate sections, so you can mix-and-match cargo and passengers if need be, up to a total luggage capacity of 1390L.
Some of the niceties of John Cooper Works Mini Yours specification include rear privacy window tint, upgraded ‘lounge’ leather seat trim, additional interior ambient lighting, a dual-pane sunroof and rear privacy tint.
Those features come in addition to powered front seats, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, heating for the front seats and steering wheel, and a driver’s head-up display available on lower-grade Countryman models.
2021 Audi SQ2 | 2021 Mini Countryman | |
Seats | Five | Five |
Boot volume | 355L seats up / 1000L seats folded | 450L seats up / 1390L seats folded |
Length | 4216mm | 4297mm |
Width | 1802mm | 1822mm |
Height | 1495mm | 1557mm |
Wheelbase | 2594mm | 2670mm |
Infotainment and Connectivity
Audi SQ2
Audi's 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit is aging well, despite being a few years old now. The graphics are sharp and its usability unrivalled, which shows you the power of good design principles. Something else showing age is the infotainment system, but again, this is not bad when you consider what's replaced it.
The Audi SQ2's previous-generation MMI Navigation Plus set-up includes an excellent and physical rotary dial controller in the lower centre console. It means you can navigate swiftly through the car's various systems without taking your eyes off the road (too much).
The latest Audi products have removed the physical controller, but I don't mind the old-school way of doing things, especially when the voice-command system struggles with an Australian accent that was partly formed in England.
The best part of the lot, however, is the standard-fit Bang and Olufsen stereo. Not only does it offer a great, clear stereo image, but its 'surround-sound' processing helps drive a great spatial audio experience. I've heard some multi-thousand-dollar-option stereos that do not sound as good, so credit is due here.
Mini Countryman
Built atop the basics of BMW’s iDrive system, Mini’s infotainment layout and touch or console dial interface should feel familiar. Mini makes things a bit cuter with colourful menu screens and more expressive graphics.
Dive deep and you’ll find a huge array of functions, with inbuilt navigation, DAB+ digital radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, and online connectivity that not only feeds info to the vehicle for news highlights and weather, but opens up remote access via a secure smartphone app.
Working your way through the screens and sub-menus is reasonably straightforward. And in concert with the steering wheel buttons and small pop-up menus in the head-up display, it makes it easy to thumb through tracks or radio stations without taking your eyes off the road.
The display size measures 8.8 inches, and the Countryman John Cooper Works upgrades to a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system compared to the six-speaker unbranded audio in lesser models.
Safety & Technology
Audi SQ2
Sadly, the Audi SQ2 version has not been subjected to the local ANCAP crash-testing protocol. However, the similar and regular Audi Q2 variants have, where they scored a full five-star result back in 2016.
As a high-end performance version in the range, the Audi SQ2 comes with as many active safety systems as possible. These include autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, active lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, plus parking sensors at both ends.
However, the 2021 Audi SQ2 does not feature any form of reverse autonomous emergency braking and rear traffic mitigation systems.
Mini Countryman
Some variants of the Mini Countryman carry a five-star ANCAP rating from 2017, but oddly the local test authority does not include petrol-powered models – only the now discontinued diesel. Technically, the Countryman John Cooper Works is unrated as a result.
Safety equipment includes six airbags, tyre pressure monitoring (and run-flat tyres), front seatbelt pretensioners, and city-speed autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, but no high-speed or intersection AEB.
The Countryman’s driver-assist features are the same throughout the range, so you’ll find traffic sign recognition, lane-departure warning, front and rear park sensors and a reverse camera, but no 360-degree view.
Adaptive cruise control and auto LED headlights, with active shading to maintain high-beam illumination while masking off around approaching traffic, are also included.
The driver can also check vital information on a flip-up head-up display, which is positioned as a secondary display above the instruments with views for speed, navigation and more.
At a glance | 2021 Audi SQ2 | 2021 Mini Countryman |
ANCAP rating & year tested | Untested | Untested |
Safety report | Link to ANCAP | Link to ANCAP |
Value for Money
Audi SQ2
My first instinct was to compare the 2021 Audi SQ2 to both the outgoing and upcoming 2022 Volkswagen Golf R, which will come in both hatch and wagon body types.
If I did, I'm sure you will too, even if for different reasons. My first is that the 2021 Audi SQ2 starts from $65,300 before on-roads and options. A new 2022 Golf R is expected to arrive here sometime next year, but I'd wager that the price won't be $55,990 anymore, given a well-specified Golf GTI costs close to $60K nowadays.
You can look directly in-house for a competitor – namely the all-new Audi S3 due in the first half of 2021 – but it's priced from $69,900 before options. It's also true that around $5000 worth of options on the 2022 Audi S3 configuration list have a historically high take-up rate, meaning real-world examples could cost closer to $80,000 drive-away.
As for cars currently available, there isn't much else like the Audi SQ2. The BMW X3 M35i starts from $73,300 before on-roads and options, making it more expensive. Some will be turned off the Mini Countryman Cooper S because it looks and feels like a wagon, but it does start from a more palatable $61,900 before on-roads.
You could try your luck with a performance hot hatch, too, like a Renault Sport Megane, but you'd feel short-changed in terms of luxury and quality, despite the car being cheaper again, like the Mini.
Mini Countryman
While there’s plenty to like about the John Cooper Works Mini Yours seen here, it’s not at the forefront of specification or technology in the small-SUV class.
Fully loaded, the $73,650 Countryman translates to a price in the low-$80K mark with on-road costs added. That’s still a touch under something like a Mercedes-AMG GLA35, and line-ball with the sportier-styled but less practical BMW X2 M35i.
Without anything that’s a neat-fit direct competitor, you could look at anything from a smaller Audi SQ2 to a Range Rover Evoque as an alternative. In the Mini’s case, though, it’ll be the perky handling and loveable bulldog styling that seal the deal – not driving your dollar further.
Officially, the Mini Countryman John Cooper Works claims a 7.6 litres per 100km fuel consumption rating. On test we saw 10.1L/100km. Put that down to the John Cooper Works’s addictive performance.
Some of our time with the car was spent exploiting its abilities on keen driving roads, and some was spent getting to and from the office. Neither situation is conducive to efficient running, so in a more balanced week, that figure should level out.
Still, for the performance on offer – and the space available – it doesn’t really feel too greedy.
At a glance | 2021 Audi SQ2 | 2021 Mini Countryman |
Warranty | Three years / unlimited km | Three years / unlimited km |
Service intervals | 12 months / 15,000km | Condition based |
Servicing costs | $2580 (5 years) | $1595 (5 years) |
Fuel cons. (claimed) | 7.7L/100km | 7.6L/100km |
Fuel cons. (on test) | 7.7L/100km | 10.1L/100km |
Fuel type | 95-octane petrol | 98-octane petrol |
Fuel tank size | 55L | 51L |
Driving
Audi SQ2
The Audi SQ2 is a surprising package. Given its upright, elevated SUV styling, you might be quick to assume it'll feel numb and inept compared to something like a hot hatchback.
However, the ride, handling and powertrain qualities far exceeded expectations. Despite being higher off the ground than a Golf R, it wears similar weight and is a pip smaller overall, meaning it isn't as hampered as you first think. The performance on offer is akin to a hatchback, because its design is actually somewhat of a cloak.
Off-mark and on-roll performance are stellar, with road surface changes and even weather deviations not enough to hinder its ability. The performance Continental tyres provide stacks of traction, aiding 0-100km/h sprints close to the claim of 4.9sec.
It's a confidence-inspiring, all-condition, and dependable compact performance family car, if there were such a niche. Even though it rides on 19-inch wheels, the ride comfort on offer is still palatable during the day-to-day. Australian-spec Audi SQ2s feature regular, single-setting suspension dampers, meaning what you drive is what you get.
Nasty pieces of road will cause some shuddering through the car, and mid-corner bumps at pace will unsettle it slightly, but consider both as driver feedback. The amount of pace it carries on a good stretch of road is just as entertaining and it is laughable, because the Audi SQ2 doesn't reserve the right to be so quick.
It's why I mentioned it feels naughty, as there is some juxtaposition from its aesthetic qualities to its performance ones. I'm also sure the people interested in one value performance but don't necessarily crave it. The types who don't mind a string of bends, or a quick round-about, every now and again.
The dual-clutch seven-speed auto transmission is relatively smooth, but most importantly will downshift and upshift in-line with dynamic driving. However, it can demonstrate foibles at low speeds. Reverse parking up a slight incline is just something a dual-clutch transmission fails to humour, and bumper-to-bumper traffic can result in some awkward throttle inputs and hesitations.
The upsides are worth the trade-offs in this package. If you're someone who's maturing and moving on from a fast-ish sports car or hot hatch, you'll have no problems getting your jollies off here. Aside from the outright space, there's some enjoyable character, good steering, and a trustworthiness when you decide to get stuck in.
In terms of fuel usage, it returned 7.7L/100km, identical to the official combined claim.
Mini Countryman
The Mini Countryman John Cooper Works’s party piece is, unquestionably, its engine. The sporty SUV even shares its ‘most-powerful’ title with the superstar John Cooper Works GP hatch and the Clubman John Cooper Works.
That means a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine producing 225kW at 6250rpm and 450Nm from 1750 to 4500rpm sent via an eight-speed torque converter automatic to an on-demand all-wheel-drive system.
With that much grunt on tap, the Countryman John Cooper Works can slingshot from 0-100km/h in a claimed 5.1 seconds. Quick enough to embarrass the neighbourhood hot hatch brigade, if that’s your thing.
It’s genuinely eager-feeling too. Easy enough to run about town in, but immediately responsive, with a linear torque swell that sees it make short work of rolling acceleration.
The eight-speed auto tends towards efficiency when left in its normal mode, but select sport mode and the entire package sharpens up, with responsive downshifts and gears that hold nicely in more heated driving.
Because the Countryman doesn’t use a dual-clutch auto, it’s much more well-mannered for peak-hour jams and low-speed parking too.
Like the engine, the John Cooper Works enhancements to steering and suspension tweak an already decent package into a more honed and purposeful one.
There’s an underlying firmness to the ride, but it’s the balanced kind. It’ll forgive a few lumps and bumps in the surface, keep the car in check on a twisty mountain pass, and not rattle your fillings out in the process.
Again, you can wick up the drive modes and sport-ify the adaptive suspension if you want, but the regular mode feels like a better fit. Even in heated driving.
That buttoned-down ride and confidence-inspiring all-wheel drive give the Countryman John Cooper Works an edge over the rest of the Mini range. This and the plug-in hybrid Cooper SE are the only all-wheel-drive Countryman models, but only this one is configured with performance in mind.
Alongside the less powerful Countryman Cooper S, the John Cooper Works is better able to harness traction out of corners, and feels more settled through the steering to boot. The wheel has a reassuring weight to it, and feels fast and agile in a way that suits the Countryman’s size, if not quite a match for the nimbler hatch.
The big Mini can’t quite hide its 1605kg kerb heft. You feel it through bends and on more rough-shod road surfaces.
Like the best of us, post-lockdown, the Countryman isn’t in the worst shape, but if you really wanted something more athletic, this wouldn't be the Mini to go for – though it does still drive like a Mini through and through.
Key details | 2021 Audi SQ2 | 2021 Mini Countryman |
Engine | 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol | 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol |
Power | 228kW @ 6500rpm | 225kW @ 6250rpm |
Torque | 400Nm @ 2000-5200rpm | 450Nm @ 1750-4500rpm |
Drive type | All-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
Transmission | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic | Eight-speed torque convertor automatic |
Power to weight ratio | 148.5kW/t | 143.7kW/t |
Weight | 1535kg | 1566kg |
Tow rating | 1400kg braked, 750kg unbraked | 1500kg braked, 750kg unbraked |
Conclusion
Putting these two distinctive vehicles side by side delivers some interesting talking points. None more so than their diverse takes on design and ergonomics.
Externally, you couldn’t get two more different looking vehicles, and it’s a design dichotomy that continues within. Where everything about the Audi has a Germanic precision and unobtrusive aesthetic, the Mini exudes an extroverted flair that reflects the brand’s youthful exuberance. As living spaces go, deciding between the two will largely come down to personal preference because both are exceedingly well equipped. For the pragmatically minded, the Mini actually has more space inside and has a considerably bigger boot, too.
Splitting the two on safety is tough; they’re both equipped with a long list of passive and active safety features, and although neither has been ANCAP crash-tested, close siblings have and both scored five stars.
The driving experience is where these two potent performers really shine. Both have strong turbocharged four-cylinder engines that deliver 0-100km/h in a respectably fast five seconds, and both are all-wheel drive. The Mini’s ride is a touch more uncompromising, but its eight-speed conventional auto better handles low-speed parking manoeuvres compared to the Audi’s dual-clutch cog-swapper.
Dynamically, there is no loser, but the Audi is a marginally more complete driving machine.
Let’s not forget the Audi is also cheaper, although there are more affordable Countryman variants (Countryman JCW Classic at $64,000 for example) if you’re willing to forego some of the nice-to-haves.
The Audi’s powertrain is also more efficient, although the money you save here will be lost come servicing time.
If it were our money, we’d choose the Audi SQ2 even though it’s smaller inside. The only seat we’re interested in is behind the wheel, and since it’s our money we will prioritise our enjoyment over spaciousness and the comfort of others.
Sure, that’s a selfish reason, but most cars carry just their owner most of the time, so it’s also a decision based on pragmatic reality.