Mini Countryman JCW
High-performance version of Mini’s new family SUV promises to liven up the school run On sale Spring Price from £ 41,520
WHILE THE ELECTRIC Countryman you’ve just read about brings a modern twist to Mini’s family SUV range, those who’d rather have one with a petrol engine will be pleased to see three options are available: an entry-level 1.5-litre Countryman C and the 2.0-litre Countryman S and John Cooper Works (JCW). We’re testing the latter, which packs the most punch with 296bhp and a 0-62mph sprint time of 5.4sec.
While it never feels quite as fast as the official figures suggest, a healthy slug of mid-range muscle will get you up to motorway speed with little trouble. Both 2.0-litre engines come with four-wheel drive (whereas the C is front-wheel drive), so you can make full use of the power out of corners. Meanwhile, the slick sevenspeed automatic gearbox is eager to help you access that punch as often as possible, changing down a gear with just a small press of the accelerator pedal. Alternatively, steering wheel-mounted paddles let you take control of the changes yourself, and these react sharply too.
Disappointingly, although there are four exhaust pipes, there’s little to be heard from the rear of the car. However, select the sportier Go Kart drive mode and this pipes an exaggerated engine sound through the speakers. It’s suitably loud when you’re in the mood, but it generates a constant drone in the background when you settle down to a cruise. Thankfully, you can turn the sound off in a sub-menu, at which point you’ll discover the engine is naturally hushed. On the motorway, there’s a moderate level of road noise.
With firm suspension and large wheels (optional 20in items on our test car), occupants are jostled around at low speeds in a way that soon becomes tiring. Although the ride settles down at motorway speeds, it’s a shame you can’t soften off the adaptive suspension.
The upside to this firmness is that body lean is neatly controlled at a moderate speed, but the car starts to feel a little top heavy if you up your pace. At least the Countryman’s steering feels precise and there’s plenty of grip, but rivals such as the Cupra Formentor are more agile and comfortable. As a result, we expect the less powerful petrol versions to be more recommendable than the JCW.