2026 Land Rover Discovery Sport vs 2026 MINI Countryman

$49,900 · Crossover

$38,900 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The 2026 Land Rover Discovery Sport thrills with its robust 246 hp and standard AWD grip, offering a commanding presence that suggests serious off-road capability, despite its 20 combined MPG. Conversely, the 2026 MINI Countryman captivates with go-kart handling DNA and superior efficiency, boasting 27 combined MPG from its 241 hp engine. The Land Rover is significantly larger at 180.9 inches long, providing 32.4 cu ft of cargo space, while the MINI is the more pragmatic choice financially, starting $11,000 lower at $38,900 compared to the Discovery Sport's $49,900. The Countryman compensates for slightly less horsepower with superior torque at 295 lb-ft, promising quicker immediate response, whereas the Land Rover utilizes a larger 9-speed automatic transmission versus the MINI's 7-speed automated manual, reflecting two distinct philosophies in the premium crossover segment.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 MINI Countryman

The MINI Countryman wins due to its superior fuel economy, achieving 27 combined MPG versus the Discovery Sport's 20 MPG.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Land Rover Discovery Sport

The Land Rover Discovery Sport is better equipped for families, offering substantially more cargo capacity at 32.4 cu ft compared to the Countryman's 25 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 MINI Countryman

The Countryman appeals more to enthusiasts with its higher 295 lb-ft of torque and expected agile handling despite only having 241 hp.

💰 Best Value

2026 MINI Countryman

The Countryman provides better overall value by offering a massive $11,000 lower MSRP while achieving 7 more MPG in combined driving.

Choose the Land Rover Discovery Sport if...

You require maximum utility with 32.4 cubic feet of available cargo space.
You prefer the assured shifting feel of a traditional 9-speed automatic transmission.
You desire the larger physical footprint and commanding road presence provided by its 180.9-inch length.

Choose the MINI Countryman if...

Maximizing fuel savings is critical, thanks to its 27 combined MPG rating.
You seek sharper acceleration bursts, aided by its higher torque rating of 295 lb-ft.
Sticking to a budget is paramount, as its $38,900 MSRP undercuts Car 1 by $11,000.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Land Rover Discovery Sport	MINI Countryman
Length	180.9"	175.0"
Width	-	72.6"
Height	67.9"	65.2"
Wheelbase	107.9"	106.0"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Land Rover	MINI
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	—
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Preparation System	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Self-Leveling Headlights	✓	—
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Fog Lights	✓	—
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	—
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	—	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	—	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	—	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	—	✓
Cornering Lights	—	✓
Front Fixed Headrests	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Land Rover	MINI
Base Engine Displacement	2.0 L	2.0 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	246 hp @ 5500 rpm	241 hp @ 4500 rpm
Torque	269 lb-ft @ 1300 rpm	295 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Land Rover	MINI
Transmission Type	9-speed automatic	7-speed automated manual
Drivetrain Type	all wheel drive	all wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	—
Center Differential Type	—	Limited Slip

Fuel

Feature	Land Rover	MINI
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	premium unleaded (recommended)
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	19/23 MPG	24/32 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	20 MPG	27 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	336.3/407.1 mi.	343.2/457.6 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	17.7 gal.	14.3 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Land Rover	MINI
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Power Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	—
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	—
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Front View Camera	✓	—
Side View Camera	✓	—
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Front Parking Sensors	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Universal Remote Transmitter	✓	—
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	—
Heated Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	✓
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	—	✓
Leatherette Steering Wheel	—	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Land Rover	MINI
Infotainment Display	11.4 in	9.4 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Meridian Speakers	✓	—
Stereo Power	400W	—
Speaker System	11	—
Subwoofer Count	1	—
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	—
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	—
USB Port	✓	✓
Auxiliary Audio Input	✓	—
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	12 months
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	—
Antenna Type	Diversity	—
Android Auto (Wireless)	—	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	—	✓

Power Feature

Feature	Land Rover	MINI
One-Touch Power Windows	4	2
Moonroof Type	1st Row Fixed Glass Extended	1st Row Power Glass Extended
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Land Rover	MINI
Seat Material: Leather/Sueded Microfiber	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	—
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	10-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	—
Driver Seat Memory Settings	3	—
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	—
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Lumbar Support	Power	—
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Front Head Room	—	40.7 in.
Front Leg Room	—	40.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room	—	55.7 in.
Seat Material: Leatherette	—	✓
Front Seat Type: Sport	—	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way

Rearseats

Feature	Land Rover	MINI
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Rear Head Room	—	37.8 in.
Rear Leg Room	—	37.0 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	—	54.8 in.

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Land Rover	MINI
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	—
Wheel Diameter	19 in	—
Tire Size	N/A	225/55R18
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	—
Spare Tire Location	Underbody Mounted	—
Wheel Material	—	Alloy
Wheel Size	—	18 x 7.5 in
Tire Type	—	All Season

Suspension

Feature	Land Rover	MINI
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	—	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	—	✓

Warranty

Feature	Land Rover	MINI
Basic Warranty	4 yr./ 50000 mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	4 yr./ 50000 mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	6 yr./ unlimited mi.	12 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	4 yr./ 50000 mi.	4 yr./ unlimited mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	—	3 yr./ 36000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2026 Land Rover Discovery Sport and 2026 MINI Countryman.

How much more cargo space does the Discovery Sport offer over the Countryman?

The 2026 Land Rover Discovery Sport is significantly more practical, providing 32.4 cubic feet of cargo capacity. This is substantially more than the 2026 MINI Countryman, which offers 25 cubic feet.

Is the higher price of the Discovery Sport justified by its performance metrics?

The Discovery Sport costs $49,900 versus the Countryman's $38,900, but offers only 5 more horsepower (246 hp vs 241 hp) and worse fuel economy (20 MPG vs 27 MPG combined).

Which crossover is cheaper to run based on fuel requirements and efficiency?

The MINI Countryman is cheaper to run, achieving 27 combined MPG on fuel that is only recommended to be premium, while the Discovery Sport gets 20 combined MPG running on regular unleaded.

How do the transmissions compare between these two all-wheel-drive crossovers?

The Discovery Sport utilizes a traditional 9-speed automatic transmission for its power delivery. In contrast, the Countryman employs a quicker-shifting 7-speed automated manual transmission.

Does the difference in torque make the Countryman feel faster off the line?

Yes, the 2026 MINI Countryman boasts 295 lb-ft of torque, noticeably exceeding the Discovery Sport’s 269 lb-ft, which should translate to better initial responsiveness.

Which vehicle is physically larger and more imposing on the road?

The Land Rover Discovery Sport is the physically larger vehicle, measuring 180.9 inches in length and 67.9 inches in height. The Countryman is shorter at 175.0 inches long and 65.2 inches tall.