MINI Countryman Review (2017-2021)

The MINI Countryman is a premium-feeling compact SUV that rivals a wide array of cars, including the Volkswagen T-Roc, Ford Puma, Mazda CX-3, BMW X1 and Volvo XC40. It delivers all the cool image and retro styling of the regular MINI hatch, but in a package more akin in size to a Volkswagen Golf.

The first-generation model, which was introduced in 2010, featured divisive styling but it was entertaining to drive, competitively priced and characterful, all of which helped set it apart from rather staid rival options.

The biggest MINI had its foibles, however, including some practicality and quality issues. MINI subsequently set about developing a second-generation Countryman, which aimed to build on the positives of its predecessor while tackling its weak points, and unveiled it in late 2016.

When deliveries started in February 2017, it quickly became apparent that MINI had indeed resolved many of the original Countryman’s issues. It was more spacious and practical, which made it easier to live with, while a range of new engines, gearboxes and technologies boosted its appeal further.

Park it next to its classic namesake and you might start to question how ‘mini’ the MINI Countryman is, but it still sits towards the smaller end of the SUV spectrum. Nonetheless, it’s surprisingly spacious inside, with bags of room in the front and more rear seat space than you’d typically find in this class. Two adults can sit comfortably in the back. Just be aware that if you go for the Plug-in Hybrid version, the rear seats are set slightly higher to accommodate the battery pack underneath, which does reduce headroom somewhat.

The boot is a generous size for the class at 450 litres. And if you want more luggage space, the rear seats can be made to tilt, slide or fold. The 40/20/40 fold is more versatile than the 60/40 split found in a lot of rivals, while folding the rear row completely gives you a very useful 1,390 litres of luggage space.

Compared to its predecessor, the current Countryman looks and feels like a more mature, grown up product but, pleasingly, it hasn’t lost that inherent sense of driving fun that was offered by the first Countryman. Its steering is responsive and accurate, it doesn’t roll much – in part thanks to its comparatively low height by SUV standards – and it offers up plenty of grip. It’s heftier than the regular MINI hatchbacks, and not as sharp as a result, but it’s still an agile and enjoyable car to drive.

Even the entry-level 1.5-litre, three-cylinder turbo Cooper serves up adequate performance, producing 134bhp and dispatching the 0-62mph sprint in 9.7 seconds. The more powerful 2.0-litre Cooper S and the range-topping John Cooper Works (or JCW) variants would entertain those looking for serious performance, while the Plug-in Hybrid offers an intriguing blend of performance and frugality, with a 0-62mph time of just 6.8 seconds, allied to a claimed average fuel economy of 148.7mpg and an electric-only range of 31 miles.

If you’re buying second hand, there are also a pair of punchy yet frugal diesel engines that will suit drivers doing a lot of motorway miles – the Cooper D and the high performance Cooper SD.

The Countryman’s cabin looks good – especially in the higher trim specs – and offers plenty of standard equipment.

As with the rest of the MINI range, the model name principally refers to the engine option (with Cooper, Cooper S and JCW becoming progressively sportier) while much of the equipment comes from the trim spec that you pick on top of that. If you’re buying new, there are currently three grades to choose from: Classic, Exclusive and Untamed.

A Classic will come with 16-inch wheels (17s or 18s are optional) and cloth seats, while the Sport gets 19-inch wheels as standard (16s or 18s a no-cost option), along with more distinctive exterior and interior trim. Untamed is effectively a special edition, which includes Highland Green leather seats, an illuminated cockpit fascia and Momentum Grey metallic paint. Apple CarPlay comes as standard on all new models, along with heated front seats, satellite navigation and rear parking sensors.

The current trim spec hierarchy was introduced in late 2018, with the aim being to simplify the purchase of a Countryman. Previously, you’d pick your desired engine and then select from an array of options and upgrade packs to end up with the car you wanted. There’s still a plethora of option packs and customisation choices, but the essentials are all covered in the main trim specs.

You shouldn’t have trouble finding the spec you want if you’re buying second hand, either. At launch, even the base Cooper came with daytime running lights, rain-sensitive wipers, height-adjustable front seats, air-conditioning, cruise control, heated mirrors and washer jets, Bluetooth, satellite navigation and DAB.

A Countryman might not be the cheapest car to buy, but on the plus side, the running costs should prove more than reasonable. The Cooper returns up to 44.8mpg and the hotter Cooper S model is only fractionally behind with up to 43.5mpg on the WLTP test. Officially, the Plug-in Hybrid will do an amazing 148.7mpg. As with all plug-in hybrids we’d take this figure with a pinch of salt, but what’s perhaps more significant is that it can cover a claimed 31 miles (think mid-20s in the real world)on electricity alone, so many drivers could cover their regular daily commute without using any fuel at all. Just as important to company car drivers will be its CO2 rating which ranges from 40 to 43g/km depending on the exact spec, so the Benefit in Kind rate stands at just 12%.

All-wheel-drive All4 models do drop a few mpg compared to standard front-wheel-drive models, though, and have higher CO2 emissions. A standard automatic Cooper S emits a worst-case 152g/km of CO2, as a case in point, whereas the Cooper S All 4 – not currently available as a new car – was officially rated at 165g/km. The most polluting model in the range is the JCW, which emits 174 to 188g/km, depending on its spec.

If you’re buying new, the first year’s Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) should be included in the car’s on-the-road (OTR) price, so the significant differences in CO2 output are something of a moot point. In theory, though, the purchase price that you’re paying the dealer could be include as little as £10 VED for the Plug-in Hybrid or as much as £945 for the JCW, and this will have a small impact on the P11D value of the car if you’re a company car driver. Once you’re into the second year or beyond, all petrol-only models will pay the same flat rate VED of £165 a year, while the Plug-In Hybrid is slightly less at £155 a year.

MINI offers a pay-monthly servicing scheme, which costs less than £20 a month for two services as well as extras such as fluid top-ups, seasonal health checks and satnav map updates. This scheme should help keep costs in check and prevent you from receiving any unexpected bills. Just remember to check out the Countryman’s insurance groups, though, as some of the more complicated and sporty variants are in higher insurance groups.

A new MINI Countryman comes with a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. Many rivals come with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty as standard, so the MINI edges ahead in the mileage respect, although few are likely to push that particular envelope.

Some rivals do better, in terms of warranty, though. Toyota and Hyundai offer five-year warranties, for example, while Kia offers a sterling seven-year warranty. Like many others, however, the MINI warranty can be extended to protect against unexpected costs.

Fortunately, in any case, few should have to call upon the warranty as MINI often performs well in reliability and customer satisfaction surveys. That's slightly odd, because parent company BMW really doesn't, and the Countryman uses quite a few shared parts, but that shows you how vague and open to interpretation these studies can be.

An extensive dealer network additionally means that, if a problem should develop, getting the car looked at shouldn’t prove difficult. There have also been no recalls on the second-generation Countryman so far, according to the government’s UK recall website, which further indicates that ownership should be comparatively trouble-free.

What’s also useful is that MINI offers approved used cars with a comprehensive inspection, a minimum 12-month, unlimited-mileage warranty, 12 months’ roadside assistance and 12 months’ MOT and MOT cover. If you’re looking to buy a second-hand MINI and keep fuss to a minimum, a used approved Countryman could be a good choice.

As is often the case with modern cars, some buyers may be disappointed to find that a space-saver spare wheel is a cost option, but at least you can opt for one. The plug-in-hybrid model can’t be specified with a spare, though, due to the fitment of the battery.