Mini Countryman VS Kia Seltos
Mini Countryman
Likes
- Cute styling inside and out
- Responsive engine
- Practical
Dislikes
- High urban fuel consumption
- Visibility restricted while driving
- No shifting paddles
Kia Seltos
Likes
Dislikes
Summary
Mini Countryman
The Countryman is Mini’s SUV and the new-generation model has grown in size making it the biggest Mini ever made. But even then it’s still a small SUV.
We’ve tested the Countryman S All4 in the Favoured grade to find out if it could be the ideal urban little SUV.
In this review we rate the Countryman S All4 Favoured for what it’s like to drive and how fuel efficient it is, how practical and spacious the cabin is for people and their stuff, check out the safety equipment, list its features and weigh up the value-for-money.
Read more about
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| Safety rating | — |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 2.0L |
| Fuel Type | Pulp |
| Fuel Efficiency | 7.6L/100km |
| Seating | 5 seats |
Kia Seltos
One thing Australia seemingly has no shortage of at the moment is small SUVs.
Well, this isn't entirely true. If you wanted to get your hands on a Toyota Corolla Cross, for example, there is a shortage.
But amongst some of the other most recently released models, which you might be able to actually drive away in, which one will suit your lifestyle the best?
To find out we've grabbed three of the most recently released or updated small SUVs (but not the Corolla Cross, which is attracting a 12 month waiting queue) to help you narrow your shopping list down.
We've assembled the recently facelifted Kia Seltos, the new-generation Nissan Qashqai and the Subaru Crosstrek, which is essentially a deep update of the XV before it, to put them through their daily paces and find out if we can determine a clear winner, or at least what kind of buyers these small SUVs would best suit.
| Safety rating | |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 1.3L turbo |
| Fuel Type | Premium Unleaded Petrol |
| Fuel Efficiency | 6.1L/100km |
| Seating | 5 seats |
Verdict
Mini Countryman8/10
The Mini Countryman S All4 Favoured is cute, practical, fun to drive, good value and has the latest safety tech. But its urban fuel consumption is high for a small SUV. If you are staying mainly in the city the electric Countryman might make this already excellent SUV just about perfect for you and your urban lifestyle.
Kia Seltos/10
This has been a tough test. On paper, these cars are closely matched, and while we'll call out an overall winner, it's not quite that simple.
The truth is, each car will ultimately suit a different buyer. An adventurous couple or a single person? The Subaru Crosstrek R is almost a no-brainer, with its all-wheel drive and superior ground clearance, as well as a very worthy slew of upgrades over its XV predecessor, especially if you don't need extra space.
If you're a value-conscious family buyer, however, it's hard to walk past the Kia Seltos Sport+. This car impresses with its huge cabin and storage space, bargain price and stellar ownership terms, but is let down by its so-so equipment list and plasticky cabin.
The car which I feel brings the best attributes to this test, though, is the Nissan Qasqhai ST-L. It lands in a nice middle ground between the two others, with a contemporary design, the most modern drive experience of our choices here, and a plush cabin.
While it's also the most expensive car on this test to buy and own, it's clear where your money is going with this one, and so, by a narrow margin, it's our winner.
Overall scores:
Subaru Crosstrek R: 7.1
Nissan Qashqai ST-L: 7.9
Kia Seltos Sport+: 7.6
Design
Mini Countryman
The Mini Countryman S Favoured’s design is so interesting it’s easier to make a list of things about it which aren’t interesting. The list: i) tyres, ii) windscreen wipers, iii) seat belts.
That’s pretty much it. I mean they’re interesting in that we can’t live without them but they're not cute like the headlights, pug-nosed bonnet, tiny windscreen and sad-faced grille.
Nor stunning like the cabin’s large central display. The first-ever circular OLED display in a car, by the way. And certainly not as intriguing as the way the interior door trim changes colour from the back to the front.
The Countryman S is all-wheel drive and Mini has given it a rugged look complete with All4 badging.
The Countryman S All4 comes in nine colours, ours is 'Smokey Green' and you can mix and match the colours with the roof and wing mirrors ('Vibrant Silver' on our car).
The test car's wheels are 20-inch alloy 'Windmill' design and although they aren’t the most intricate looking they're easy to clean.
Another interesting Countryman attribute is its size. This is the biggest Mini ever made at 4.44m long, 1.84m wide and 1.66m tall.
So, if you do decide to buy one be prepared for “not very mini, is it?” jokes delivered by unfunny people haunting petrol stations and shopping centre car parks.
Kia Seltos
With small SUVs beauty will always be in the eye of the beholder, as each offers a significantly different look and feel.
The Seltos gives off a complex, futuristic vibe, suiting its Korean origins, although it's let down by a lot of plastic cladding on the outside, and its dorky yellow-tinged halogen headlights dress down the otherwise-nice design.
The same vibe continues on the inside for better or worse, with a slick, modern design lifted by its neat digital suite, but let down by the abundance of hard plastics and more than a few cheap touches. In this sense, it is the least expensive-feeling car on this test.
The Subaru builds on the chunky off-road ready formula established by its XV predecessor. This time around, though, it looks more curvy and contemporary.
There's a lot of cool functional detailing in its bodywork, and the LEDs lift its presence on the road.
Inside it feels cosy and ready for action with its chunky steering wheel and seemingly hard-wearing cloth seat trim. The new portrait touchscreen, as part of a major digital overhaul, is welcome, but somehow the brand has managed to make this system too busy, with a lot going on, in terms of buttons and segmented display items.
At the top of the tree, the Nissan manages to look understated and classy, with a slick, coherent design language from the outside, consisting of clean integrated light fittings and tidy piano gloss highlight pieces, with a tasteful smattering of silver and chrome.
Little details like the Qashqai badges strewn about its bodywork are a clever attention-to-detail touch. To me it's the most consistent design on this test, and it feels it on the inside.
Unlike the other two cars on this test, there's little about it which tries to dazzle you with over-the-top tech, with the screens in this car feeling comparatively laid back but still functional.
It also has the nicest materials throughout the cabin, and arguably the most supportive seat trim (although the cloth material which runs down the centre of each seat feels a bit odd.)
Do we have a winner? Again it will depend on what you're looking for to a degree, but I think the Nissan looks and feels the nicest, inside and out.
Score
Subaru Crosstrek R | Nissan Qashqai ST-L | Kia Seltos Sport+ |
| 7 | 8 | 7 |
Practicality
Mini Countryman
The Countryman is Mini’s SUV and the brand has clearly attempted to make the interior feel rugged and practical with touches like hard wearing materials and grippy surfaces, plus clever storage.
There are big door pockets with moulded compartments, shelves under the dashboard, a covered area between the driver and front passenger and four cupholders.
There are plenty of power outlets, too, with four type-C USB ports, two 12V outlets and a wireless phone charger.
If you were wondering how roomy the Countryman is, don’t fear, there’s plenty of space up front even for me at 189cm with wide seats and good elbow room. Space in the back is excellent with plenty of legroom and headroom. All up there are five seats on board.
If you’re going to be using the rear doors for passengers a lot, take a look at the size of the opening. It’s small and getting in and out might be a problem for older and less flexible people.
As for cargo space the Countryman has a 505L boot with all seats upright.
The Countryman’s BMW X1 twin offers better practicality and space, but lacks the cute, quirky looks. Having lived with both cars it’s clear the X1 makes a better family car.
Something to keep in mind if you’re looking for better practicality for about the same price, size and performance.
Kia Seltos
An SUV in this class needs to be practical, as most family buyers who don't want a big mid-sizer still need a small SUV to be up for all of their family challenges.
On this test, two SUVs perform, while one falls short.
Kicking off with our budget player, the Seltos Sport+, and things are very good. The front seat offers a commanding view of the road, with a great seating position, and the largest rear window of our choices here, handing it an automatic win for overall visibility from the driver's position.
It also offers plenty of room for someone 182cm tall like me, as well as good adjustability of both the seat and steering column, even if it's the only car without an electric driver's seat.
Like most Kia products, storage in the cabin is great, with a big bottle holder and map pocket combo in the door trim, a pair of large but non-variable bottle holders in the centre console, a two-tier shelf below the climate unit good for wallets and phones, and an additional tray behind the electronic parking brake good for the same sorts of objects.
While it scores USB-A, USB-C and a 12-volt connector up front, it is the only car with no wireless charging.
Thankfully, the software on its big multimedia screen is fast and slick and well laid out, and there is a sufficient number of buttons and dials for adjusting climate and volume functions for relatively distraction-free driving.
The back-seat in the Seltos is, by a close margin, the best on this test, with superior headroom compared to the Nissan and the Subaru, and good legroom, even behind my own driving position.
There's cheap plastic trim on the back of the driver's seat, to match the cheap plastic trim in the doors, lowering the ambiance of the space, but it's all hard wearing, which is good for those with kids.
Again, there's a bottle holder in the door on each side, and a further two small ones in the drop-down armrest, and the Kia offers USB-A connectors and adjustable air vents for rear passengers.
Boot space is also a clear win for the Kia. Not only does it have the largest volume (refer to the table below), but it's also a big, square, accessible space, and the easiest to fit our three-piece demo luggage set, or pram.
It is also the only car on this test to offer a rare full-size matching spare wheel under the floor, but is also the only car missing a luggage cover.
Next up, the Subaru. It looks the most like a hatchback of our set here, and feels it in the cabin.
Up-front it's notably the most closed-in and cosy space, which comes with the downside of having the least visibility of our trio, particularly out its small rear window.
It feels purposeful, though, with the chunky wheel and seats suiting the off-road-ready vibe and there are enough high-quality materials throughout the cabin to keep it soft and comfortable.
Despite its more diminutive interior dimensions, it still has sufficient space for someone 182cm tall in the front, and adjustability isn't bad, either.
There are decent bottle holders in the doors, a further two fixed ones in the centre console, and a tray below the media screen with power outlets and a wireless charger.
Interestingly, the wireless charger is almost useless because Subaru has chosen to make it a smooth plastic finish, so your phone slides out of the area in the first corner you encounter.
It's easily fixed with a BYO rubber mat, but still, why was this not thought of in development?
The back seat is a surprise. While it is harder to climb into thanks to a descending, hatch-like roofline, the roof itself has an extrusion in it to grant rear passengers a little extra headroom, and it works.
I was also surprised to see the rear seat has been cleverly engineered to maximise knee room, although the centre position is all but useless for an adult due to the centre raise required for this car's all-wheel drive system taking up all the legroom.
The Subaru also has the least rear-seat amenity, with the smallest door bottle holders and drop-down armrest holders, no adjustable air vents, with only a USB-A and USB-C connector as luxuries for those riding in the back.
The real deal-breaker for family buyers, though, will be the Crosstrek's boot. Despite boot space being a key criticism of this car's XV predecessor, the Crosstrek manages to crop some 20 or so litres from the space this time around, down to just 291L, by far the smallest on this test.
It was the only car which couldn't fit the whole demo luggage set, although it could still accommodate the pram.
The Subaru's final party trick is its impressive 220mm ground clearance to go with its all-wheel drive system, by far the most capable of the choices here if you're venturing beyond the tarmac, although it still only has a space-saver spare under the boot floor.
The Nissan lands between the others when it comes to practicality, but it's still within striking distance of the Seltos in terms of overall space.
Up front, passengers are treated to nice plush seats, the most extensive list of trims in the doors and across the dashboard, and even soft materials for your knees.
These add up and go a long way towards making the Nissan feel as though it has the most upmarket cabin of the choices on this test.
Adjustability, like the other cars here, is good, although visibility over the nose is more limited, as you sit lower and the dash-line is higher. Good thing the Nissan is also the only car with a handy 360-degree parking suite.
Bottle holders include a massive one in the doors, two more with variable edges in the centre console, and a nice big rubberised charging bay for your phone under the climate unit.
The rear seat continues the plush treatment, with soft materials on the backs of the front seats, and into the doors.
I found I had plenty of space behind my own driving position, roughly on-par with the Seltos, and the Qashqai serves rear passengers with large bottle holders in the doors, a further two small ones in the drop-down armrest, adjustable air vents, as well as USB-A and USB-C charging ports.
The boot is a tad smaller than the Kia's, and a little less square, but offers soft claddings for all the surfaces, so your luggage won't scratch hard plastics.
The Qashqai easily consumed the whole CarsGuide luggage set or the pram, and under the floor there is a space-saver spare. The Qashqai also has the highest towing capacity of our choices here, refer to the table below for more.
| Subaru Crosstrek R | Nissan Qashqai ST-L | Kia Seltos Sport+ |
Boot space | 291L | 429L | 433L |
Rear amenity | USB A + C | Vents, USB A + C | Vents, USB A |
Dimensions (L x W x H - mm) | 4495 x 1800 x 1600 | 4425 x 1835 x 1625 | 4385 x 1800 x 1635 |
Towing capacity unbraked/braked (kg) | 650/1400 | 750/1500 | 600/1100 |
Ground clearance | 220mm | 193mm | 170mm |
Turning circle | 10.8 | 11.1m | 10.6m |
Spare | Space-saver | Space-saver | Full-size alloy |
Score
Subaru Crosstrek R | Nissan Qashqai ST-L | Kia Seltos Sport+ |
| 6 | 8 | 8 |
Price and features
Mini Countryman
We have tested the Mini Countryman S All4 Favoured. In Mini-speak that means it sits in the middle of the Countryman line-up and it’s all-wheel drive. The list price is $61,990.
Coming standard are LED headlights, black roof rails, 20-inch alloy wheels, proximity unlocking, John Cooper Works seats, dual-zone climate control, heated power front seats, a heated sports steering wheel, a round OLED media display, a head-up display, sat nav, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system and wireless phone charging. And by the way the interior colour which transitions from brown to blue is also standard on the Favoured.
The value is pretty good for what really is a prestige car and that means you’re comparing it to things like a Volvo XC40 and it’s not-so identical twin the BMW X1.
Kia Seltos
As mentioned, we've grabbed upper mid-grade models of each of our cars here. Theoretically, they should represent the best value in their respective line-ups, offering the most kit for a reasonable spend.
To kick it off, the most affordable car here is the Kia Seltos Sport+. Wearing a before-on-roads price-tag of $35,800, the Seltos seems to instantly be a value pick amongst our choices, although it has had the most minor recent update, a mild nip-and-tuck with tweaks to its equipment level.
It has some appealing attributes, including a fully digital instrument cluster to match its multimedia screen, built-in navigation, and partially synthetic leather seats, as well as having the largest boot capacity.
However, it is lacking in some significant areas. It's the only car here to have halogen headlights, the only car without power adjust for the driver's seat, it's missing dual-zone climate, and it's also missing wireless phone mirroring or charging.
Priced in the middle is the Subaru Crosstrek R. Its price comes in at $38,490 and the equipment is impressive. The obvious value stand-out is standard all-wheel drive, but it's not the Crosstrek's only trick, with it also featuring 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, and a massive 11.6-inch portrait touchscreen.
But it's also the only car here to miss out on partial leather seat trim, built-in navigation, and front parking sensors.
Finally, we have the Nissan Qashqai ST-L. Priced at $42,190 it's by a significant margin the most expensive car on this test, but it's also the best equipped.
It has the largest set of wheels (19-inch), it's the only car here to feature heated front seats and steering wheel, it scores a similar digital suite to the other two, with wireless phone mirroring and charging, and has the most extensive amount of soft-touch materials on the inside.
We've covered the highlights here, if you want a full summary of key equipment items, check the table below.
Before we move on, though, it's worth noting the Seltos complicates this test because of the sheer number of variants it is offered in.
For similar money to the Nissan, you can choose the Seltos in top-spec GT-Line form, but with the same front-wheel drive layout, which goes some way to compensating for its missing equipment.
Alternatively, for similar money to the Subaru, you can get the same Sport+ grade, but with a turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive.
While we'll keep impressions on this test restricted to the car we have here, it is worth considering if you were looking to test drive and buy one of these cars.
Do we have a winner for pricing and spec? Not really. It's a story of getting what you're paying for at each level, so as far as we see it they're reasonably evenly matched.
| Subaru Crosstrek R | Nissan Qashqai ST-L | Kia Seltos Sport+ |
Price (MSRP) | $38,490 | $42,190 | $35,800 |
Wheel size | 18-inch | 19-inch | 17-inch |
Multimedia screen | 11.6-inch (portrait) | 12.3-inch | 10.25-inch |
Digital instruments | No | 7.0-inch Semi-digital | 10.25-inch |
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto | Yes, wireless | Yes, wireless | Yes, wired |
Sat-nav | No | Yes | Yes |
Wireless charging | Yes | Yes | No |
LED headlights | Yes | Yes | No |
Keyless entry/push-start | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Climate control | Dual-zone | Dual-zone | Single-zone |
Seat trim | ‘Premium Cloth’ | Synthetic leather/cloth | Synthetic leather/cloth |
Power adjust | Driver | Driver | No |
USB ports | USB C, USB A | USB C, USB A | USB C, USB A |
Score
| Subaru Crosstrek R | Nissan Qashqai ST-L | Kia Seltos Sport+ |
| 8 | 8 | 8 |
Under the bonnet
Mini Countryman
The Mini Countryman S has a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine making 150kW and 300Nm - the same one powering the BMW X1.
This is a more powerful engine than the three-cylinder found in entry-grade Countryman C, but doesn’t have the grunt of the more hardcore Countryman JCW that sits above it in the range.
A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic flips through gears quickly and smoothly. If only there were shifting paddles on the Countryman S so the driver could be a bit more involved.
As mentioned earlier the Countryman S is all-wheel drive which is great for extra traction but doesn’t make this little SUV a capable off-roader, so keep your adventures no wilder than dirt or gravel roads that aren’t too challenging.
Kia Seltos
While each vehicle on this test has a different approach under the bonnet, they all end up with similar power outputs.
The Seltos is the most traditional of the bunch, with a big old 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder engine and no turbocharger. It is also the lightest car on this test, but produces the least power, at 110kW/180Nm.
The Crosstrek uses Subaru's signature flat ‘boxer' engine layout with a 2.0-litre capacity and is the only car here with all-wheel drive (it's real, permanent all-wheel drive, too!).
With 115kW/196Nm on tap, it has the most kilowatts out of the choices here, but still has less torque than the Nissan and is by far the heaviest vehicle on-test.
Finally, the Nissan is the only vehicle here to have a down-sized turbocharged engine, with a 1.3-litre four-cylinder unit producing 110kW/250Nm.
All cars drive the wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission, and with relatively even power outputs it's hard to make a call on a winner in this department, but to me the Nissan at least feels more modern than the dated set-ups in the other two choices.
| Subaru Crosstrek R | Nissan Qashqai ST-L | Kia Seltos Sport+ |
Engine size | 2.0L four-cyl NA | 1.3L four-cyl turbo | 2.0L four-cyl NA |
Drivetrain | AWD | FWD | FWD |
Power | 115kW | 110kW | 110kW |
Torque | 196Nm | 250Nm | 180Nm |
Transmission | CVT | CVT | CVT |
Weight (Tare) | 1493kg | 1452kg | 1375kg |
Score
Subaru Crosstrek R | Nissan Qashqai ST-L | Kia Seltos Sport+ |
| 6 | 8 | 7 |
Efficiency
Mini Countryman
Mini says the Countryman S should use 7.6L/100km of premium unleaded petrol after a combination of open and urban roads, but also says if you’re driving is restricted to just the city consumption will jump to 9.9L/100km. Our own testing was mainly urban and we measured 11.2L/100km at the fuel pump.
Thanks to a 45-litre tank, driving range between fills is around 450km using the official consumption figure and just over 400km using our real-world average.
The relatively heavy fuel consumption is a weakness in the Countryman S’s urban suitability. The three-cylinder Countryman C is more fuel efficient but the electric Countryman E is a much better alternative and only costs about $5000 more than our test car.
Kia Seltos
Fuel consumption should be pretty straightforward here, a function of weight and engine design, however all was not as it seemed on our 100km mixed conditions controlled test.
Officially, the Subaru consumes the most fuel, stated at 7.2L/100km, which would make sense given it is the heaviest, with the added burden of all-wheel drive.
Next down is the Seltos, with its older engine giving it a claimed consumption of 6.9L/100km. While the Nissan claims to be the most trim, with its high-tech small capacity engine granting it an official consumption of 6.1L/100km.
In reality, though, the results were almost flipped around. Over 100km of combined testing, the Subaru consumed the least fuel, at 6.2L/100km measured at the pump, the Nissan landed in the middle at 6.6L/100km, while the Seltos was the thirstiest, consuming 7.1L/100km.
While the results are surprising, they are still very close and well within margins of error and driving style of each other.
It is worth noting, the Nissan's turbocharged engine is the only one to require more expensive 95RON fuel, while the other two are happy to consume 91.
| Subaru Crosstrek R | Nissan Qashqai ST-L | Kia Seltos Sport+ |
Official/combined | 7.2L/100km | 6.1L/100km | 6.9L/100km |
On-test (100km measured at pump) | 6.2L/100km | 6.6L/100km | 7.1L/100km |
Minimum RON | 91 | 95 | 91 |
Fuel tank size | 63L | 55L | 50L |
Theoretical range between fills | 875km | 902km | 725km |
Score
Subaru Crosstrek R | Nissan Qashqai ST-L | Kia Seltos Sport+ |
| 8 | 8 | 8 |
Driving
Mini Countryman
The Mini Countryman S is a fun and comfortable car to drive with sporty handling. That 2.0-litre engine has plenty of oomph, the all-wheel drive offers flawless traction in rain and the transmission shifts decisively.
The drive mode list lets you flip through 'Experiences' using a switch under the media display. The Experiences range from 'Efficiency' for better fuel economy to 'Go Kart' which is a sport mode that shifts gears quicker or holds them to keep the engine in the most responsive rev range.
It would have been good if Mini gave the Countryman S Favourerd shifting paddles. I’m a fan of these, but they’re only available on the grade above.
If there is a downside it’s that visibility from the driver’s seat isn’t great and this comes down to the design of the vehicle which is undoubtedly cute but has small windows and blind spots caused by thick pillars. Even the All4 badge on the side of the car obstructs visibility through the window it’s fixed to.
The Countryman S isn’t tiny, either, at 4.44m long and 1.84m wide, and the visibility actually makes this small SUV feel larger than it is. You’ll get used to this as well. If you are concerned about the size, there are smaller Minis like the three-door which feels a lot more… mini.
Kia Seltos
One thing I should get out of the way before we launch into driving impressions, is none of these cars will be a deal-breaker from behind the wheel.
They are all very competent for the segment, and each respective recent update has made them significantly better than they were prior.
Kia Seltos Sport+
Starting with the Kia, and the benefits of its extra visibility are evident straight away, particularly out its large rear window.
The digital suite also feels nice, with a customisable interface and plenty of information on offer, and it's reasonably easy to adjust things on-the-fly, whilst concentrating on the road.
Interestingly, the Kia has the firmest ride, and the heaviest steering, but despite this feels settled over bumps and corrugations, and surprisingly planted in the corners.
The engine, despite having the least power on offer, feels the strongest of the bunch, and the transmission is smooth and linear when it comes to applying power to the ground, making it a surprise stand-out.
The biggest downside of the Kia is its infuriating safety suite. While its lane-keep system is a tad overzealous and heavy-handed, it's the speed alert feature which ruins it.
This feature pairs with the traffic sign detection to warn you if you creep over the speed limit, and does so by sounding an irritating alarm.
Not only does it default to on every time you start the car, it's also often incorrect with the speed it picks up, including out-of-time school zones, picking up 40 zones off the back of buses, picking up signs from parallel roads and exit ramps, the list goes on. Software update please, Kia.
Subaru Crosstrek R
Next, the Subaru. As mentioned, the Crosstrek has the poorest visibility out of the cabin, with a more letterbox windscreen, tiny rear window, and a hatch-like seating position in a car with an SUV-like ride height.
Still, the Crosstrek has great visibility out the side for looking into the lane next to you, and it's by far the most organic feeling vehicle to steer, with well-tuned electric assistance on the rack.
It also has the most forgiving ride with the most suspension travel, making it surprisingly comfortable in the front and back seats, even over bumps, undulations and corrugations.
Thanks to its weight and all-wheel drive system, the Subaru also feels the sturdiest and safest in the corners, sticking to the road with determination, even on loosely-sealed surfaces.
The update which changed it across from XV to Crosstrek has also brought with it numerous quality of life improvements, including a big jump in refinement, removing a significant amount of road, tyre, and wind noise from the cabin at freeway-speeds, once a major Subaru downside.
The area where the Crosstrek is most let down is its engine. While it has sufficient power on paper, getting up to speed is a noisy, thrashy affair, with the CVT not helping the situation at all by holding the car at high revs and leaving the driver with uneven feedback when accelerating.
At least the Subaru's safety suite is functional and unobtrusive to the driving experience.
Nissan Qashqai ST-L
Finally, the Nissan. Somewhat unsurprisingly, the car which looks and feels the most modern and has had the most comprehensive suite of upgrades from its predecessor is also the most modern-feeling car to drive.
Visibility is a decent middle-ground between the other two options here, and low-speed manoeuvring is a breeze with its light steering and 360-degree camera view.
The Nissan feels the lightest and springiest of the lot, with its light steering being a little twitchy but very reactive, and its responsive little turbo engine adding a some fun to the mix.
I was surprised to find it didn't feel majorly peppier than the other choices here, with engine response dulled slightly by its doughy but sufficient continuously variable automatic transmission.
The ride also falls in a happy middle ground between the firm springs of the Seltos and the soft ride of the Subaru. The Qashqai dispatched bumps and undulations very well, but did reach its limits more abruptly on larger hits.
Its safety suite also largely ran in the background, with the only (very small) annoyance coming from the way the car slows itself down in corners and if you drift to the edge of your lane when using adaptive cruise control.
Most importantly, the Nissan didn't have a single significant downside which would annoy a driver every day like the Subaru's thrashy engine, or the Kia's invasive safety equipment, whilst providing a good middle ground of the more appealing traits of its rivals.
Score
Subaru Crosstrek R | Nissan Qashqai ST-L | Kia Seltos Sport+ |
| 7 | 8 | 8 |
Safety
Mini Countryman
The Mini Countryman S has yet to be assessed by ANCAP, but its BMW X1 twin scored the maximum five-star score in 2022 and we’d have no reason to suspect the Mini won’t achieve a high mark.
Coming standard is AEB, blind-spot warning, lane keeping assistance and rear cross-traffic alert with braking.
There are front airbags, curtain airbags covering both rows and a centre airbag between the driver and front passenger.
For child seats you’ll find two ISOFIX points and three top tether anchor mounts across the second row.
The lack of a spare tyre is disappointing but there is a puncture repair kit that’s easy to use.
Kia Seltos
All cars have impressive safety suites, with all the key up-to-date active items featuring.
All cars score high-speed auto emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist detection, and junction assist.
All cars also feature lane keep assist with lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, speed alert, driver attention alert, and tyre pressure monitoring.
Only the Subaru scores rear auto braking, although it misses out on front parking sensors, and the Nissan is the only car to score a full 360-degree parking camera, making it the best car for tight parking stations.
The Kia is the only car to miss out on LED headlights, annoying for regional buyers who have to deal with more poorly lit roads.
The Nissan and Kia have up-to-date, maximum five-star ANCAP safety ratings, scored in 2021 and 2019 respectively, while the Subaru Crosstrek is yet to be rated.
One good omen for the Subaru is its impressive suite of nine airbags, outranking the Nissan's seven, and Kia's six.
It's hard to establish a winner here, but the Kia is the least well equipped of the bunch by a small margin, and it's also marred by its annoying lane keep and speed warning systems.
| Subaru Crosstrek R | Nissan Qashqai ST-L | Kia Seltos Sport+ |
Auto emergency braking | High-speed with car, pedestrian, cyclist detection and junction assist, reverse auto braking | High-speed with car, pedestrian, cyclist detection and junction assist | High-speed with car, pedestrian, cyclist detection and junction assist |
Lane keep assist/departure warning | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Blind spot monitoring/rear-cross traffic | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Adaptive cruise control | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Driver attention alert | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Traffic sign recognition | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Tyre pressure monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Adaptive high-beam | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Parking cameras | Reverse | 360-degree | Reverse |
Parking sensors | Rear | Front, rear | Front, rear |
Number of airbags | Nine | Seven | Six |
ANCAP safety rating | Not rated | Five-star (2021) | Five-star (2019) |
Score
Subaru Crosstrek R | Nissan Qashqai ST-L | Kia Seltos Sport+ |
| 8 | 8 | 7 |
Ownership
Mini Countryman
The Countryman is covered by Mini’s five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty. When it comes to servicing the car will let you know when it’s needed and although there’s no capped pricing servicing costs Mini does have a five-year/80,000km plan for $2275.
Kia Seltos
An easy win can be handed here to the Kia Seltos, which has the longest warranty at seven years/unlimited kilometres, longest roadside assist which can be extended to up to eight years with genuine servicing, and the most affordable capped price servicing program.
Meanwhile, the Subaru and Nissan have the standard five-year and unlimited kilometre warranty, with the Subaru offering only one year of roadside assistance, and the Nissan offering five.
Capped price servicing extends to six years or 90,000km for the Nissan, seven years and 105,000km for the Kia, and up to 15 years or 225,000km for the Subaru.
Over a five-year period for a fair comparison purpose, the Seltos is easily the most affordable, with an average cost of $414.40 per year, the Subaru falls in the middle, with an average cost of $474.64, while the Nissan is the most expensive car to keep on the road, costing an average of $583.20 per year over the same period.
| Subaru Crosstrek R | Nissan Qashqai ST-L | Kia Seltos Sport+ |
Warranty length | Five years/unlimited kilometre | Five years/unlimited kilometre | Seven years/unlimited kilometres |
Roadside assist | One year | Five years | Up to eight years (renewed with genuine service) |
Capped price servicing | Up to 15 years/225,000km | Six years/90,000km | Seven years/105,000km |
Average annual cost (5yr) | $474.64 | $583.20 | $414.40 |
Score
Subaru Crosstrek R | Nissan Qashqai ST-L | Kia Seltos Sport+ |
| 7 | 7 | 8 |