110 | AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE
M
ini’s SUV range, powered
by BMW drivetrains,
opens with the 1.5-litre three-
cylinder turbopetrol/six-speed
automatic/front-wheel-drive
Countryman, priced at $42,200.
The 2.0-litre turbodiesel/eight-
speed automatic/front-wheel-
drive Cooper D is $46,200, the
2.0-litre turbopetrol/eight-speed
auto Cooper S is $49,200, and
the 2.0-litre turbodiesel/eight-
speed automatic/all-wheel-drive
Cooper SD is $54,200.
The all-wheel drive John
Cooper Works model, the
performance variant with a 170kW
2.0-litre turbopetrol engine, costs
$59,900 with a six-speed manual
or an eight-speed automatic.
Self-appointed experts gave
the original Countryman a hostile
reception when it was launched
in 2010. Too big to wear a Mini
badge, they huffed. Too long. Too
many doors. Customers couldn’t
have cared less. The Countryman
at times has accounted for
more than 20 per cent of Mini’s
Australian sales.
The Countryman was the fi rst
family-size Mini. It won new
customers and retained owners
who otherwise would have had
to desert the brand during their
breeding years.
With Countryman II, Mini’s
aim is simple: more of the same.
Despite the growth spurt, the fi ve-
door’s overall proportions are very
similar. Inside, the changes are
more obvious. The 40/20/40 split
rear seat is spacious. Larger rear
doors make accessing it easier,
too. And the cargo compartment
has grown by 100 litres to a quite
useful 450 litres.
While extra space adds to the
new Countryman’s practical
appeal and makes it much
more viable as a family wagon,
Mini’s distinctive interior design
themes remain.
The huge circular housing in
the centre of the dash and the
switchgear mimic features from
original Minis of the ’50s and
’60s, for example. It’s not a look
that will please everyone, and the
layout isn’t as user-friendly as
some non-retro competitors.
Adaptive cruise and automatic
emergency braking, withpedestrian detection, are
standard, as is navigation,
Bluetooth, digital radio, stylish
cloth/leather upholstery and
sports front seats.
Countryman’s technical
essentials are familiar. Mini
is owned by the BMW Group,
and the SUV’s engines,
transmissions, all-wheel-drive
system, suspension, steering,
brakes and more are shared with
small models from the Bavarian
brand. It’s most closely related to
the X1 and is manufactured in the
same factory in the Netherlands.
BMW’s charming 100kW
1.5-litre turbopetrol triple,
working with a six-speed
automatic, powers the basic
front-drive Cooper Countryman.
Stepping up to the Cooper S
grade buys a more powerful
141kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol four
and an eight-speed automatic.
Mini’s All4 all-wheel-drive is
available only in the Cooper SD.
Both have the same 2.0-litre
turbo diesel four, but it’s tuned
for extra power (140kW, up from
110kW) in the case of the SD. Theeight-speed auto is standard in
both. ALL4 is also available in the
John Cooper Works model.
The smooth and quiet turbo-
petrol four of the Cooper S is a
perky performer. In slimy mud
Mini’s All4 system is effective.
And, from behind the wheel, the
Countryman is more agile than
the average small SUV. Firm
suspension will do that (and
it’s Mini’s established style),
but also means ride comfort
suffers. Bumps in the road are
too often clearly felt.
The Countryman is expensive
for its size, and you should also
be aware of Mini’s less than
exemplary quality and
reliability record.
That said, its increased size
makes the new Countryman a
much more practical, comfortable
SUV, while, as always with Mini,
it’s a fun thing to drive.By John CareyMINI COUNTRYMAN FROM $42,200
Safety
ANCAP
PerformanceHandlingQuality and reliabilityComfort and refi nementValue for moneyOverallSTARS
THINGS WE LIKE
Roominess and practicality
Strong, fuel-effi cient suite of
BMW engines
Tidy, engaging handling
Effective all-wheel-drive systemTHINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE
Try-hard retro design, especially
inside
Firm ride
Pricey for a small SUV
Minis can be temperamental
SPEX (Cooper S)
Made in the Netherlands
2.0-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol/
eight-speed automatic/front-wheel
drive
141kW of power from
5000–6000rpm/280Nm of torque
from 1350–4600rpm
0–100km/h in 7.4 seconds
5.4L/100km highway; 7.6L/100km
city; 95 octane premium; CO 2
emissions are 141g/km
Fuel tank 51 litres
Warranty: Three years/unlimited
kilometres
Standard: Six airbags, stability
control, parking sensors,
automatic parking, camera, radar
cruise, forward collision warning,
automatic emergency braking,
power tailgate, swivelling LED
headlights, Bluetooth, navigation,
digital radio, voice control, 18-inch
alloy wheels
Redbook future values: 3yr: 52%;
5yr: 39%compare with ...
Audi Q2, BMW X1, Jaguar E Pace,
Mazda CX3, Mercedes GLA, Subaru
XV, Toyota C-HRS