Mini Countryman hatchback (2010 – ) first UK drive
Friday 03 September 2010
Despite the huge sales success enjoyed by the Mini Hatchback, Convertible and Clubman, Mini has found its growing range of models still can’t cater for everybody.
When Mini asked ex-customers why they were moving on to buy cars like the Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3, the answer was always the same: a lack of space.
The £15,835 to £23,225 Mini Countryman takes the Mini ethos, and stretches its dimensions in every direction. Its boot is more than twice the size of a Mini Hatchback’s.
So, it’s unashamedly a ‘lifestyle’ car, aimed at all those people who couldn’t fit their mountain bikes and skis in (or on top of) their smaller Mini.
And – even more importantly – it’s the first family-friendly Mini. There’s loads of room for kids in the back, and even adults will be comfortable on the rear seats.
There are more firsts for a Mini too, as it has four-doors and is available with four-wheel drive.
But, its looks suffer as a result. The basic design of the Mini works because it’s a small, cheeky car. As a bigger and taller model, it’s hard to describe the Countryman as good looking.
Quirky interior
Despite this, Mini has still managed to make the Countryman desirable. For a start, it continues the Mini tradition by offering almost endless personalisation.
At launch there will be 11 exterior colours and six alloy wheel designs, as well as the ability to colour code exterior trim and add funky graphics and stripes.
Styling packs will allow further tweaks and include things like an off-road pack to beef up the Countryman and a sports body kit to hunker it down to the road, depending on preference.
In the cabin, there’s a big decision to be made, as Mini offers the Countryman with either two or three rear seats for the same price. Choose the less traditional four-seat layout and two metal rails stretch down the middle of the car, starting at the handbrake and ending between the rear seats.
This quirky feature allows all manner of accessories to be clipped to it, from iPhone and iPad holders to sunglasses cases, a table and a special sweet jar. It is able to charge electronic gadgets too and the list of attachments will continue to grow.
Huge speedometer
The rear seats slide forwards and back to adjust the balance between leg and luggage room, and they fold down or recline back for greater comfort on long journeys.
The centrally mounted speedometer is now ridiculously large and hard to read, making it almost redundant as a way of telling how fast you are going. Best instead to use the digital speed readout nestled behind the speedometer.
Fitted inside the cartoon speedometer is a display, which offers radio, parking sensor, set-up and sat-nav information on suitably equipped cars.
The switches for ancillary controls are pushed too low down in front of the gearstick, making them awkward to reach.
Equipment levels are good, with Bluetooth, DAB digital radio, parking sensors and stop and start ‘Minimalism’ fuel-saving technology fitted as standard.
It’s a shame, because the driving position is very good – the seats are higher up than in a normal hatchback giving great visibility – and the quality of interior materials is deeply impressive.
Excellent on the move
The driving experience is just as good as the interior too. The Mini Countryman will be available with three petrol engines and two diesel engines from launch:
Petrol engines:
Mini Countryman One 1.6 – 98bhp
Mini Countryman Cooper 1.6 – 122bhp
Mini Countryman Cooper S 1.6 – 184bhp
Diesel engines:
Mini Countryman One D 1.6 – 98bhp
Mini Countryman Cooper D 1.6 – 112bhp
Every Countryman with a manual gearbox emits less than 160g/km of CO2, making it respectably cheap to tax. The 129g/km Countryman Cooper D All4 is the cleanest four-wheel drive car on sale in the UK.
The 1.6-litre Cooper D doesn’t appear quick on paper – taking more than 11 seconds to reach 62mph – but on the road the engine feels punchy and responsive. This is partly thanks to a slick gear change, which keeps the car in its power band.
Significantly quicker is the 1.6-litre turbocharged Cooper S, which makes better use of the All4 four-wheel drive system available for £1,220 extra. It romps to 62mph in 7.4 seconds, and the All4 system helps avoid the eager engine from spinning the front wheels.
Handling is impressive, so much so it’s possible to feel the Mini’s go-kart DNA despite the extra size of the Countryman. Over an undulating and slightly bumpy road we suspect the Countryman is actually quicker than the Mini Hatchback, as the suspension smoothes out bumps more easily than the feisty hatch.
Driving at high speeds on a closed circuit, the Countryman impressed with its balance and composure. Even goading the car into slides by turning it hard from one direction to another, failed to evoke any bad behaviour from the biggest ever Mini.
Its handling goes straight to the top of the class for crossover cars like the Nissan Juke, Qashqai, Peugeot 3008 and Volkswagen Golf Plus. Only the Skoda Yeti gets close to offering the same fun handling, albeit in a less overtly sporty guise.
Overall, the Mini Countryman’s design will make it a love it or hate it car for many people. From a technical perspective it’s a great achievement, with excellent performance and fine handling. It opens the Mini brand to all who need extra space, be it for carrying more people or sports equipment and only some gimmicky features disappoint in the excellent interior.
Key facts:
Model tested: Mini Countryman 1.6 Cooper D All4,
Mini Countryman 1.6 Cooper S All4
On the road price: £19,820, £21,820
Price range: £15,835 – £23,225
Date tested: September 2010
Road tester: Andy Goodwin