Mini Countryman (2024) Review
The new, 3rd-gen Mini Countryman offers loftier levels of sophistication in its biggest, most spacious package yet. But, has the model become too grown up and (gasp) sensible? We spent a few days with the turbopetrol-powered Countryman S.
We like: Most spacious Mini yet, well equipped for the price, fascinating design – inside and out.
We don’t like: Not the zestiest driving experience, quirky infotainment system not very user-friendly.
FAST FACTS
- Model: Mini Countryman S ALL4
- Price: R795 074 (October 2024)
- Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol
- Power/Torque: 150 kW/280 Nm
- 0-100 kph: 7.4 sec (claimed)
- Claimed fuel consumption: 6.5 L/100 km
- Luggage capacity: 505–1 530 litres
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Where does the Mini Countryman fit in?
The Mini brand is commonly associated with small city cars with oodles of personality. Yet, the 3rd-gen Countryman is anything but compact. First impressions suggest the newcomer’s exterior dimensions are comparable with those of the outgoing X3, plus the boxy design makes the model look bigger than it is.
Compared with the outgoing model, the new Countryman is 130 mm longer, 22 mm wider and 80 mm taller, which means it offers much more cabin space than its predecessor, but more on that further below. Mini South Africa offers its Countryman in ICE (petrol-powered) and all-electric guises; the local line-up comprises C and S derivatives, the electric SE variant, with the John Cooper Works (JCW) at the summit.
The Countryman has no shortage of rivals – it has been thrust directly into a segment that’s inhabited by several sensible crossovers/medium SUVs. Considering the newcomer’s nonconformist design/image, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s the odd one out. But if you look past the Mini’s eccentric bodywork, you will see its packaging is quite practical, at least more so than the British marque’s previous crossovers!
The Mini’s BMW X1 cousin (they share a platform and powertrains) is a rival, as are the Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40, which are all similarly priced and -sized premium crossovers. But then, if you’re shopping in the R800k price bracket, it would be amiss if we didn’t mention the fantastic value offered by the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro, Kia Sportage, Haval H6 GT, Hyundai Tucson, Omoda C9 and VW Tiguan.
Compare the specs of Countryman S with those of BMW X1 and Volvo XC40
Compare the specs of Countryman S with those of Audi Q3 and Volkswagen T-Roc
How the Countryman S fares in terms of…
Performance and Efficiency
The Countryman’s petrol powertrains have been carried over from the previous model. You can choose between a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbopetrol that drives the front wheels with 115 kW/240 Nm (Countryman C) and a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol with all-wheel drive: 150 kW/280 Nm (Countryman S) or 233 kW/400 Nm (JCW). Every Countryman derivative has a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
With peak outputs that are comfortably higher than those of many of its immediate rivals, we expected the Countryman S to perform spiritedly, so we were keen to test its maker’s performance claims for this variant. Mini says that the Countryman S can reach 100 kph from a standstill in just 7.4 sec and, when we put the test unit through its paces, our equipment confirmed that time to be almost spot on: 7.46 sec.
It’s nippy, yes, but even when you’re accelerating hard, the Countryman S doesn’t egg you on to press further; Mini is a fun and funky brand, but the test unit’s straight-line efforts (and its muted soundtrack) left us wanting a bit more. Perhaps the model’s heightened refinement reflects its more family-oriented clientele – not everyone will want the exhaust to emit fruity pops and crackles – or such theatrics are reserved for the JCW version. Oh, did you notice the Countryman S doesn’t have visible exhaust ends?
If you want optimal driver engagement, you have to activate the Go-Kart “Mini Experience” mode, which is announced by an adorable “whoo-hoo” (when the infotainment screen adopts a motorsport-themed layout and sporty red accents illuminate the dashboard and fascia). Apart from sharpening the throttle response, Go-Kart mode makes the Mini pipe synthesised engine noise into its cabin via the speakers.
The Countryman has 8 experiences/modes to choose from (3 of which alter the driving experience: Eco, Comfort and Sport) and each of them has a distinct display, as well as -fascia and -dashboard lighting accents. Some may find this all a bit gimmicky, but our testers liked the myriad personalisation options.
Given its tank capacity (54 litres) and claimed consumption figure (6.5 L/100 km), the Mini Countryman S has a theoretical full-to-empty range of about 600 km. While this test unit was in our fleet, it indicated figures of between 7.8- and 8.1 L/100 km, which were reasonable. Interestingly, Mini SA’s technical data sheets state that you can optionally equip your Countryman with a larger fuel tank, which would give this variant a claimed range of 831 km, but we couldn’t find more info about that on Mini’s local website…
Ride and Handling
By this point, you’re probably wondering: “Does the new Countryman still have that fun-to-drive character that Minis are renowned for?” The answer to that question is not clear-cut, unfortunately.
The Countryman seems a notably more refined, upmarket (and sensible) proposition than before and the unavoidable price for “growing up” is the loss of what little “go-kart feel” its predecessor offered. On the upside, it now strikes a better balance between (sharpish) handling and (an admirably pliant) ride quality. The Mini’s ability to corner quickly with negligible body roll and excellent roadholding – is aided by all-wheel drive, the model’s relatively low kerb weight (of around 1 600 kg) and increased track width.
The steering is as responsive as you’d expect from a Mini; you can place the car accurately, and quickly, with ease. The Countryman’s UKL2 platform underpins some buttoned-up products, such as the BMW X1/X2, 1 Series and 2 Series Gran Coupe, but rest assured, the newcomer can indeed be “fun to drive”.
Even if the 3rd-gen Countryman is not quite as engaging to pilot as its predecessors, most prospective buyers would probably accept that in exchange for a more forgiving ride quality. Make no mistake, the Mini is pretty stiffly sprung, but its ride never becomes jarring when traversing poorly maintained asphalt roads. The Countryman S’ suspension, aided by tyres with high sidewalls (our test car came fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 225/55 rubber) will soak up most bumps without too much drama.
The Countryman S may have all-wheel drive, but its off-road capability is nominal. The All4 system can distribute power front-to-rear, which optimises traction on wet and gravel roads, but with only 202 mm of ground clearance, the Mini can’t hope to traverse anything more treacherous than a graded dirt track.
Design, Features and Practicality
The design of the new Countryman speaks volumes of the Oxford-based brand’s ambitions to progress into the lucrative premium crossover space. This is no half-baked “hatchback on stilts”; it has squared edges aplenty and just enough bulk to give it considerable presence, but it’s still unmistakably Mini.
Our test car offered a choice of no fewer than 3 daytime running-light display configurations, which seems a novelty, but, as with the Mini Experiences, it adds a level of personalisation we can appreciate.
The moment you climb aboard, you’ll notice the sizeable circular infotainment touchscreen perched on a slabby cloth-trimmed dashboard. While the frisbee-sized OLED screen looks brilliant, both in terms of its positioning and the quality of its graphics, the user experience is, um, challenging. Many functions were tricky to figure out, but we suspect most Mini customers will enjoy becoming familiarised with the menu.
There’s no instrument cluster, which means critical car info, principally vehicle speed, is displayed at the top of the infotainment screen. Mini offers an optional head-up display (projected on a glass panel ahead of the tiller), which we’d heartily recommend; it feels more natural to have your eyes in line with the road.
Any other criticisms? After starting the vehicle, we found the infotainment system needed a few seconds (too many?) to boot up completely. Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity is available, but it’s a pity that their respective interfaces (squarish boxes that use only a part of the round screen) look inelegant.
What’s more, most onboard functions (apart from those located on the multifunction ‘wheel and column stalks) are only accessible via the touchscreen, so get used to “diving into menus”! Thankfully, the voice-controlled assistant is fairly responsive and obedient, and the climate-control sliders are easy to adjust.
The fascia-mounted console is unashamedly quirky and features (from left) the volume-control/track-skip knob, the Mini Experiences toggle, a twistable engine-start switch (shaped like a non-removable key), a toggle for the transmission (instead of a conventional shift lever) and a parking brake button.
The cabin may represent a study in minimalism, but there’s no denying its lofty perceived build quality. Mini says it sourced several of the cabin finishes from recycled materials and soft-touch plastics abound.
Liberal applications of fabric add interesting, tactile textures to the cabin trim and a light projector, which emits colours and patterns (to suit the car’s various modes), is located behind the fancy circular screen.
Of course, the biggest benefit of the Countryman growing in size is notably enhanced cabin space. There’s more occupant room – at the front and rear – and you no longer feel like you’re in a small car.
The load bay capacity is a more-than-useful 505 litres and, if you fold down the rear seats, you get 1 450 litres of utility space. For context, that’s almost as much capacity as in the new Volkswagen Tiguan family car. Aft passengers are availed of separate ventilation outlets, as well as a pair of USB-C charging ports.
Price and After-sales support
The Mini Countryman S ALL4 retails for R795 074 (October 2024) and is sold with a standard 2-year/unlimited km warranty and a 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan.
See also: Mini Countryman (2024) Price & Specs
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Verdict
Has the 3rd-gen Countryman successfully evolved to appeal to a wider range of family car/medium SUV buyers? The Mini’s rivals are also upmarket, but they’re comparatively predictable: practical (almost to a fault), stylish (but with restraint), and highly conformist. This new Mini is a refreshingly funky alternative.
The newcomer’s styling is polarising and its fascia layout defies the norm, but there is a market for cars that appeal to nonconformists – that’s why boutique crossovers exist. The Countryman’s quirkiness is charming and, by the end of this review, we felt there were still many cool facets of the car to discover.
So, should you consider buying a new Mini Countryman S? While the Countryman S “ticks many boxes”, as they say, its C sibling, with the slightly smaller engine, offers better value. Admittedly, it won’t be as quick as this variant and you lose the all-wheel-drive capability, but it costs about R70k less than the S.
Want to know more about the Countryman C? David Taylor presents the variant in a video review: