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The second-generation Mini Countryman SUV is nearing the end of its model life. It’s been on sale in Australia since 2017 and there is a new one coming in the next two years. It will be electric and grow in size, leaving space for the new Aceman to slot into Mini’s line-up.
Until then, Mini is doing what it can to maintain interest in the quirky small SUV, and that means special editions. There are a bunch of them in the Mini stable at the moment, including the Resolute edition, available with the three- and five-door Hatch, Electric Hatch and Convertible, and then there’s the Clubman Untold.
Like these variants, the Mini Countryman Untamed edition tested here adds some visual flair to an already handsome model.
We road tested the Countryman SE Hybrid Untamed on a recent trip to Germany to attend the reveal of the Aceman concept. So while the same model is available in Australia, note that the driving conditions differ from a local review.
Audi’s littlest and most affordable SUV, the Q2, has been updated with new looks and tech, but something else has snuck in with it. Or should I say roared in? It’s the SQ2, with a whopping 300 horsepower and a snarling bark.
So, this review has something for everybody. It’s for those who want to know what’s new for the Q2 in this latest update - those thinking of buying a cool-looking little SUV from Audi - and for those who want to wake their neighbours up and frighten their friends.
Ready? Let’s go.
The Countryman is expensive when compared with some premium small SUV rivals, and the model is showing its age when it comes to in-car technology and safety specification.
But there is nothing else like it in its segment and people with a love of the Mini brand will likely forgive these points.
It ticks the green box, offering decent, usable PHEV range, and it maintains that all-important Mini fun-to-drive factor. It’s a funky city-centric SUV with a big personality.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.
The Q2 is good value and great to drive – especially the SQ2. The exterior looks new, but the cabin feels older than the larger Q3, and most other Audi models.
More standard advanced safety tech would make the Q2 even more appealing, as would a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. While we’re at it, a hybrid variant would make enormous sense.
So, a great car, but Audi could offer more to make it an even better proposition for buyers.
Five years into its life and the second-generation Countryman still looks good. It was only through seeing a first-gen model a couple of days ago that I realised how fresh the current model still looks.
It’s got that unmistakable Mini look with signature headlights and grille, and the exterior mirrors that pop out at a very specific angle. But given the Countryman is a small SUV, it’s got chunky wheel arches with cladding, roof racks and the dimensions expected of a vehicle in this segment. It’s a more successful execution of a retro-inspired SUV than something like the Fiat 500X.
The exterior colour and flourishes of the Untamed don’t exactly transform the Countryman, but they are visually appealing.
Inside, the Highland Green trim with the contrast stitching is just gorgeous. It’s such a perfect match for this car.
Some people don’t care for Mini’s busy interior design, but it’s certainly unique. The brand-specific switchgear is appealing, especially as most brands ditch the switch in favour of controls housed in digital screens.
This updated Q2 looks almost identical to the previous one and really the only changes are subtle styling tweaks to the front and back of the car.
The front air vents (they aren’t real air vents on the Q2, but they are on the SQ2) are now larger and pointier and the top of the grille is lower. Around the back, the bumper now has a similar design to the front, with those pointy polygons set wide apart.
It’s an angular little SUV, full of sharp-edged shapes like some kind of acoustical wall in an auditorium.
The SQ2 just looks more aggro, with its metallic-trimmed air vents and beefy quad exhaust.
The new colour is called Apple Green and it’s not really like any colour on the road – well not since 1951, anyway when this hue was hugely popular on everything from cars to telephones. It’s also very close to Disney’s “Go Away” green – look it up and then ask yourself if you should be driving a car that’s kind of invisible to the human eye.
I digress. Other colours in the range include Brilliant Black, Turbo Blue, Glacier White, Floret Silver, Tango Red, Manhattan Grey and Navarra Blue.
Inside, the cabins are the same as before, apart from the larger, sleeker media display, and there are some new trim materials, too. The 35 TFSI has silver inlays with a diamond paint finish, while the 40TFSI has aluminium door sills.
The Q2 has beautiful quilted Nappa leather upholstery, which goes beyond just covering the seats and to the centre console, doors and armrests.
All options offer well laid out and premium feeling cabins, but the disappointing part is that it's an older Audi design, which started out in the third-generation A3, launched in 2013, and still exists on the Q2, even though most Audi models, including the Q3, have the new interior design. This would bug me if I was thinking about buying a Q2.
Have you thought about a Q3? It’s not that much more in price, and it’s a tad bigger, obviously.
The Q2 is tiny, at 4208mm end to end, 1794mm wide and 1537mm tall. The SQ2 is longer at 4216mm long, 1802mm wide and 1524mm tall.
In the driver’s seat, you will find a nice upright driving position, helped by reach and height-adjustable steering column and a comfortable seat that adjusts multiple ways.
Even with a smallish rear windscreen, visibility is surprisingly good in the Countryman, thanks to lots of glass and a big front windscreen.
The chunky Nappa leather steering wheel looks and feels high-end, and the controls are easy to understand. I love the use of manual air-con controls and the switches for other vehicle functions sitting just below.
Being a Mini, the multimedia screen lives in a circular housing towards the top of the centre stack. It’s another way Mini stands apart from its rivals - no other brand has an interior like this.
While I like the overall vibe, the 8.8-inch screen is small by today’s standards, and it shows the Countryman’s age. Also, the system is a little fussy and not the easiest menu to navigate.
The wireless Apple CarPlay is glitchy and drops out frequently. It also cuts out when the vehicle’s proximity sensor detects that the car is too close to an object and shows where the obstruction is on the screen. It takes a while for CarPlay to reset.
Storage wise there’s space for larger bottles in the doors and plenty of nooks to hold personal items.
There’s a surprising amount of space in the rear of the Countryman. For a Mini, it's kind of maxi. Headroom won’t be a problem for taller folks and there’s more rear legroom than some models in the segment above it.
The second row features lower air vents, two USB-C ports, map pockets and heaps of space in the door cavity to store big bottles and other tall items. There’s also a centre fold down armrest with cupholders.
That rear pew is best described as flat and on the firmer side of comfortable. It split-folds 40/20/40 and has top tethers and ISOFIX on all three seats.
Open the rear hatch and you’ll find a boot that can swallow 405 litres with all seats in place (1275L with the rear seats folded), which is 45 litres less than the Cooper S. That’s due to the plug-in hybrid hardware impacting boot space.
That 405L might not sound massive, but it’s more space than in the petrol-electric hybrid Lexus UX (334L), and it’s not far off the dimensionally larger Volvo XC40 Recharge PHEV (414L).
The seats fold almost flat and there are a few little nooks, luggage straps and a 12-volt outlet.
The Q2 is basically a current model Audi A3, but more practical. I’ve lived with the A3 Sedan and Sportback and while rear legroom is just as confined in those as it is in the Q2 (I’m 191cm and need to squish my knees behind my driving position) getting in and out is easier in the SUV, with its elevated ride height and taller door apertures.
The easier access helps enormously when helping kids into their child seats. In an A3 I need to kneel on the footpath to be at the right level to put my son into the car, but not with the Q2.
The boot space of the Q2 is 405 litres (VDA) for the front-wheel-drive 35 TFSI and for the SQ2 it’s 355 litres. That not bad, and the large hatch makes for a big opening, which is more practical than a sedan’s boot.
Inside, the cabin isn’t enormous, but rear headroom is good, thanks to the fairly high roof.
Cabin storage isn’t terrific, although the front door pockets are big and there are two cupholders up front.
Only the SQ2 has USB ports in the back for rear passengers, but all Q2s have two USB ports up front for charging and media – plus all have wireless charging for phones.
Mini does limited editions a bit differently to other brands. It usually adds new grades to the model line and then eventually, it disappears. Unlike other carmakers that often add a special-edition model that is limited in number.
The Untamed will continue on in the Countryman line-up until Mini Australia says it’s done. It’s not based on another grade - it is a unique grade in the Countryman line-up.
The Untamed is available in petrol-powered Cooper S guide from $62,400, before on-road costs, and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SE Hybrid from $69,500.
This is a little more than the price of the regular Hybrid, the Classic ($64,000) and Yours ($69,000).
That $70,000 price tag isn’t cheap, even among its premium rivals. Some other offerings you could get for similar money include the all-electric Lexus UX300e (from $74,000), an Audi Q3 40 TFSI quattro Sportback (from $66,100), or a Volvo XC40 Recharge PHEV (from $66,990).
The Untamed adds visual flourishes inside and out including two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels, the exclusive 'Momentum Grey' paintwork, lower air intake, side skirts and rear apron all in the body colour, Mini badges using the signature grey, black roof rails, headlight housing and mirror caps, and an 'Untamed' inscription on the rear three-quarter window and side sills.
Inside, the Untamed adds 'Highland Green' trim with blue and green contrast stitching (although carbon black trim is also offered), Untamed mountain logo on the seats and bottom of the steering wheel, and other visual tweaks.
Other features that are standard in the Cooper SE Hybrid Untamed include keyless entry and start, power heated exterior mirrors, heated front seats, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, automatic tailgate, a 5.5-inch digital instrument cluster, 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a wireless charger and an 8.8-inch touchscreen multimedia with sat-nav, voice recognition, wireless Apple CarPlay and digital radio.
The Q2 entry grade is the 35 TFSI and it lists for $42,900, while the 40 TFSI quattro S line is $49,900. The SQ2 is the king of the range and lists at $64,400.
The SQ2 has never been to Australia before, and we’ll get to its standard features in a moment.
Aussies have been able to buy a 35 TFSI or 40 TFSI since the Q2 arrived in 2017, but now both have been updated with new styling and features. The good news is the prices have only gone up by a few hundred bucks, compared to the old Q2.
Standard on the 35 TFSI are LED headlights and taillights, LED DRLs, leather seats and steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, eight-speaker stereo with digital radio, front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera.
That was all standard on the previous 35 TFSI, but here’s what’s new: an 8.3-inch media screen (the old one was seven inches); a proximity key with push button start (great news); wireless phone charging (brilliant), heated exterior mirrors (more helpful than you’d think), ambient interior lighting (aww… pretty); and 18-inch alloys (heck yes).
The 40 TFSI quattro S line adds sports front seats, drive-mode selection, a power tailgate, and paddle shifters. The previous one had all that, too, but this new one has the sporty S line exterior body kit (the previous car was just called Sport not S line).
Now, the 45 TFSI quattro S line may appear not to get much more than the 35 TFSI, but the extra money is getting you more grunt and an awesome all-wheel-drive system – the 35 TFSI is front-wheel-drive only. If you love driving and can’t afford the SQ2, then $7K extra for the 45 TFSI is absolutely worth it.
If you have saved all your pennies and the SQ2 is what you’re zeroing in on, then here’s what you get: Metallic/pearl effect paint, 19-inch alloys, matrix LED headlights with dynamic indicators, the S body kit with quad exhaust, sports suspension, Nappa leather upholstery, heated front seats, 10-colour ambient lighting, stainless-steel pedals, auto parking, a fully digital instrument cluster, and a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo.
Of course, you get an incredible high-output four-cylinder engine, too, but we’ll get to that in a moment.
The Countryman SE Hybrid is the brand’s sole plug-in hybrid model.
The drivetrain combines a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with a 7.6kWh lithium-ion battery and an electric motor on the rear axle.
According to Mini, the combined power and torque output is 165kW and 385Nm.
It uses a six-speed automatic transmission and drives all four wheels via Mini’s 'All4' all-wheel drive set-up.
It has a 0-100km/h dash time of 6.8 seconds.
There are three grades and each has a different engine.
The 35 TFSI has a new 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine making 110kW and 250Nm; the 40 TFSI has a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four making 140kW and 320 Nm; and the SQ2 has a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol as well, but it puts out a very impressive 221kW and 400Nm.
The 35 TFSI is front-wheel drive, while the 45 TFSI quattro S line and SQ2 are both all-wheel drive.
All have a seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission – nope you can’t get a manual. There are also no diesel engines in the line-up.
I drove all three cars and, from an engine perspective, it’s like turning the ‘Smile Dial’ up from Mona Lisa in the 35 TFSI, to Jim Carrey in the SQ2, with Chrissy Teigen in between.
The plug-in hybrid Mini has an official combined fuel use figure of 2.4 litres per 100 kilometres, and emits 54g/km of CO2.
It has a 36-litre fuel tank and requires premium ULP. The electric only driving range is 51km on the WLTP test cycle.
Our brief drive through the Bavarian countryside was not conducive with monitoring fuel use, but we did notice the regenerative braking adding charge back into the battery as we drove.
The Countryman PHEV has a CCS Type 2 plug and can be fully recharged in about two-and-a-half hours at 3.7kW.
Audi engines are superbly modern and efficient – even its monster V10 can shut down cylinders to save fuel, and so can the new 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine in the 35 TFSI. Audi says that over a combination of urban and open roads, the 35 TFSI should use 5.2L/100km.
The 40 TFSI is thirstier at 7L/100km, but the SQ2 demands a bit more at 7.7L/100km. Still, not bad.
What’s not good is the lack of a hybrid, PHEV or EV variant of the Q2. I mean the car is small and ideal for the city, and therefore a perfect candidate for an electric version. Not having a hybrid or EV is why the Q2 model range doesn’t score well for its overall fuel economy.
It’s been a while since I’ve driven a Countryman so it was nice to reacquaint myself with it in PHEV guise.
As is the case with many hybrid and EV models, the Countryman takes off nicely from a standing start using electric power. Because of this, there is no lag from the engine because it hasn’t kicked in.
Once it does, it’s an incredibly smooth transition from electric to petrol propulsion - unlike some other PHEVs out there.
Mini says it will do 0-100km/h in 6.8 seconds (quicker than the sporty Cooper S by 0.7s), which is hot hatch quick, but it hits triple digits without much fuss at all, thanks in part to the AWD traction and excellent smooth-shifting six-speed auto.
If you want even more urge, switch to 'Sport' mode, but 'Mid' (normal) mode offers more than enough poke. There’s also 'Green' and 'eDrive' modes if you want a calmer drive experience that avoids the petrol engine altogether.
Given the Countryman’s size and heft, it’s never going to bother its smaller Hatch sibling when it comes to handling and dynamic performance. But, it’s much more sprightly in tight corners and on winding country roads than I remember. You can have a great deal of fun in this car.
Given we were driving on flawless German autobahns and Bavarian country roads, I won’t go into too much detail on the ride quality. In this environment, there was little to fault, but that is almost certainly going to be different driving on Australian pockmarked back roads and highways.
When it comes to the driving part, Audi can almost do no wrong – everything the company makes, whether it’s low powered or rip-your-face-off fast, has all the ingredients for engaging driving.
The Q2 range is no different. The entry-grade 35 TFSI has the least grunt and, with its front wheels pulling the car along, it’s the only one in the family that’s not blessed with all-wheel drive, but unless you’re doing laps at a track you’re not going to be wanting more power.
I drove the 35 TFSI for more than 100km on the launch, through the country and into the city, and in all situations, from overtaking on highways to merging and slow traffic, the most affordable Q2 performed well. That 1.5-litre engine is responsive enough and the dual-clutch transmission changes swiftly and smoothly.
Superb steering and good visibility (although that rear three-quarter view is slightly obstructed by the back pillar) makes the 35 TFSI easy to drive.
The 45 TFSI is a good mid-point between the 35 TFSI and the SQ2 and comes with a very noticeable bump in oomph, while the extra traction from the all-wheel drive is a reassuring addition.
The SQ2 isn’t the hardcore beast you might think it is – this thing would be super easy to live with daily. Yes, it has firm sports suspension, but it’s not overly hard, and that engine, which nudges almost 300 horsepower, doesn’t feel like a Rottweiler on the end of a leash. If anything, it’s a Blue Heeler that loves to run and run, but is happy to take it easy and get fat.
The SQ2 is my pick of the bunch, and not just because it’s quick, agile, and has an intimidating growl. It’s also comfortable and luxurious, with sumptuous leather seats.
The Mini Countryman has not been rated by ANCAP for crash safety.
It comes with standard safety gear like six airbags, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, an emergency call button and a run-flat tyre indicator.
Countryman PHEV also comes with front and rear parking sensors, a rear parking camera, a speed limiter and a pedestrian sound activation when in electric mode.
There’s no active lane keeping aid or blind spot monitor, and it lacks the front centre airbags of more modern competitors, but that’s down to its age.
The Q2 was given the maximum five-star ANCAP rating when it was tested in 2016, but by 2021 standards it is light on advanced safety tech.
Yes, AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection is standard on all Q2s and the SQ2, and so is blind-spot warning, but there’s no rear cross traffic alert or reverse AEB, while lane-keeping assistance is only standard on the SQ2, along with adaptive cruise control.
For a car that will most likely be purchased by younger people, it doesn’t seem right that they’re not being protected as well they would be in more expensive Audi models.
For child seats, there are two ISOFIX points and three top-tether anchor mounts.
A space-saver spare is under the boot floor.
The Mini warranty is still just three years and unlimited kilometres, down on the five-year/unlimited km term of most rivals.
Unlike most other makes, Mini (and parent company BMW) have ‘condition-based servicing’, which is when the vehicle’s computer will inform you when the car needs a service.
All Minis are available with a five-year/80,000km capped price servicing plan, the basic level starting at $1640 for standard models, rising to $1700 for JCW variants.
The pressure for Audi to move to a five-year warranty must be hugely intense, with Mercedes-Benz offering one, along with pretty much every other mainstream brand. But for now, Audi will only cover the Q2 for three years/unlimited kilometres.
As for servicing, Audi offers a five-year plan for the Q2 costing $2280 and covering every 12-month/15000km service over that time. For the SQ2, the cost is only a fraction higher at $2540.