Mini Countryman first drive | An exceptional compact SUV

Mini is renewing its entire line-up at the same time, bringing electric powertrains, new infotainment and an uplift in build quality. The latest Countryman is an exceptional compact SUV.

Overview

The Countryman has been Mini’s most successful offshoot, combining the best attributes of the Mini hatch in a larger and more practical body style.

Now in its third generation, the Countryman is even bigger, more technologically advanced and available as an electric model for the first time.

We’ve not driven the Mini Countryman E, yet, it’s due to launch later this year. So this review is focused on the petrol-powered versions.

The new Countryman is available in a variety of guises. The range starts with the Countryman C. There’s also Countryman S All4 and Countryman JCW.

Pricing starts at £29,335, placing the Countryman as a rival for cars like the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage.

Under the skin, the Countryman shares a platform with the new BMW X1 and X2, but it has a unique exterior design and a bespoke interior.

Comfort and practicality

As a family-oriented vehicle, the new Countryman has grown in size and is the largest model in the Mini line-up.

Gaining 6cm in height and 13cm in length, the Countryman is impressively spacious inside. While the car has grown in size, Mini has also packaged the interior in a more effective manner.

The dashboard has a minimalist design that mirrors the new Mini hatch. It has a curved upper panel with neatly integrated air vents and a smart and tactile textured surface.

There’s also a sliding rear seat bench that can be adjusted to maximise either leg room or boot space. The rear seat backrest can also be reclined for improved comfort.

Build quality has been given a major uplift. There's a premium feel to every touchpoint and some some neat design cues, including integrated ambient lighting, that set the Countryman apart from its rivals.

Boot space measures 460 litres, which is slightly less than the core mid-size crossovers.

Safety and technology

At the heart of the Countryman’s interior is a new OLED central infotainment screen. It draws on Mini’s heritage by adopting a round shape, with a small panel of toggle switches beneath.

The screen provides beautiful graphics and a slick response to touch inputs. There’s a myriad of different themes and customisation options, allowing drivers to perfectly tailor their display.

The top section of the screen is reserved for the speedometer and vehicle instruments, as there’s no separate driver display. At the bottom, the climate controls are accessible. While we liked the system’s operation, it did seem compromised by the round shape and everything feels a little crammed in.

There’s a virtual personal assistant represented by Spike, a cartoon dog. You can control various functions using voice commands by saying “Hey Mini”.

Mini offers packages of additional equipment, known simply as Level 1and Level 2.

If you opt for the Level 1 option pack (£2,800), the Countryman is equipped with a head-up display, which reduces some of the impracticality of constantly having to glance at the central screen. It also comes with heated front seats, comfort access and adaptive LED headlights.

Level 2 includes a panoramic sunroof and Haman Kardon sound system.

Cars equipped with the optional Driving Assistant Professional package (included in Level 2) offer adaptive cruise control with lane keep assist and a level 2 semi-automated driving system that can assist with lane changes and stop-start motorway driving.

Driveability and efficiency

The Mini Countryman C is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that develops 170PS and uses a seven-speed automatic gearbox. Power is sent to the front wheels and the car can accelerate from 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds.

It’s a great powertrain for the car, offering responsive acceleration and frugal fuel consumption. Official figures state 45-48mpg is possible and that’s about what we experienced.

The gearbox is controlled by a small toggle switch on the dash, offering just Drive, Reverse and Neutral. In some situations we’d have liked the ability of manual override as downshifts can sometimes lag. Mini does offer paddle shifters as an option.

In all other respects, the driving experience is top notch. Mini really knows how to engineer a car that is engaging. The steering is quick, giving a nimble feel. Ride quality is also impressive, marking an improvement over Minis of old.

At higher speeds the Countryman is a refined cruiser. It laps up longer journeys, keeping occupants comfortable in its upmarket, premium cabin. On country lanes, drivers can have a lot more fun in a Countryman than they might in an equivalent SUV from other brands.

The Countryman S All4 offers even more performance and the stability of all-wheel-drive. Its 2.0-litre engine puts out 204PS but higher CO2 emissions make it an unlikely fleet choice.

It’s the same story with the 300PS JCW version. Performance is mighty, but even higher emissions place it in the top benefit-in-kind tax band.

Company car tax and running costs

The new Countryman offers low running costs of just 40p per mile over a four-year cycle, which compares well against a similar-spec Nissan Qashqai (45ppm).

Higher benefit-in-kind tax of 32% means it will be less appealing to drivers than some electric and plug-in hybrid models, however.

When the Countryman E and SE models launch, with electric powertrains, these will likely be the preferred fleet choice.