First Drive: MINI Countryman

MINI has launched its new Countryman, and we took it on a road trip from Johannesburg to Mpumalanga to get better acquainted. It is bigger in every aspect than its predecessor, but it still begs the question: Is it any better? Well, the latter is a contentious topic at worst, but we will get to its crux in a bit. The Countryman is MINI’s largest SUV, built for families and individual brand fans looking for a more versatile proposition within the British marque’s portfolio. 

And to that end, there is a method to the madness, as the previous Countryman, in my books, nailed the brief for styling and versatility, while performance was also noteworthy, especially in the instance of the Cooper S and John Cooper Works (JCW). My favourite in the lineup was the short-lived Cooper D with a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine. It was a butter-smooth, torque-rich, yet frugal proposition that I still remember fondly to this day. 

But back to the latest, third-generation of the MINI Countryman that is offered in four different flavours, namely the Countryman C with a 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine with 125kW and 280Nm; the Countryman S ALL 4 with a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbo petrol engine with 160kW and 360Nm; and the JCW Countryman boasting a 2.0-litre, 4-pot turbo petrol powerplant with 233kW and 400Nm. Capping the range is the fully electric Countryman SE ALL 4, which produces 230kW and 494Nm from a 66.4kWh battery pack.

Dimension-wise, the new Countryman boasts a 4,433mm length, 1,843mm width, and 1,656mm in height. This has resulted in a significant swelling of both the passenger and boot spaces, the latter measuring up to 1,450 litres with the rear seats folded down, which is quite sizable for carrying some of those cumbersome items with relative ease. Optically, the Countryman looks as though it's been knocking back a few pot pies as it has become rather large in stature, which might seem as though it digresses from the MINI essence of the brand. 

The interior is a heady mix of recycled materials festooning the seats, dashboard, and even the steering wheel, done in a fairly tasteful manner without looking too kitsch or over the top. Taking centre stage in the cabin is the new dinner-plate-sized OLED screen, measuring 240mm in diameter, which controls pretty much every vehicle function. It does take some doing to familiarise oneself with its functionality, but once licked, it becomes fairly intuitive. I do, however, have some reservations about the climate control functions also integrated into the infotainment screen, and I reckon some physical shortcut buttons would be a welcome addition. 

To sample the new model locally, we nosed the Countryman S out of Gauteng towards Mpumalanga along the N4 and through the R539 via Schoemanskloof, which remains one of the most scenic and beautiful roads to drive. Along the N4, the model felt well insulated and damped with minimal wind noise, but performance is something that I felt was wanting in this new model. Engine response, even in Go-Kart mode, which is the sportiest setting, felt rather lacklustre and made me wonder just how underpowered the entry-level Countryman C feels in comparison to this S model. That aside, there are enough toys to keep you occupied, including partially automated Level 2 driving and extensive digital offerings. Overall, the Countryman is first and foremost a versatile compact SUV with acres of passenger and luggage space, and if you can look past the not-so-sprightly performance and sheer kerb size, it is a great package.

Alternatively, I would look at a BMW X1, which shares a similar platform to the MINI Countryman but is arguably less pretentious and perhaps not as exciting and flamboyant. That said, we are quite sad to learn that the British brand has discontinued the Clubman, which remains my favourite body form in the MINI catalogue. 

Pricing: 

MINI Countryman C.
From R724,819.70

MINI Countryman S ALL4.
From R795,074.00

MINI JCW Countryman.
From R965,767.80

MINI Countryman SE ALL4.

From R1,086,000.00