The automotive industry is full of inconsistencies, like… biggest MINI. Well, that’s what this MINI Countryman has been since it arrived for 2011 as the brand’s first SUV. Well, time flies when you’re having fun driving a MINI, so a third generation is already arriving. Let’s find out if that still means big fun for this now not quite so small crossover.

MINIs may not attract the kind of attention they did when the Cooper returned to the U.S. market for 2002, but that’s mostly because they’ve become mainstream, with an expanded lineup that even includes an SUV, this 2025 Countryman S ALL4.

But what hasn’t changed, is that MINIs still look cool and are even more enjoyable to drive. No surprise, the suspension in this latest Countryman, which shares its chassis with BMW’s X1, is very firm; but that’s what gives it that precise go-kart feel that we love in all MINIs. Though that also makes it more primed for backroads exploring and short trip commuting than for extended highway travel.

Continuing another MINI tradition, things inside remain quirky seemingly just for the sake of being quirky, the latest example being the fabric tether-like spoke on the steering wheel. For better or worse, MINI still puts all driver and multimedia information in the same central circle. Perhaps it’s the improved touchscreen, or maybe just that technology has caught up to it, but we think it works better now than ever before; delivering a lot of information. The flip-up Head Up Display helps too, as it keeps you from having to look over to see how fast you’re going.

Good use of space inside as always, with plenty of room for adults up front and lots of useful storage places. And with 40/20/40 folding of the rear seatbacks, there’s more flexibility than most other small utilities. In back, there’s underfloor storage space as well as room for 25.0 cubic-feet of cargo, expanding to a max of 56.2 cubic-ft, 18% more than last gen.

As of right now, there’s no “standard” Countryman. Its only available as a Countryman S ALL4, which means power comes from a turbo engine and all-wheel drive is included. BMW’s 2.0-liter turbo I4 outputs 241 horsepower here with a stout 295 lb-ft of torque. But a JCW version is also available, which cranks the 2.0-liter up to 312 horsepower. All Countryman work with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission; no manual transmission available. MINI Experience Modes set the stage for your preferred driving style. It was Go-Kart mode for us, as we headed to our Mason Dixon Dragway test track.

Things were actually pretty calm off the starting line, but once it got crankin’, speeds built quickly, and we were off to 60 in 5.9 seconds. The DCT was very direct and firm with shifts through the first couple of gears, but they smoothed out noticeably in the higher ranges; power delivery stayed strong throughout the 14.3-second quarter-mile finished at 98 mph.

Being the SUV of the MINI lineup, there was more body roll through our handling course than you’d experience in a Cooper, but we could still carry a lot of speed through the cones. MINI’s ALL4 torque vectoring all-wheel-drive system distributes power to whichever wheels can put it to the best use, helping the Countryman feel well planted while turning in eagerly. Brakes were solid and mostly fade-free with stops averaging just 105 feet from 60. That stable and steady feel at the track is the result of a platform that’s grown slightly larger in both wheelbase and track. Overall length grows just under 5 inches.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 24 City, 32 Highway, and 27 Combined; we averaged a fine 26.6 mpg on Premium. That’s slightly better than average for the Energy Impact Score; 11.0 barrels of yearly oil consumption with 5.3 tons of CO2 emissions.

Pricing starts at $39,895 for Signature Plus trim; Iconic packs in a lot of additional features and starts at $43,095.

The 2025 MINI Countryman S ALL4 is much more than just a nifty machine that’s perfect for living the city life; it’s a fun-to-drive getaway mobile that can also add a big dose of excitement into your daily duties. And even more thrills are on the way with an all-electric version of the Countryman, coming soon.

Comfort and room to roam used to be core elements for attracting buyers to midsize family sedans. But thanks to SUVs, that’s not enough these days. Now, luxury, tech integration, performance, fuel economy, and even all-wheel drive have become must have sedan ingredients. And one more, value. So, let’s see if the latest Hyundai Sonata gives us all a lesson in chemistry.

The seventh-generation Hyundai Sonata midsize sedan has been on the road since 2020, and as usually happens when vehicles approach the end of their lifecycle, this 2024 Sonata gets a makeover to keep the looks fresh and electronics current until an all-new one arrives.

Standard tech includes a crystal-clear 12.3-inch digital gauge display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment. Both are now combined into one wide curved housing similar to what we’ve seen from BMW and other luxury brands. This required a complete dash overhaul; a big interior change you can’t miss. Top Limited trim ups the game with navigation, leather seating, 12-speaker Bose premium sound, head-up display, and sunroof. It’s quite roomy inside, though maybe not quite as spacious or as comfy as some rivals with newer designs. On the other hand, rear seat legroom is very generous with long distance comfort.

There are three powertrain choices. The base front-wheel-drive SEL works with a 191-horsepower, naturally aspirated 2.5-liter I4. And for 2024, you can now add all-wheel drive to it for $1,500. The sporty N Line puts a turbocharger onto that 2.5 which boosts output to 290 horsepower, but it remains front-wheel-drive only, as does this Hybrid. The Hybrid is 2.0-liter I4 based with a 39-kW electric motor that combine for an output of 192 horsepower.

The real draw with the Hybrid is fuel economy of course, and the Government Ratings are 44 City, 51 Highway, and 47 Combined. We manage just 42.7 mpg of Regular in our driving loop, but that’s still slightly better than in our recent tests of both the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Honda Accord Hybrid. And it earns a much better than average Energy Impact Score, using 6.3 barrels of oil yearly, with 3.1 tons of CO2 emissions.

The price for that great fuel economy was paid at our test track with a slow roll to 60 of 8.0-seconds. There was no sense of urgency off the line, and while the engine sounded like it was really working hard, numbers on the speedometer were slow to climb. That meter was reading only 89 mph after 16.0 seconds as we crossed the quarter-mile. On a much more positive note, the Sonata Hybrid’s true six-speed automatic transmission provides a much more enjoyable experience than competitor’s CVTs.

And the experience in our handling course was positive too; minimal body roll and light steering had us whipping in and out of the cones with a surprising amount of speed. We didn’t experience much in the way of oversteer or understeer, and stability systems stayed out of the way. In our panic braking runs, the pedal was soft, and we could really hear the ABS working overtime, but stops were straight and fade free, averaging a fine 114 feet from 60 mph.

The Sonata has always attempted to set itself apart when it comes to exterior design. That meant an awkwardly shaped “Digital Pulse Cascading” grille when this gen debuted; we much prefer the more traditional and sportier take of this update. The rear fascia also gets revised, looking both sportier and more upscale at the same time, with wide H-themed lighting to accentuate the Sonata’s width.

Pricing starts with the SEL at $28,650; adding the hybrid powertrain boosts it to $31,950, Limited comes exclusively with the hybrid engine and tops the lineup at $38,350.

Hyundai’s long-time formula for success, delivering more for less and tacking on a longer warranty than rivals, has done a great job of getting them where they are today. The 2024 Hyundai Sonata’s high value, impressive powertrain options, which now include all-wheel drive, and better than average driving dynamics, will ensure they stay a major player in the midsize sedan segment for years to come.