Review: Mini Countryman

Building on this strong demand for big, bulky, high-riding Minis, the new Countryman is noticeably bigger than its predecessor. Normally, manufacturers talk about the number of millimetres a car has grown by, but the new Countryman is a fulsome 27cm longer than the outgoing one, and 3cm wider. Even to the untrained eye, it now looks like a full-on, beefed-up, chunky estate-crossover.

We tested the Cooper S ALL4 version at its global launch in Buckinghamshire this week. The range comprises the Cooper, Cooper D, S and SD versions, all with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

Mini has taken the soft-roading character of the ALL4 derivative to amusing lengths – the new Countryman now comes with the option of a fold-down picnic bench – a smart plastic mat with an integrated padded bench that flips over the boot lip to allow you to swap your brogues for Hunters in that polo field. It’s a detail, but one that sums up how and where Mini gets it so right still – in high-quality, innovative, empathetic personalisation of their models. They know their audience well, and get that the future is all about entertaining, tailored, personalised, bespoke trim levels – a market they’ve led since BMW bought the company.

The new Countryman is a better-looking car; the less apologetic big-car-in-small-body approach works well, with extended ground clearance, exaggerated wheel arches and short overhangs – the styling pleads for a splattering of mud all over it. Inside, the standard equipment is now more generous than sister car the Clubman (there’s an additional £1,900 of standard equipment) and includes roof rails, funky alloys, satnav, Bluetooth hands-free function with USB audio, DAB digital radio, cruise control and an emergency e-call function.

Seventy-five per cent of current Countryman customers chose the Chili or Sport pack upgrade – the new Activity Pack offering includes heated front seats, electric tailgate and LED headlights. Other options include, for the first time in a Mini, an 8.8in display touchscreen for operating the satnav and multimedia options. 

In true Mini style, the very best part of the interior design is the optional backlit fascia, or “MINI Yours Illumination” option. Slivers of coloured light shine through the textured plastic surface, changing colour as the LED central display binnacle does. It’s very funky, and I challenge you not to smile at the sight of it as you get in the car. 

Engines on offer at launch (it goes on sale February 11^th) are carried over from the Clubman: the 1.5-litre petrol in the Cooper (plus manual or 8-speed auto transmission), 2.0-litre petrol in the Cooper S (manual or auto), 2.0-litre diesel in the Cooper D and Cooper SD (the SD only comes with an auto box). Later this year, there will be the addition of Mini’s first-ever plug-in hybrid, the Cooper S E Countryman ALL4. The powertrain will be the existing BMW Group hybrid – a turbocharged petrol engine and electric motor, reducing fuel consumption to a theoretical 134.5mpg and 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds.

The roads around the launch venue near Taplow didn’t offer much opportunity for intentional off-roading, but the ALL4 looks like it would cope with most loose-surface conditions that its average owner might throw at it. While the ride was slightly noisier than desired, the handling and feedback through the steering wheel are pretty impressive for a car with raised ride height and four driven wheels. That Mini roof leaves plenty of headroom for six-footers, and the extended body provides more leg and boot room – the rear seats slide individually for more versatile space (Mini says the increase in boot space is the equivalent of four extra large rucksacks). 

Mini has done a great job with the new Countryman: it’s a far more appealing car than its predecessor, both inside and out, proving that, sometimes at least, big really is better.