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In 2010, MINI released their biggest car on the market as they introduced the Countryman. Despite being a crossover, this model still resembled some details connected to the well-loved original MINI. The second generation of Countryman’s was launched in 2017 and received a facelift recently in 2020.
The MINI Countryman offers the perfect balance of practicality and spontaneity. Great for family life, this car offers a lot of space and storage, so you can bring everything you need to explore the great outdoors. If you’re looking to upgrade and impress with your next car, let’s find out a bit more about the Countryman to see if it’s a match.
The MINI Countryman is practical for its size, has a high-quality interior and is fun to drive. This model gives you that well-loved charm of the smaller MINI’s but with enough space to make it a great family car. It’s argued that the Countryman has a quality feel to match the Audi Q2, but with fun touches such as a circular infotainment screen and fun toggle switches.
Built to accommodate all types of trips in both the country and the city, the Countryman's back seats fold down to offer 1,390 litres of boot space. Even with all 3 back seats up, the back boot offers up to 450 litres of storage space, a big leap from the MINI Convertible. If you love the MINI style but not the MINI size, then the Countryman offers the best of both worlds.
The Countryman interior feels pretty premium in comparison to other SUVs on the market, such as the Nissan Qashqai. Cooper models come with Cloth Firework upholstery that’s dark and will resist stains, excellent for pets, kids and those long journey drive-thru’s.
Coming with a 6.5” infotainment screen as standard, the Countryman offers DAB digital radio, a bluetooth phone connection and a decent navigation system. It’s worth looking at the larger 8.8” infotainment screens too, these come as part of the XL Media Pack.
The MINI Countryman has a range of engines, but it can be argued that you’re best with the frugal and nippy 1.5 litre-petrol.
The Classic Cooper’s come with a 136hp 1.5-litre petrol engine, but if you’re looking for something more powerful then it would be worth trying out the Cooper Sport Countryman Models, with 192hp 2.0-litre petrol engines.
At the top of the range and the sportiest across the board, John Cooper Works offer you a 231hp 2.0-litre petrol engine. Coming with a sporty trim, this model includes 18-inch alloy wheels and JCW badges. Equipment remains more or less the same across the different models and engine sizes. You’ll find a 6.5” infotainment system, rear parking sensors and DAB/Bluetooth as standard.
The MINI Countryman offers a good combination of space, style and desirability. It may not be a true off-roader, but it is still a small SUV, offering a lot more room than the 3 Door, 5 Door and Clubman.
A very reliable model, the Countryman scored 5 stars out of 5 when tested by Euro NCAP in 2017, and all models have been fitted with automatic emergency brakes as standard. The Countryman does however suffer from a lot of tyre roar and wind noise, compared to a BMW for example.