MINI Countryman vs Mazda5 vs ______ ?
 

Am shopping for a replacement to the X5...since we already have a fairly new "third-row, seats six" vehicle for the pediatrician/playdate/grocery store stuff, I am shooting for an under $25K 35mpg-plus four door option for those times when we don't need to seat everybody.

Looking ahead, we can consider a new X5 once our oldest graduates to a booster seat, but we are a couple years out. If we buy another SAV/SUV it is going to be a diesel or diesel hybrid. I am keeping my eye on the redesigned 2012 GL/ML Mercedes vehicles and am also warming up to the Q7. Of course the new Cayenne is sweet...but I'd like to get beyond the drool and Cheerios stage.

For now, in a small car, ideally I want to be able to seat up to three carseats (not many options), but I also want something with style and great road manners. Countryman seats four max, Mazda5 seats six, but I am not swooning to own a Mazda5. With the Countryman I can also order the adaptive Xenons.

Fire away..

Countryman FTW......This will be my next Mini. The CEO has already driven it and is sold on it. We are on our second Cooper S now and I must admit, these cars are a blast to drive. Not to mention great on gas. From what I've been told, the countryman is on the same chassis as the X1. We are going to look at the X1 but as of today the countryman is a winner.............Phil

Countryman, with extra space they look to be very useful. Plus it's a Mini. Mazda just has that BIG smile.

One can order bi-xenons on the Mazda5 as well, but I don't like the new design. You could try the Mitsubishi Outlander V6 and the VW Tiguan but neither of those hit the 35 US mpg target.

there will be a Ford C-MAX that's supposed to compete with the Mazda5 coming out soon, have you taken a look at it? drives like a car, has room for 6, and great mpg.

Speaking of Ford, the new Edge "Sport" is sweet looking. Haven't taken a hard look at one, but one of my neighbors recently purchased one. I'll check it out when I can........Phil

Had no idea about the X1 underpinnings. Interesting. Did not think of the X1, but that will blow past the 25K parameter.

That is a new name for me, will check it out. Thought about the Fusion, but I'd rather "buy up" to the MINI. Fusion is a sharp looking little car, though.

Have not seen the new Edge...does it meet the 35mpg requirement, I wonder? Just read the SUV comparos in the May 2011 Motor Trend and the Explorer came in dead last. Not just last, but "stuff falling off the car last". And it still has Bambi legs. Pity, 'cause that is a great looking vehicle now.

Have you been to the dealership to look at the countryman yet? 25k is going to be a stretch with any option. Depending on what you want I think 30k-32k is reasonable. The all wheel drive S will put you near 40k...........Phil

What about a base Honda Mini Van?

They offer a lot more engine and space.

The X1 and Countryman are not on the same platform. They are close to the same physical size, but you are comparing fwd vs rwd layouts, BMW engine vs PSA/BMW JV engine, etc.

BMW does have a plan for a new vehicle, sub 1-series, transverse engine, to be fwd and awd. This is other than the upcoming electric city car. The plan is for the new vehicle (0 series?) to share a platform with the 2014 Mini.