Here’s a mini that is not so mini. With the introduction of Mini Countryman, the British hallmark premium brand can now easily fit in a full sized family with great comfort and convenience features. The attractive design, the range of customization, innovative technology, premium interiors in a compact sized sedan makes it an attractive proposition. We normally hear only 4 and 6 cylinder cars but the Mini comes in 3 and 4 cylinders. This particular model we reviewed is a COOPER S ALL4 version, a 4 cylinder car with a 4 wheel drive system delivering 192 hp. Although sounds small on paper, the compact size with a lighter body and a fantastic turbo engine does give you a thrill in the ride. The Mini countryman is the one of the most stylish compact cars out there. There’s been no compromise on the materials used inside and with the iconic design of the vehicle including the British branded lights, it definitely catches the attention of anyone wherever it goes.
Technical specification of the MINI Cooper COUNTRYMAN S ALL4
- Number of doors/seats – 5 / 5
- Type/no. of cylinders/valves – in-line / 4 / 4
- Output – 192HP
- Steering – Electrically assisted EPS unit with Servotronic function
- Tyres – 17inch
- Rims – 17″ light alloy
- Transmission type – 8-speed Steptronic transmission
- Acceleration 0-100 km/h – 7.4sec
- Top speed – 225
- Driving stability systems – Hydraulic 2-circuit brake system with anti-lock brakes (ABS),Electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with brake assistant, hill start assistant, brake dry function, Fading Brake Support, Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC)
- Handbrake impacts electrically on rear wheels
Some of the highlights of the Exterior
- REDESIGNED FRONT GRILLE with an optional piano black
- UNION JACK REAR LIGHTS – Signifies a rich history and a striking LED rear light which is neatly encased in a piano black frame.
- NEW REAR BUMPER DESIGN – A rear diffuser which gives it a sporty look.
- 19″ MINI TURNSTILE SPOKE TWO-TONE – A premium quality cast allow wheels in two tone finsh.
- NEW PIANO BLACK DESIGN ACCENTS – high gloss piano black designed accent for door handles, radiator grille, countryman labelling on the luggage compartment, black roof, mirror caps, black bonnet stripes, side scuttles framed in piano black specifically for S models including the S designation badge.
- ALL3 Exterior styling pack – adds a differentiated rear and front bumpers with decorative elements and sump guard in aluminium matt look finish
- Roof Rails – A multifunctional carrier system which can mount such as roof racks, bike racks, a roof box or a snowboard holder. Availalbe in silver and piano black.
- LED headlights in new design also automatically adjusts it’s lighting according to surrounding conditions such as dimming it’s high beam light if it notices an oncoming vehicle.
The moment you sit in the car you are like there is more space in it than what you imagined from the outside. The leather seats have been extremely comfortable and also comes with plenty of electronic seat adjustments for your comfort. You can be in these seats for hours with no problem. Below the giant center console you find the toggle switch where the start/stop switch would be glowing red and is linked to the breaks. So the moment you put your foot onto the break, the start/stop switch would glow brighter. The easy access toggle switches can be pushed upward or downward to modify the setting. This kind of switch design is unique to the mini coopers and this is why people love the mini cooper for it’s exquisite design and features. Moving forward, you press the glowing red start switch and you hear the engine start along with center console light up with multiple colors.
The head up display is a key attraction in the vehicle. Honestly, its one of the most stylish head up display out there. It’s pretty cool to see the head-up display pop up from the front when you start the vehicle and the glass screen goes back in when you switch off the vehicle. Projection is clean and clear and gives you necessary details on the glass display including navigation and radio. The details are clearly visible in all driving conditions.
MINI DRIVING MODES
With a flick of the toggle you can enjoy a different handling and responsiveness to match your mood. SPORT boosts steering and throttle response for a more dynamic experience. The GREEN mode helps you achieve maximum fuel efficiency with leisurely cruising. And MID keeps a balance of both modes.
MINI ALL4 ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
The All4 is a feature that easily elevates the driving experience. Basically the ALL4 distributes the power dynamically between all 4 wheels and helps keep a steady pace on any terrain and driving through any terrain becomes a piece of cake and you are in better control of the situation.
Overview of the highlights
• Distinctive front design with newly designed radiator grille.
• LED headlamps and LED fog lights as standard.
• LED rear lights in Union Jack design(British Flag).
• New body finishes, new option Piano Black Exterior.
• New light alloy wheels.
• Additional models with standard 8-speed Steptronic transmission.
• New digital cockpit display with 5-inch colour screen as an option.
• Newly designed central instrument in Piano Black High Gloss design available as an optional extra.
• Sports leather steering wheel as standard in all model variants.
8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission is standard equipment for MINI Countryman Cooper S ALL4.
The driver profile is an interesting one where you can assign a particular key to a driver and the following settings will be linked to the drivers profile, so every time the driver enters the vehicle all of his settings will be restored automatically. Personal settings such as lights, radio, instrument cluster, driver seat position, climate control, navigation, driving mode, intelligent safety, exterior side mirror and rear view camera position will all be stored under a driver’s profile. This would be a perfect example of modern technology and it’s good use.
Wireless charging holder can be found under the drivers armrest. The phone perfectly sits very well inside the wireless charging station and the mobile phones is nicely held by the wireless charging holder in the Mini which has a neat way of gripping the phone. I noticed the maximum storage size would be the iphone 11. A phone such as the iphone MAX might not fit in as the length of the wireless charging base can only be stretched to a certain height. For the charging convenience for the rear passengers, you will find additional usb-c ports for the rear passengers below the rear vent and also they can place their phones inside the drivers armrest by sliding their phones through rear. It’s a well thought design as they the rear passengers has can help themselves when wanting to charge their phone.
The seats are extremely comfortable. The special stitch on these seats also gives its an elegance in appearance. Having these comfortable seats makes long driving easy. The electrically adjustable seats can be individually modified which offer lumbar support and can save upto 2 individual driver seat preference in it’s memory.
There is plenty of boot space in the new mini countryman. The boot can also open by simply waving your feet under the boot. It works flawless. I think over the years they have improved the easy opener comfort functionality. Overall the mini Countryman has been very satisfying. The car has been a delight to drive and is the best mini you can buy.
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