Driving Range

First, let's talk about what's most important about electric vehicles, their driving ranges. The MINI Countryman has a range of up to 341 km. The Mercedes EQB 300 has up to 330 km but if can get your hands on the EQB 250+, that number increases to 404 km. But the king of driving range between these three is the Q4 e-tron with an impressive 463 km of driving range... that is for the RWD version. Quattro versions are the same as the EQB 250+.

All three can be recharged from a level 3 DC fast charger, and all three have a 10% to 80% charge time of around 30 minutes.

Performance

Of the three, the Audi Q4 e-tron is the most powerful with 335 hp in its most powerful configuration. The power figure drops to 281 hp in the RWD version. But even so, the Q4 e-tron takes the middle ground. It has a ride that is both spirited and planted feeling, the steering is precise, and the suspension soaks up bumps in the road with composure.

On the other hand, the MINI Countryman SE is like a go-kart compared to the other electric crossovers. The steering feels sharper still, the suspension is a little bit stiffer, and it responds to every minute detail that the driver gives it.

It's not as powerful as the most powerful version of the Audi but with 308 hp, it's more than enough for city streets or highway drives.

The Mercedes EQB 300 is the calmest to drive. Its electric motors only produce 225 hp and it's the slowest to accelerate to 100 km/h out of the three.

Interior & Infotainment

But the EQB focuses more on providing a serene environment in the cabin. The suspension soaks up bumps better than any other, the cabin isolates unwanted road noise, and the car cocoons its occupants in comfort.

On top of that, the EQB is the king of interior space. Not only does it provide the most headroom and legroom across both rows of seats compared to the other cars, but you can option it with a 3rd row. Granted, it's not very spacious for adults, but for children, it should be spacious enough.

The cabin of the EQB is a bit more traditional in its design. It has a dual screen layout, that is very much the trend these days, along with the classic Mercedes-Benz round air vents. It also comes with a standard 64-colour ambient lighting system. So, you can make the cabin look like a nightclub or a cozy cafe. The choice is yours.

The Audi Q4 e-tron is the next biggest of these three SUVs with up to 5 adults being able to sit comfortably in the crossover. Headroom and legroom across both rows are a tiny bit less than in the EQB, but it's not a major difference. Unfortunately, the passenger space comes at the cost of cargo space as the Q4 has the least amount of it.

The cabin of the Q4 e-tron is conservative compared to the other two models. The infotainment system is snappy, and it is seamlessly integrated with the virtual cockpit in front of the driver. The Q4 also keeps physical climate control buttons and has not integrated them into the touchscreen like the bigger Q6 e-tron. Everything in here works but there's nothing that will pop out at you like in the Mercedes or MINI.

The MINI Countryman electric offers more cargo capacity than the Audi and about the same amount of space in the front seats as the Mercedes EQB. But the 2nd row seats are tight for adults both in terms of legroom and headroom.

While the Countryman is not the biggest on the inside, it arguably has the most eye-catching interior. The 9.4” OLED circular display immediately draws you in with crisp and vibrant graphics. The materials are mostly recycled textiles along with leather-free upholstery on the seats. So this this a very environmentally friendly car.

Exterior

By comparison, the exterior of the Audi Q4 e-tron is a head-turner. It looks sleek and futuristic with bold lines and a closed-off grille that tells you it's an electric crossover but without shouting it to you.

The Mercedes-Benz EQB, on the other hand, goes for a boxier, more practical look. It's based on the gasoline-powered GLB and its upright shape might not be the most aerodynamic, but it screams family-friendly.

Finally, the MINI Countryman SE leans into its playful heritage, with bold round headlights and that unmistakable Mini stance. It's taller and chunkier than the last generation and feels more SUV than before.

Verdict

In the end, the MINI is the most exciting to drive, the Mercedes focuses on comfort and versatility, while the Audi brings efficiency and balanced performance.

As for the prices of these electric crossovers, they all start at $59,990 CAD at the time of this review. From there, if you want the EQB 300 or the quattro version of the Q4, or just simply more options and features, it will increase the price.