Countryman finds suitable balance
Mini’s largest model to date offers first-rate cabin and genuine usability
It’s been a few years since I’ve driven Mini’s curious little compact crossover. My first experience with the Countryman was while competing in a local TSD rally, which stands for time, speed, and distance, and entails ruthless accuracy rather than speed. Despite its larger size, the all-wheel-drive Countryman handled the mixture of rural pavement and winding gravel roads like a typical Mini, if slightly less nimble.
It was a useful little vehicle with a likable character, which I pronounced “pretty damned good for a $25,000 car.” The problem was, it was closer to $50,000. A cheaply executed, squeaky interior and such a lack of insulation that rain on the rooftop filled the cabin with a thunderous drumming were unacceptable in a vehicle positioned in the hyper-competitive premium-crossover segment.
And so it was, the assignment to review the latest iteration was received with a little less than unbridled enthusiasm. In metallic British Racing Green paint, my tester looks rather promising. The 2017 Countryman is eight inches longer than the previous generation, making it the largest Mini to date. Yet the iconic styling loses nothing in the translation; it’s still very much a Mini.
It’s the cabin that finally earns a satisfied smile. While still retaining all the playfulness that characterizes it as a Mini, the Countryman finally has an interior that’s worthy of a premium brand. Quilted “British Oak Chester” leather with contrasting white piping covers well-bolstered sports seats. The centre console is far more upscale and usable, featuring a rotary controller knob to access an infotainment system worthy of parent company BMW.
The comically large centre dial, one of Mini’s defining features, is now a sophisticated 8.8-inch screen, displaying everything from navigation to rear-view camera to driver-efficiency feedback. As tested, this Countryman was loaded with memory seats, panoramic sunroof, head-up display, wireless charging with Bluetooth, fore- and aft-adjustable rear seats, and a Harman Kardon sound system. It’s a more mature environment befitting a premium vehicle.
Now riding on the same platform as the BMW X1, the Countryman gains almost 10 centimetres of rear leg room, and has 450 litres of cargo space, or 1,390 with the 40-20-40 rear seats down. Space is now on par with such premium competitors as the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, Range Rover Evoque and Audi Q3, and offers genuinely usable rear seating. It’s nice to be able to accommodate full-sized adults without feeling apologetic.
The hood bulge is a nice affectation, but underneath is a moderately powered, if peppy 2.0-L turbocharged engine. It puts out 189 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque, but the twin-scroll turbocharger and eight-speed automatic transmission help wring the most out of the Countryman by nicely managing the power band. It’s rather hefty for a Mini, but the turbo-four hustles the Countryman’s 1,665-kilogram bulk around competently. Still, it will never be mistaken for the more performance-bred John Cooper Works-tuned model.
With the new platform comes more refinement. On the one hand, it’s a very good thing that this little crossover now handles like the BMW X1. On the other, the Countryman has lost some of the unsophisticated friskiness that’s so characteristically
Mini. The previous model had been criticized for its harsh ride, and while the current model still rides firm, it’s comfortable and maintains its composure over rough roads and quick lane changes.
The electronically managed all-wheel-drive system uses data from steering angle, speed, torque and throttle position to instantly divide torque among all four wheels where needed, but defaults to front-wheel drive during regular highway use. Weight distribution is a front-heavy 58 per cent front to 42 per cent rear, giving the front wheels extra grip and rather quick turn-in. The eight-speed automatic is a smooth performer, but rather slow to downshift when a quick burst of passing speed is required. Selecting the “Sport” mode speeds up response considerably, but it made me long for paddle shifters — or better yet, forgoing paying $1,500 and choosing the standard six-speed manual.
It’s not the Mini for the enthusiast; there are several John Cooper Works models for that. But for someone who has always loved Minis but necessity dictates something a little more practical, the Countryman All4 is a pretty good compromise. It was always a little more expensive than other quirky compact crossovers, such as the Fiat 500X or Nissan Juke, and offered little more than its cheeky, iconic design. But its new refinement, first-rate cabin and genuine usability put it on par with the Europeans in the premium segment but costs a little less.