Mini Countryman review

Mini by name – not so mini by nature. The Mini Countryman was already the brand’s largest model, and this latest version is even bigger than its predecessor.

Now in its third generation, the Countryman promises more interior space for occupants and their luggage than ever before. That’s great news if you’ve grown out of the Mini hatchback and want to upgrade to something more practical but still striking to look at.

The Countryman’s large headlights and front grille, combined with short overhangs, have been hallmarks since the original version was launched more than a decade ago. However, the rear tail lights now let you switch from the signature Union Jack pattern to two alternative patterns.

Perhaps the biggest break from tradition – other than the addition of the battery-powered Mini Countryman Electric (which we've reviewed separately) – is the removal of any chrome exterior trim. Buyers can, though, choose between a classic or sporty look, and there are loads of personalisation options.

So, how well does the Mini Countryman stack up against the best family SUVs – including the Audi Q3, Nissan Qashqai and Volvo XC40? Read on to find out...

The entry-level model (called the Countryman C) has a 168bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine that drives the front wheels. It delivers all the performance most buyers will want or need, pulling well from low revs and, if you're in a real hurry, can get you from 0-62mph in a respectable 8.3 seconds. 

If you're desperate for nippier acceleration there's the Countryman S. This combines a 215bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine with four-wheel drive (ALL4 in Mini speak) and drops the 0-62mph time to 7.1 seconds.

Or, if that still isn't enough performance for you, there's the Countryman JCW. This sporty four-wheel-drive version is powered by a 296bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine and can punch its way from 0-62mph in just 5.4 seconds. In truth, it never feels quite as rapid as the figures suggest, but a healthy slug of mid-rev muscle makes for easy overtaking in any situation.

Whichever version of the Countryman you choose it will have a seven-speed automatic gearbox. The gearbox in the C is reasonably smooth on the move, but when you're stationary or creeping along slowly there's often a lengthy delay between pressing the accelerator pedal and the car surging forwards. That's not ideal when tackling junctions and roundabouts.

You can improve matters by switching to the sportiest driving model (called Go Kart), which sharpens up the response of the accelerator pedal and the snappiness of the gearbox. It doesn't completely solve the issue though.

The gearbox in more powerful versions of the Countryman is quicker to react. The JCW version also has shift paddles mounted behind its steering wheel to let you take control of gear changes yourself. You can have these paddles on the Countryman C and S, too, but you'll need to pay extra.

Ride comfort depends on which version you go for. Unsurprisingly, the sporty Countryman JCW has the firmest suspension. It's not jarringly uncomfortable but it certainly jostles you around more than a Cupra Ateca.

We've yet to try the Countryman S, but the C is reasonably comfy with a firm but well controlled ride. True, it doesn't isolate you from bumps as well as the best versions of the Volvo XC40 or VW Tiguan but the margins aren't huge.

The JCW's stiff suspension means there's not much body roll through corners and there's lots of grip. Sadly, the steering doesn't stream much feedback to your fingertips. So, although you can go round corners surprisingly quickly, you won't be having as much fun as in an Ateca, Cupra Formentor or a Ford Puma ST.

That's less of a worry in the Countryman C. It's not sporty but it handles appropriately for a family SUV, staying a bit more upright through bends than an XC40. It's also quieter than other versions of the Countryman, with less tyre noise and an engine that stays hushed, even when worked hard.

Driving overview

Strengths Punchy performance, especially from the JCW version; reasonably comfy ride; fairly agile

Weaknesses Slow-witted gearbox; steering is rather numb

Finding a comfortable driving position takes a matter of seconds in the Mini Countryman, with the seat and steering wheel offering plenty of adjustment. The sportier front seats in the JCW version come with plenty of side bolstering to hold you in place when cornering.

Less impressive are the Countryman's head restraints, which force your head forwards uncomfortably, plus there’s a shortage of lower back support in the front seats. Adjustable lumbar support fixes that, but is available only with the Level 3 pack, which pushes up the price considerably.

The raised seating position and low dashboard make it easy to see over the bonnet, while the front pillars are positioned in such a way that you can see around them easily at junctions and roundabouts.

The chunky side and rear pillars can make over-the-shoulder visibility a little more tricky, but at least every Countryman has rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera.

All versions also come with LED headlights, while the JCW and S versions add automatic high-beam assist and cornering lights that light up when you turn into bends (you can add these to the Countryman C as part of the Level 1 pack).

This 9.5in infotainment touchscreen, which is circular as a tribute to the speedo in the original 1950s Mini, features sharp graphics and we have no complaints about response times. The operating system seems designed primarily to look snazzy rather than be simple to use though, and could be a bit more intuitive. 

More positively, the standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring lets you run music and sat-nav apps on your mobile via the touchscreen. It's just annoying that the rectangular layout of the smartphone mirroring is awkwardly shoehorned into the middle of a circular display. 

It's also frustrating that you need to use the touchscreen to adjust the air-conditioning (there are no physical air-con controls). It's a criticism we've levelled at the Volvo XC40 for years and is common among modern cars.

As for the rest of the interior, there’s plenty of colour and a variety of textures and different materials on show. That can’t hide the hard plastic on the dashboard, though. While the XC40 and VW Tiguan are not be as playfully designed inside, their interiors are built from classier materials.

It's worth noting that the Countryman doesn't have conventional instrument dials behind the steering wheel. If you choose the Level 1 pack or higher (or the S or JCW) there's a piece of perspex on the dashboard that your speed and other information is projected on to, but otherwise you'll need to glance across at the infotainment screen.

Interior overview

Strengths High driving position; interior has plenty of visual appeal

Weaknesses Lots of hard plastics inside; no physical air-con controls; adjustable lumbar support only available as part of Level 3 pack

The Mini Countryman makes good use of its boxy dimensions. Its high roof gives even tall drivers plenty of head room, plus there's lots of leg and elbow room.

As well as a cupholder for each front occupant, there's a lidded cubby and a few small trays each large enough to hold a phone. The door bins are quite long but the armrest above means it can be a struggle to fit in a taller item, such as a big bottle of water. 

The Countryman is roomy in the rear too. Lots of leg room means a six-footer can stretch out when sitting behind someone of similar height. There’s also plenty of foot space under the front seats, and rear head room is generous – even with the optional panoramic sunroof fitted.

Meanwhile, a middle rear passenger gets a relatively comfy seat and doesn’t have much of a floor hump to straddle.

We'd recommend adding the Level 1 Pack if you're buying the Countryman C (it comes as standard on the S and JCW). That adds a sliding function for the rear seats, allowing you to prioritise knee room for rear passengers or boot space, depending on your needs. 

The Countryman has a 450-litre boot, which is plenty big enough for a short family holiday, and is officially a similar size to the Volvo XC40's. However, there’s noticeably less room for luggage than you’ll find in a VW Tiguan. The load bay is long but reasonably shallow, and although there is some underfloor storage, you can’t lower the height of the floor as you can in many family SUVs. 

When you need to carry more, the rear seatback splits and folds in a 40/20/40 configuration, which is more useful than the 60/40 layout in many rivals, because it means you can carry long, narrow items between two rear passengers.

Practicality overview

Strengths Rear bench slides and reclines on most versions; plenty of passenger space; good-sized boot

Weaknesses Some rivals have bigger boots; high load lip

The starting price of the Mini Countryman C is slightly higher than that of entry-level versions of the Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Karoq but it undercuts any version of the VW Tiguan or Volvo XC40. 

Likewise, the high-performance Countryman JCW version is cheaper than a Ford Puma ST, but undercuts the Cupra Ateca and Formentor, while costing thousands less than a BMW X1 M35i or Mercedes-AMG GLA 35. 

Whichever version of the Countryman you choose, expect relatively slow depreciation. That's obviously a good thing if you're buying outright, but also helps if you're signing up to a PCP finance agreement, because it means lower monthly repayments than you might be expecting. 

If you're a company car driver, the Mini Countryman Electric is a much cheaper option than any of the petrols. However, the Countryman C is reasonably competitive on the BIK tax front, with CO2 emissions as low as 133g/km.

Entry-level Classic trim is reasonably well equipped because, on top of the infotainment and parking aids we've covered already, it comes with 17in alloy wheels, two-zone climate control, keyless start and cruise control. We reckon Exclusive trim is worth the extra, though, because it gets you bigger 18in alloys, some more upmarket interior finishes, a heated steering wheel and a far more enticing palette of exterior paint colours to choose from.

If you're going to spend more money, we'd advise you to spend it on some of the useful option packs (simply named Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3).

Level 1 comes as standard on the more powerful S and JCW versions, and we'd recommend adding it to the Countryman C, because it adds a larger 54-litre fuel tank (an increase of nine litres), keyless entry, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, heated front seats and sliding rear seats.

Meanwhile, Level 2 adds adaptive cruise control, rear privacy glass, a panoramic glass sunroof and a Harman Kardon sound system upgrade. Level 3 goes further with electrically adjustable front seats (with a massaging function) and an augmented reality view for the sat-nav. These packs push the Countryman's price into the territory of bigger and better SUVs, though.

In terms of safety equipment, every Countryman comes with automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assist, traffic-sign recognition and an emergency call function (e-Call). However, at the time of writing, Euro NCAP hasn't published a safety report, so we can't tell you anything about crash protection compared with rivals.

The latest Countryman was too new to have featured in our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey but Mini as a brand deserves praise for finishing third out of 32 manufacturers in same survey, behind only Lexus and Toyota.

Hopefully that means you won't need to call upon the three-year, unlimited mileage warranty. Three years is par for the course, with Kia offering seven years of cover and Hyundai offering a five-year warranty as standard.

Costs overview

Strengths Fairly well equipped as standard; competitive entry price; strong predicted resale values

Weaknesses Optional extras can quickly drive up the price; no Euro NCAP score

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here