The MINI Countryman is the brand’s most spacious and, consequently, versatile vehicle of the line. The latest Countryman S offers the flexibility that comes with a crossover with intelligent all-wheel drive. One of the biggest differences is that it has significantly more space, partially automated driving as well as more tech. The cherry on top is improved fuel consumption.
The drive
The powertrain of the MINI Countryman is the same as the previous gen. There are three different derivatives with varying cylinders and powertrains to choose from.
- Countryman C is a turbopetrol 3-cylinder 1.5L engine. It has a power output of 115 kW and 240 Nm of torque.
- Countryman S is a turbopetrol 4-cylinder 2L engine with a power output of 150 kW and 280 Nm of torque.
- Lastly, is the John Cooper Works with a turbopetrol 4-cylinder 2L engine with a power output of 233 kW and 400 Nm of torque.
All of these are paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The transmission lever, however, is located in strange place. While I liked the design of the lever, it’s location below the infotainment screen is not user-friendly. Granted, after driving the crossover for a few weeks, you would likely be so accustomed to this that it does not feel like a bother anymore.
Despite being the ‘biggest’ MINI, it is an incredibly zippy and responsive car to drive. Driving home one night from Kyalami, I could comfortably and confidently move between the rest of traffic and jump ahead with little effort. It goes without saying there was no difficulty moving around traffic or ascending inclines, admittedly though, there were not many significant hills.
The all-wheel drive is also intended to provide a noticeable increase in traction. This was definitely felt in the agility and stability of the Countryman as I was moving between slower vehicles. It also makes for excellent handling around corners.
Next to the transmission and start knob there is the option to switch between driving modes, or experiences as MINI refers to it. There are 8 experiences from which to choose but only three of these actually change the driving mode. The rest are more for ambience changes
There is the ‘Go-Kart’ mode which initiates with a funny chime, feeds synthesised engine sounds through the speakers, adds red accents to give a motorsport feel and most importantly sharpens the throttle response slightly.
A new feature of MINI is the option of semi-automated driving on multi-lane routes. Drivers can take their hands off the steering wheel at speeds up to 60 km/h, while still closely monitoring traffic and be ready to intervene if necessary.
While I did not have an opportunity to test it properly, the assistant system identifies gaps when changing lanes in traffic, particularly as you exit the freeway. It brings the vehicle to optimal speed and automatically initiates the lane change.
MINI mutes the soundtrack on the Countryman C and S – corresponding performance sounds are reserved for the JCW only. Opinion on this appears to be divided. Some want the sounds to better enjoy the performance while others, like me, are quite impressed with the silence of the Countryman.
At first, I did a double take to check that I was not actually in an EV and then was very impressed at how well the sound is muted. Ultimately, whether there is sound or not, it is difficult to not be impressed with the engineering that makes an ICE vehicle so silent. MINI says this variation is intended to ‘support personal driving experiences, particularly emotionally, with specially composed sounds.’
The claimed fuel consumption is set at 7.4L/100km. We never managed to achieve this, with ours fluctuating around 8L/100km with a mixture of open road and congested driving. Most of the trips were also on the highway with minimal suburban driving. Not bad at all, as it is not that far off from the 7.4 in driving conditions that are far from the ideal conditions that achieved the claimed figures.
The design
The new design focuses on clear aesthetics. From the front, the vehicle emphasises the tense shape of the bonnet and the new octagonal front grille. MINI LED headlamps accentuate its uniqueness through individual signature modes. The short overhangs and the slim outline are just as typical MINI as the stretched contrasting roof.
The wide and upright stance of the latest MINI Countryman emphasises its presence and solid off-road character. Vertical rear lights frame the vehicle silhouette and make the new MINI crossover model look particularly upright and sporty.
Crossovers have a tendency to look larger on the outside than what they actually are from the interior. While the Countryman does this too, it is notably larger than its predecessor. It is 130mm longer, 22mm wider and 80mm taller.
The vehicle design, reduced to the essentials, can be selected from four trims for the exterior and interior. Each accentuates certain characteristics of the MINI Countryman S ALL4 with particularly expressive details. Alloy wheels are available in various designs and sizes.
The new design language of the interior consists of clear shapes. The dashboard has two-tone textile to create a homely feeling of space. These are made of high-quality materials which help define it from competitors.
Stepping inside
Innovative technology defines the Countryman S. Of note is the adjustable ambient lighting in the interior. The Countryman features the MINI Experience Modes. With a single command, the look and atmosphere of the cockpit can be completely changed.
As seen in previous generations, the MINI Countryman features the round infotainment screen in the centre of the dashboard. While it has always been a defining characteristic, the resolution of the OLED display is truly eye-catching. The display is larger and uses a high-quality glass surface.
For greater convenience the infotainment screen was moved closer to the driver. This, however, is the only information screen in the vehicle. My day-to-day vehicle is similar to this so it does not bother me but may be an adjustment to anyone who is not accustomed to it. In that case, you can elect to have the optional heads-up display for vital information.
Unfortunately, though, I did not find it easy to operate. I switched vehicles with the writer of Driving Expressions, Eugene Herbert, and tried to quickly connect to Bluetooth and leave as others were waiting for me. I also attempted to adjust the AC. I completely failed in my Bluetooth endeavours and took unnecessary time with the AC.
Additionally, Eugene had left his wallet in the Countryman and when I tried to find it, I also found opening the cubby it was in, unnecessarily gimmicky. In defence of either the Countryman or myself, it was in the dark.
Speaking of the dark, I wanted to plug my charger in but never did so because there was no lighting around the C-Port plug. At traffic lights I spent time feeling around for it and then trying to plug it in without any sight of the port – again an unsuccessful attempt. If I had seen it during the day and knew where it was, it may have been a different story.
The MINI Countryman has a cloth-trimmed dashboard that is simultaneously unique and odd. I did not find much information on why this decision was made other than to make the interior homely. I wonder what it would look like in a few years after sitting in the sun and exposed to natural dust and dirt.
Rather than a start button, the MINI Countryman has a switch to start it. it is almost like a switch you would find on an appliance or an old school key. I liked it but did question the point of changing it in this way. If I had not seen how it started a few days previously, I would have been just as stumped about starting it as what I was when trying to ‘quickly’ connect Bluetooth or Android Auto. Again, however, this is a very temporary criticism.
While the interior is following the policy of MINI and BMW to be minimalistic, this is not to say that any tech or features that you would expect of an 800k vehicle are missing. MINI impressively finds the balance been minimalism and modernity. It does feature a fair amount of recycled soft-touch materials.
Other features that you can find in the MINI Countryman S include a panoramic glass sunroof, high-quality comfort seats, voice assistant, climate control, rear ventilation vents and front and rear C-Ports.
The MINI Countryman S is a luxurious crossover that actually gives drivers the benefits that should come with a crossover as opposed to just being an inflated version of a hatchback. It maintains its fun to drive personality, still looks distinctly MINI and offers just the right amount of tech to its drivers.
Good to know
The specs
Engine: 2-litre, turbopetrol
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 7.4L/100km (claimed)
Power: 150 kW
Torque: 280 Nm
Price: starting from R646 000
Warranty: 2-year unlimited kilometre warranty
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