Mini Countryman (2024-) Review

Introduction

We’re all a bit bored of the 'not ‘mini’ anymore” rhetoric around the Mini brand, but it is fair to say the new Countryman is certainly not small. The family SUV in Mini’s range has grown further to better accommodate smaller SUV models such as the Aceman in Mini’s new-look stable, as the BMW-owned brand looks to kick on from its existing position of strength.

And the Countryman certainly looks fresh, with its new look inspired by the latest-generation Cooper, as well as its minimalist new cabin. It gets a wide choice of powertrains, too, which should help to keep customers interested. The question is, is the new model an improvement on its predecessor? And will it have the ability to turn interested parties into customers?

At a Glance

It’s immediately obvious that the new Countryman isn’t quite like its predecessor. Noticeably larger and with a much more modern and minimalist design, it’s a very different animal. But that’s no bad thing, because the fresh styling is pretty cool in our book, giving the Countryman a proper SUV image that doesn’t try too hard to feel like a Mini Cooper.

But the highlight is the interior, which is a breath of fresh air. The fabric-wrapped dash is cool and stylish, and the circular central display is cleverly, albeit imperfectly, executed. We’d be sure to specify the head-up display as an option were we leasing one. Nevertheless, the quality is good, space is adequate and the styling is smart, so we’ve no serious complaints.

Nor can we complain about the engine range on offer, with a choice of petrol and electric powertrains available to customers. Yes, a plug-in hybrid or a diesel might be a nice addition, but the smallest petrol engine packs enough punch and it’s fairly economical, so we expect it to be a popular choice. The two electric motors offer sensible range and low tax for company car drivers, while the more powerful petrol engines provide the sporty and all-wheel-drive options.

While Mini has changed some aspects of the Countryman, it still clearly wanted the new SUV to feel enjoyable to drive, and the engineers have largely succeeded on that front. Sure, the ride is a bit firm – there’s quite a bit of jiggling on uneven surfaces – but that means the body is well controlled and the precise steering means you can have a bit of fun if you so wish.

Key Features

Design has always been a big part of any Mini model’s appeal, but the new Countryman’s interior design will probably win it more plaudits than the bodywork. The clean new dashboard looks fantastic, with the fabric covering and the clever gear selector and engine start switches low down in the panel. But the star of the show is the circular touchscreen, which uses latest-generation tech and comes with a whole host of customisation options.

That screen has quite a lot to do in the countryman, because unless you get the head-up display, it’s the only speedo in the car, and it has to deal with all the other functions too. As a result, Mini has had to get clever with layouts, and it has done well to a point, although the system does take some getting used to. Some things pop up in strange places, but the screen is sharp and the responses are quick, so it’s easy enough to use once you’re acclimatised.

And the aforementioned personalisation options are likely to be a real hit with customers, with the ability to choose a wide range of ‘skins’ for the screen, and even pick a personal photo to use as a wallpaper, a bit like you might on your phone.

Aside from the tech, though, the cabin does the simple things well, too. The steering wheel feels incongruously sporty, but it’s robust and solid in your hands, and the same goes for the rest of the interior. Everything feels premium and well constructed, so you’re never worried about quality or longevity.

Range & Batteries

If you go for an electric Countryman, you get a 64.7kWh battery pack no matter whether you choose the basic Countryman E or the more powerful SE. Naturally, the single-motor E is the more efficient choice, offering an official range of 287 miles on a single charge, but the SE isn’t too far behind, with its 269-mile official range. In the real world, you’re probably looking at 200 miles or so, which should be enough for most customers’ needs.

Performance & Drive

To an extent, the way the Countryman behaves will depend on the powertrain you pick. Opt for a petrol engine, and you get a choice of three, with the basic 1.5-litre ‘C’ joined by the 2.0-litre ‘S’ and the more powerful John Cooper Works (JCW) version. In all honesty, even the C is more than potent enough, squeezing 170hp from its turbocharged three-cylinder power unit. That all heads to the front wheels via a seven-speed automatic gearbox, and it offers ample straight-line speed.

But for those who want more, there’s the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder S model, which not only ups the power output to a heady 218hp, but also splits that power between all four wheels. That gives the car a bit of off-road capability, although even Mini would never call the Countryman a serious 4x4, and it improves performance a bit, cutting the 0-62mph time significantly and raising the top speed.

If performance is your thing, though, you’ll have to have the JCW. Like the S, it comes with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a seven-speed automatic gearbox, but with 300hp on tap it provides striking acceleration and a hot hatchback-embarrassing 0-62mph time of 5.4 seconds.

However, if you’d rather opt for electric power, you get a choice of just two different motors. The basic Countryman E shoves 204hp in the direction of the front wheels, while the more powerful SE model gets 313hp. Both will accelerate sharply, thanks to the instant power delivery offered by an electric motor and a single-speed automatic transmission, although even the SE is not quite as rapid as the performance-orientated JCW.

But although customers get a pretty wide choice of engines, the driving experience remains remarkably similar. Although the JCW (above) is supposed to be the sporty one, every version comes with fairly firm suspension, which means the ride is a little stiff at low speeds, but it settles down a bit when you’re travelling faster. That isn’t ideal if you’re after comfy family wheels, but the Mini selling point is handling, and the Countryman does deliver on that front.

Although it’s quite tall, the Countryman doesn’t roll too much in corners, and the grip on offer is ample. Combine that with precise steering and it’s an enjoyable car to drive, offering a bit of verve in corners that’s missing from most family SUVs. For those interested in driving, it’s one of the most appealing and entertaining cars in its class, even in basic ‘C’ form.

Charging

Mini has fitted both the E and SE versions of the Countryman with the ability to charge at speeds of up to 130kW, which is fast enough to take the battery from 10% to 80% in less than half an hour. However, as always with these things, you’ll need a charger powerful enough to deliver that kind of speed. If, on the other hand, you’re charging at home on a domestic ‘wallbox’ charging point, you should be able to fill the battery completely overnight.

Running Costs & Emissions

Naturally, the electric versions of the Countryman will be the cheapest to run, particularly if you usually charge at home. Public charging isn’t as cheap as it once was, but nor is petrol, so it’s still a relatively inexpensive way of fuelling. And for company car drivers, the electric options will be a no-brainer, given the government’s incentives in terms of taxation.

If you’re sticking with petrol, though, the C model is the obvious choice. That 1.5-litre engine is more than powerful enough, and it returns around 45mpg on the official economy test. That isn’t exactly stellar, but it’s reasonable for a family SUV.

Interior & Technology

While some will be drawn to the Countryman by the way it drives, equal allure comes from the interior, which is a big departure for the brand. Going down the clean, minimalist route has seen Mini strip the cabin almost completely bare before trimming the almost buttonless dashboard with a kind of knitted fabric and adding a completely circular touchscreen. And for those who drove earlier versions of the Countryman, that isn’t a rectangular screen in a round housing — it’s a proper round screen.

The result is a really cool cockpit, and one with space for a few neat touches. What few buttons there are have been carefully and cleverly done, with a kind of turnkey switch for engine start and a toggle for gear selection, but they all live low down in the middle of the dash, where they’re slightly away from your main field of view.

Instead, there’s a simple, but unnecessarily bulky steering wheel and that’s about all you can see directly ahead. There isn’t even an instrument display, because it’s all housed in the central display — just as it was in the original Minis of the 1950s. That’s neat, but it comes with a couple of issues, chief among which is the need to turn away from the road to see how fast you’re going. We’d recommend going for the optional head-up display to mitigate this if you possibly can.

The other problem — one that can’t be solved with a head-up display — is that it leaves the touchscreen with an awful lot of work to do and a slightly awkward space in which to do it. With no corners, Mini hasn’t really been able to hide stuff away, so you end up with stuff dotted all over the show. Fortunately, you can customise it a bit to get things where you want them, and Mini will even let you choose your own ‘wallpaper’ for the screen, a little like the home screen on your smartphone.

Whatever you do with the touchscreen, though, cabin quality remains the same. Which is to say, it’s very good. As a kind of semi-premium brand, Mini has made a thing of its interior quality, which seems to be inherited from parent company BMW. Everything feels robust and upmarket, with some really smart materials and attention to detail that gives you confidence in the cabin’s longevity.

Practicality & Boot Space

Thanks in no small part to the Countryman’s newfound bulk, there’s more room in the cabin than ever before. Not only do those in the front get plenty of headroom, ample shoulder room and a decent driving position, but there’s space for adults to occupy the rear seats very comfortably, too. Even taller passengers will have enough leg- and headroom to survive a long journey with few complaints, although the comfort of the Countryman’s seats should also take some of the credit on that front.

Further back, there’s a 460-litre boot, which is more respectable than impressive, but it’s more than you get in a VW T-Roc. You will get a bit more space (roughly 10% more, in fact) from a Nissan Qashqai, which makes the Mini look slightly less spacious, but those in need of more room from the Countryman can always fold the rear seats down. Do that and you’ll free up 1,450 litres of luggage space when the car is loaded to the rafters.

Safety

The new Countryman hasn’t been crash-tested by Euro NCAP as yet, but we’re pretty sure it’ll do well when the time comes. That conviction is partly down to the fact both its predecessors achieved five-star ratings when they were tested, and partly because of all the safety equipment that comes as standard in the new model. As we know, the crash-testing people are increasingly keen on tech that prevents accidents from happening in the first place.

To that end, the Countryman is laden with kit. Lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring and vehicle exit warning, which tells you of oncoming traffic when you open the door, are all included as standard, along with speed limit tech and parking sensors. A reversing camera is also included, along with dynamic cruise control that can maintain a safe distance to the car in front.

Options

The Countryman range is slightly more confusing than it probably should be, with a choice of engines and trim levels that proves surprisingly quick to muddle the mind. Basically, the C, S, JCW, E and SE are all available separately, with each getting its own powertrain, but then there’s a choice of Classic, Exclusive and Sport trim levels, each with a higher level of standard equipment than the last. Although, perhaps unsurprisingly, the sporty JCW is only available in Sport form.

In essence, Classic models get two-zone climate control, a rear-view camera and satellite navigation, as well as automatic wipers and alloy wheels. It also comes with recycled materials in elements such as the roof lining and floor mats, while the dashboard is wrapped in knitted fabric and seats are trimmed in artificial leather. Naturally, the central screen is standard on all models.

Move up to the Exclusive, and you get sports seats and a sport steering wheel, as well as silver skid plates and side sill inserts, while there’s a heated steering wheel, too. Finally, choosing the Sport model gets you black high-gloss trim and black alloys, as well as a sporty black-and-red interior colour scheme. You get a contrast roof as standard, too, not to mention adaptive suspension and a sportier gearbox.

Once you’ve picked your way through all that, Mini will offer you a choice of three levels of additional kit. Level 1 gets you adaptive LED headlights, heated front seats and a head-up display, while Level 2 adds a panoramic glass sunroof and sun protection glass, plus a Harman/Kardon sound system. Choose Level 3, meanwhile, and a clever driving seat and augmented reality navigation will all be thrown in.

Then, once that’s decided, you can mess about with all the usual Mini customisation options, from colours to contrast roof designs and from additional stickers to alloy wheel designs. For us, a Countryman S Exclusive with British Racing Green paint and a black contrast roof would do nicely. Probably with Level 2 tech and two-tone alloys, plus Vintage Brown artificial leather, if we’re being picky.

Rival Cars

The Countryman was already playing in the compact end of the family SUV market, but the new model’s increased size places it even more firmly among the family car mainstream. That means it’s up against some of the most popular models out there, including the Nissan Qashqai, the Hyundai Kona and the Kia Niro, as well as the likes of the VW T-Roc and the Mazda CX-30.

But it isn’t just the mainstream models the Countryman is up against. With its premium positioning, the Countryman also has to contend with the Audi Q2 and Q3 models, as well as the Mercedes-Benz GLA, the Range Rover Evoque and the BMW X2. The Lexus UX and the new Volvo XC40/EX40 siblings can be considered alternatives, too.

Verdict & Next Steps

The new Countryman may be slightly different from its predecessor in terms of size and shape, but it’s arguably even more appealing as a result. The new interior design is fantastic, and the car’s competence as a family SUV is beyond question, while the selection of powertrains on offer means there’s a Countryman that suits pretty much every customer. With that and an appealing exterior design, as well as lots of equipment and a semi-premium position, the Countryman looks set to be a hit.

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the MINI Countryman.

**Correct as of 15/04/2024. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £2,837.25 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.