Mini Cooper Countryman bigger for 2017
A big Mini sounds as contradictory as jumbo shrimp, but it’s one way to describe the second-generation Mini Cooper Countryman that arrives in North America this spring.
Built in Oxford, England, the Countryman was the first all-wheel-drive-optional Mini when it launched for the 2011 model year. The recently updated Clubman can also be ordered with AWD now.
Like the Clubman and the Mini Cooper coupe, fourdoor and convertible offshoots, the Countryman has been enlarged. Overall length has increased by 20 centimetres, width by about 2.5 centimetres and the distance between the front and rear wheels is up about 7.5 centimetres. The increase is primarily due to an all-new platform that’s also used by the BMW X1 (BMW owns Mini). Along with a significant gain in rear legroom, the cargo space has increased by 30 per cent behind the rear seat and by 16 per cent when it’s folded flat. That places the Countryman in the same league as the Mercedes-Benz GLA and the Audi Q3, but it’s shy of the Volkswagen Alltrack.
The 2017 Countryman has a shape that’s similar to its predecessor, right down to the odd-looking rear roof pillar, sourpuss-shaped grille and adult-sized rear doors. The passenger compartment suggests there’s space for up to three passengers in back, but in reality the middle spot is virtually unusable due to the 40:20:40 split-folding configuration and the fact that the extended floor console practically eliminates any semblance of leg space.
The control panel will be familiar to anyone who has been in a current-generation Mini. Note the especially large circular touchscreen display in the middle of the dash for the audio controls plus an available navigation system.
The Countryman’s two powerplants are the same as you’ll find in the rest of the Mini fleet. Base models run with a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine that delivers 134 horsepower and 162 poundfeet of torque. Specify the Countryman S and its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder produces 189 horsepower and 207 pound-feet.
The 1.5 can be connected to a six-speed manual transmission, or available six-speed automatic. The 2.0 also comes with the manual gearbox, but it gets an eight-speed automatic as an option. Fuel economy for the base turbo 1.5 with a manual gearbox is rated at 9.6 l/100 km city and 7.0 on the highway.
As before, specifying the Countryman S is the only way to add Mini’s ALL4 all-wheel-drive system. During normal driving conditions, the rear wheels are simply along for the ride, but under hard acceleration or when encountering slippery conditions, up to 100 per cent of the engine’s torque can be diverted to the rear wheels.
Arriving after the initial launch is the Mini E Countryman Cooper S ALL4. This plug-in hybrid combines the three-cylinder engine and six-speed auto trans with an 88-horsepower electric motor for a total system output of 221 HP and 284 pound-feet. The Mini E is good for a claimed 38 kilometres in electric mode and in hybrid mode will reach 125 km-h before the gas engine kicks in. Recharging the lithium-ion batteries will take about two hours using a 240-volt charging station.
The starting price of $29,750, including destination charges, gets you the usual air and powered amenities plus a panoramic sunroof, sliding rear seats and rain-sensing wipers. From there the price rises sharply as you move up to the S variant and/or add convenience and active-safety technology, such as emergency braking and lane-departure warning.
The Countryman can be pricey, but it’s hard to place a value on the precise handling and control qualities that all Minis provide.
That ultimately means the most to the brand’s fans.