Kia EV5 vs MINI Countryman

The Kia EV5 starts from $49,770 before on-road costs, while the MINI Countryman opens at $49,990. That makes the Kia EV5 the more affordable entry point by $220.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $54,747 and $54,989 respectively.

The Kia EV5 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The MINI Countryman, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Both the Kia EV5 and MINI Countryman hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 88% for the Kia EV5 and 83% for the MINI Countryman.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. Both models are evenly matched with 6 out of 10 key ADAS systems.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the Kia EV5 and 9 in the MINI Countryman.

The Kia EV5 features a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the MINI Countryman gets a 9.4-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Kia EV5 stands out with wireless charging that you will not find on the MINI Countryman. The MINI Countryman counters with ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Kia EV5 runs a pure electric powertrain producing 160kW and 310Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.2 seconds.

The MINI Countryman responds with a Petrol Turbo making 115kW and 230Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9 seconds.

The Kia EV5 has the clear power advantage at 160kW vs 115kW. In the real-world sprint, the Kia EV5 is 1.8s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Kia EV5 measures 4,615mm long on a 2,750mm wheelbase, 171mm longer than the MINI Countryman at 4,444mm (2,692mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Kia EV5 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 460L in the Kia EV5 and 460L in the MINI Countryman.

For towing, the MINI Countryman leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 0kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 7 years (Kia EV5) vs 5 years (MINI Countryman). The Kia EV5 has longer coverage.