Mini Countryman Review

At 4.3m long, the latest Mini Countryman doesn’t even pretend to be ‘mini’. It’s got its nice angles but the cutesy lines of other Minis have been lost in translation on the Countryman’s larger body. It’s typical Mini fare on the inside, with a new-meets-retro cabin theme but prepare to pay big money to spec it up to standard. You don’t sit all that high up in a Countryman so the view out is very car-like. Also, while the rear seat space is generous, the seat itself isn’t quite the best.
The Countryman is really enjoyable with both engines – the 192hp, 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol and the 190hp, 2.0-litre turbo-diesel. Both motors are punchy but you do miss the added traction of all-wheel drive under hard acceleration. Like other Minis, the Countryman is a keen handler and doesn’t feel as big as it is. The steering is well-weighted and body control is incredibly tidy too. What is a spoiler, though, is the harsh low-speed ride, but things improve with speed.