COUNTRYMAN PERKY, PLAYFUL BUT ALL BUSINESS
Mini’s first plug-in hybrid delivers stellar efficiency without being a dullard
Mini has experimented with an all-electric derivative of its three-door Cooper, and will launch a new electric-drive model in 2019. But before that car arrives, here’s the first plugin hybrid from the brand, in the form of the Countryman. It’s all Mini, with little in the way of compromise and much better fuel efficiency.
The heart and soul of the hybrid is a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder gas engine, an electric motor and a 7.6 kWh lithium-ion battery. The latter can be charged in 2.5 hours using a 220-volt outlet and it delivers an electric-only driving range of up to 40 kilometres.
The gas engine generates 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque at a suitably low 1,250 rpm, driving the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission with sport and manual modes. The electric motor powers the rear wheels and chips in with another 87 hp and 122 lb-ft the instant the electric motor begins to turn. With both power sources working, the Countryman Cooper S E All4 has a combined output of 221 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque.
The hybrid delivers the perky performance expected of a Cooper S with the fuel economy demanded of a hybrid. The test generated an average fuel economy of 7.8
L/100 km. A big part of the efficiency is that the electric motor did the lion’s share of the work on a city drive, meaning virtually no gasoline usage. The flip side is the plug-in hybrid scoots from rest to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds. That’s like having your cake and eating it, too.
The hybrid’s powertrain layout brings all-wheel-drive traction. In dynamic traction control mode, it proved to be a remarkably proficient system. There are multiple driving modes. The electric side has EV, Auto eDrive and Save, which allows the driver to preserve and charge the battery for use at another time. The engine has the usual Eco, Mid and Sport modes. If fuel economy is your bag, pick Auto eDrive and Eco, but the downside is the somewhat lethargic feel. Auto eDrive and Mid mode is best for everyday use. When it’s time to have fun, put the Countryman hybrid in eDrive and Sport modes; the two
power sources make it remarkably snappy for a hybrid. Sure, it impinges on the fuel economy, but it’s worth burning a little more fossil fuel for the fun factor.
What the hybrid doesn’t sacrifice is the impish road manners expected of a Mini. In spite of its size, the Countryman hunkers down and whips through a corner with the very best of them. There was little body roll and the steering was crisp with good feedback. On that note, the brake pedal, unlike so many hybrids, had a realistic feel.
The cabin is all Mini: toggle switches galore, the speedometer sits atop the steering column, and the infotainment system, with its touch screen display, rides high in the centre stack.
It also featured the all-encompassing Mini Connected XL package; the neat part is the ability to set up a number of different trips by punching in starting and end points with the date and time of the trip.
It supports Google and Apple maps, and can be transferred to the on-board navigation system using Wi-Fi.
When on a given trip, it updates the estimated time of arrival by factoring in real-time traffic information. During the last kilometre of the drive, it highlights the available parking in the area. Once parked, it allows the driver to find the Mini on a smart phone using the app’s map. There are too many functions to go into in detail, but it’s a welcome addition.
The driver’s environment is classy, with comfortable sport seats and a good driving position. Sadly, heated seats are bundled up in the Essentials package; surely that package name indicates it should be mandatory, not a $1,450 option?
Visibility is so-so. While the rear-view camera and sonic sensors ease the parking chore, the scene through the rear-view mirror is hampered by the headrests and there’s no blind-spot monitoring, which is frankly unforgivable on a car pushing $50,000.
Slide rearward and there is ample space for two adults and decent cargo space. The only real compromise is the taller rear seat; it sits over the battery, so cargo capacity drops by 45 L with the seats up and by 115 (to 1,275 L) with the 40/20/40-split seats folded. The sacrifice, given the upsides, isn’t worth fretting about.
The hybrid Countryman brings the benefits of the space and pace, but with good fuel economy.
There are some nits to pick, but as a package, the Countryman Cooper S E plug-in hybrid gets it done without being a dullard to drive.