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Quick overview
- Plenty of interior space
- Great to drive
- Plug-in hybrid model
- Hybrid’s EV driving range
- Firm ride
- Can be pricey with options
- Front seat comfort
- Cost of options
Making a small SUV feel like a premium car while retaining its compact size is not an easy task. It seems the folks at MINI relished the challenge because the Countryman may be the biggest car in its range, but it’s also one of the most fun and enjoyable to drive, and has that classy feel. There’s also a John Cooper Works version for anyone who really wants to get there in a hurry. However, we reckon more drivers will be interested in the plug-in hybrid model that can cover up to 26 miles on battery power alone, which makes it ideal for many people’s daily commutes and routine journeys.
MINI has also made the Countryman a great deal of fun to drive, which is not as easy a task with an SUV as many will have you believe. While others in this class claim to offer a sporty drive, very few come up to the mark set by the MINI. Only the Ford Puma is a serious alternative for drivers who like to cut loose when they encounter a deserted back road and don’t have any passengers onboard.
It's not all Land of Hope and Glory for the MINI, though, as the suspension has been set firm to stun. It may endow the Countryman with handling that almost all of its rivals can only trail behind and wonder at, but it also means this is car that tends to have an argument with every lump and hump it meets in the road. Where a Puma flows and caresses its way over most roads, the MINI is simply too firm and that makes it a less appealing car when it comes to covering larger distances.
This is a double shame, as not only does the ride undermine the Countryman’s comfort, it takes away from its excellent practicality. This should make it a sound choice for anyone who carts the family around at weekends or needs plenty of cabin space, which the Countryman has in abundance. Yet that stiff suspension does make you think twice about taking the kids too far or sticking Granny in the back seat.
Prices
MINI offers the Cooper, Cooper S and PHEV plug-in hybrid models of the Countryman in three trim levels. The most affordable model is the Cooper Classic, which costs from £28,815, with the Cooper S at £31,290 and the hybrid from £36,600. Move the Exclusive trim and you the Cooper begins at £32,015, while the S starts from £33,890 and the PHEV at £32,900. Above this is the Untamed Edition, with prices for the Cooper beginning from £33,660, the S from £35,525, and the PHEV starting at £40,850. Separate to these models is the John Cooper Works that has prices from £39,375. There are savings of up to £1200 possible on new MINI Countryman models, while a nearly new car with around 3000 miles on the clock can be had with a saving of about £2000 over the new price. Go for a three-year old Countryman with average mileage and you’ll spend from about £17,000.
Infotainment, comfort and practicality
Ever since BMW relaunched the MINI brand way back in 2001, it has been turning out brilliantly designed cabins. They’ve not always been most spacious or best equipped as standard, but there’s no arguing with the looks and style. The same applies here with the current Countryman, which has a dash that mixes just the right amount of modern tech with nods towards the original Mini of 1959. For that, you only need to look at the large, round central display that’s used for the infotainment display. There are also toggle switches that feel very retro, plus the main instrument pod on top of the steering column and clearly in line of sight for the driver is another handsome touch.
The 8.8-inch colour infotainment screen is not the largest in this class by any means, but it’s standard across the range and easy to see from the driver’s seat. As the system is based on the same tech as parent company BMW uses, the MINI’s set-up favours a small rotary control positioned just to the rear of the gear lever. It falls neatly to hand and lets you scroll through the various menus easily and without trying to jab an onscreen icon as you’re driving. It’s a much more intuitive system than most and comes with Apple CarPlay but not Android Auto, which seems a bit odd given almost all other car companies include both.
The driver should have no trouble finding a comfortable position to sit in at the helm of the Countryman. The steering wheel moves for height and depth, and the driver’s chair also adjusts for how high or low you want it. The back rest is a little trickier to get right as it works on a spring-loaded method, so you need to release the handle at just the right moment to avoid more fiddling. We also find the seat base a little too narrow to be ideal for everyone. Still, the view to the front and sides of the Countryman is good, but rear vision is restricted and you need the standard rear parking sensors. If you want front sensors or a parking camera, like so many other items with the MINI you will need to choose it as an option or part of a pack.
As in the front, the rear seats of the MINI Countryman dish up plenty of room for heads, legs and shoulders. Two adults will fit in with no reason to complain and three kids can fit across the bench. Smaller children will be able to sit in their secure seats as there are Isofix mounts on the two outer chairs. The centre seat of the bench is a little raised and foot space is reduced by the transmission tunnel. In the plug-in hybrid version of the Countryman, the rear bench is slightly raised due the battery pack being placed underneath.
The boot of the hybrid is also slightly smaller than the other Countryman models’ due the battery pack. This means you get 450-litres with the seats up in most versions, but only 405-litres in the hybrid. Tip the 40-20-40 split and fold back seat down and you free up 1390-litres in the petrol cars, while the hybrid gets by with 1275-litres.
Which 2017 MINI Countryman model should you buy?
All MINI Countryman models come with an automatic gearbox, rear parking sensors, cruise control, electric windows, and the 8.8-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay. The Classic trim has 16-inch alloy wheels on the Cooper and 17-inch items for the Cooper S and hybrid models. This trim also comes with air conditioning, cloth upholstery, sports seats for the S, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. Move to the Exclusive and you gain 19-inch alloys, a silver-painted roof, leather upholstery, and an anthracite headlining. The Untamed Edition has 18-inch wheels, a piano black roof, Untamed badges, and unique Highland Green leather upholstery. The standalone John Cooper Works model has its own 18-inch alloy wheel design, four-wheel drive, sports exhaust, red-painted brake calipers, sports suspension, hip-hugging sports seats, and an eight-speed automatic gearbox with the other petrol models have a seven-speed item. Safety in the Countryman models is taken care of with six airbags, automatic emergency braking, eCall, and Isofix child seat mounts in the outer two rear seats. However, a rear parking camera is part of the pricey Premium Plus Pack.
Value for money: how much does a 2017 MINI Countryman cost to buy and run?
The PHEV plug-in hybrid Mini Countryman might be more expensive than most of its petrol counterparts, but it does offer an EV range of up t0 26 miles on battery power alone. Make the most of its EV running and it offers an official combined economy of up to 156.9mpg, with carbon dioxide emissions of 41g/km to warrant road tax of £10 in the first year. The 1.5-litre engine in the Cooper model delivers 44.8mpg and 144g/km of CO2 emissions, while the Cooper S with its 2.0-litre motor gives 43.5mpg and 147g/km. The high performance Works model comes with figures of 37.2mpg and 174g/km. The Cooper model sits in group 18 for insurance, while the S is in group 24 to 25 depending on trim, and the PHEV is in group 26. The Works sits a bit higher in group 33.
Verdict: Should I buy a 2017 MINI Countryman?
If you want a thrilling drive in a small SUV package, the MINI Countryman should be high on your wish list. It’s an exciting small SUV to drive on country roads, more than earning its name, but there is the pay-off of a very firm ride that you don’t have to put up with in the Ford Puma. This is a crucial point in the MINI as it can make longer journeys uncomfortable.
MINI does provide plenty of space inside the Countryman and it’s very well put together. The infotainment system is also very simple to use, but the front seats don’t suit every driver and you also have to tick a few optional extras to get the Countryman to a decent level of equipment.