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The Mini Countryman is a small, prestige SUV that is based on the Mini Cooper hatchback.
Originally introduced to the Australian market in 2011, the Mini Countryman rivals both other prestige suvs - such as the Audi Q3, BMW X1, BMW X2, Jaguar E-Pace, and Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class – and high-end versions of the Volkswagen Tiguan, Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-3, and Peugeot 3008.
Mini offers both efficient turbo-diesel, and punchy turbo-petrol engines for the Countryman; all of which are paired with an eight-speed torque converted automatic.
While most models get front-wheel drive, the top-of-the-range $77,990 Countryman SE ALL4 JCW Sport (bev) gets all-wheel drive.
Prices for the Countryman start at $49,990 for the Countryman C Core (mhev).
Towing capacities for hybrid vehicles has been a bit of an issue for Australian car buyers for a while now and remains one of the biggest hurdles to ownership of this type of technology. There’s also a fair bit of misinformation around, too, including the fact that hybrids can’t tow at all. That’s simply not true for some manufacturers, but in this case, it’s a fact.
While Mini specifies a 1500kg towing limited (with a braked trailer) for its Countryman range, there are exceptions. In fact, Mini does not specify a towing limit for two variants of the Countryman; the sporty John Cooper Works version and, sadly, the plug-in hybrid variant. In fact, there’s not even a factory-option tow-bar listed for those variants, which is another way of saying they’re not designed for towing at all. You may need to look elsewhere.
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In terms of physical size the five-door Mini Countryman is the largest vehicle in the current Mini fleet.
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You’re looking at a relatively new model so the reliability should be fine, and the maintenance costs should be ok if you use a specialist independent mechanic instead of a dealer.
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The interior feels airy with the amount of space available and it's pleasant to spend time in. There is a hefty mix of materials in the cabin space from the synthetic leather and cloth mix for the upholstery, and a rough-textured weave/knit across the dashboard that features vertical red stitches.
The black weave/knit across the door panels overlay a red material that is visible in certain lights. There are a few harder plastics mixed in but you tend not to focus on them. The dashboard is headlined by a 9.4-inch round media screen which isn't as well-integrated as previous generations but it looks gorgeous.
The boot space for the C and S models is 460L, while the John Cooper Works grade enjoys up to 505L. All back rows have a 40/20/40 split and a small lip in the loading space.
Standard accessories include keyless start/entry, dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, adaptive cornering and dusk-sensing LED headlights, satellite navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Mini 'Spike' virtual assistant, digital radio, a reversing camera, front/rear parking sensors, a wireless charging pad, four USB-C ports, two 12-volt sockets, a powered tailgate, a heated steering wheel and velour floor mats.
The Mini Countryman is offered with five seats in a 2/3 configuration. The front has Mini sports seats but John Cooper Works models have JCW Sports seats.
The rear has a 40/20/40 split but is set in 'stadium' position, so are slightly higher than the front seats. All Countrymans get a synthetic leather and cloth mix for the upholstery.
Electric front seats with heat and massage function (driver only) are available as at-cost option packs but are standard on the top-grade variant, the Favoured.
The Mini Countryman C has a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine that produces up to 115kW of power and 230Nm of torque.
The Mini Countryman S ALL4 has a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine that produces up to 150kW of power and 300Nm of torque.
The Mini Countryman JCW has a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine that produces up to 233kW of power and 400Nm of torque.
The Mini Countryman E has a single motor and a 66.5kWh battery and produces up to 150kW of power and 250Nm of torque.
The Mini Countryman SE ALL4 has dual motors and a 66.5kWh battery and produces up to 230kW of power and 494Nm of torque.
The Mini Countryman C has a 0-100km/h speed of 9.0-seconds and a top speed of 212km/h. The Mini Countryman S ALL4 has a 0-100km/h speed of 7.4-seconds and a top speed of 228km/h.
The Mini Countryman JCW has a 0-100km/h speed of 5.4-seconds and a top speed of 250km/h. The Mini Countryman E has a 0-100km/h speed of 8.6-seconds and a top speed of 170km/h.
The Mini Countryman SE ALL4 has a 0-100km/h speed of 5.6-seconds and a top speed of 180km/h.
The Mini Countryman C has a combined fuel cycle usage of 6.8L/100km and a 54L fuel tank, giving it a theoretical driving range of up to 794km.
The Mini Countryman S ALL4 has a combined fuel cycle usage of 7.6L/100km and a 54L fuel tank, giving it a theoretical driving range of up to 710km.
The Mini Countryman JCW has a combined fuel cycle usage of 7.7L/100km and a 54L fuel tank, giving it a theoretical driving range of up to 701km.
The Mini Countryman E has a combined energy consumption figure of 17.2kWh/100km and a driving range of up to 462km (WLTP).
The Mini Countryman SE ALL4 has a combined energy consumption figure of 18.3kWh/100km and a driving range of up to 432km (WLTP).