Mini Cooper Countryman

Synopsis

Countryman is the first ever crossover SUV produced by Mini which is different than their other hatchbacks and is quite popular worldwide. This car is also available in India and in this article; we try to figure out if it’s a practical choice for Indians.

Exterior

Mini cars tend to have a cute face but things are a bit opposite with Countryman. It comes with an aggressive styling which differentiates it from its hatch siblings. The up-raised bonnet with sharp lines and elongated headlights forms the face of this car. The wide front grille and edgy front bumper looks dynamic at the front. The air dam houses two air-inlets in it which comes with chrome surroundings. The circular fog lights also complement the front styling of Countryman. It’s a four door crossover which looks like a SUV when seen from either side. The large door panels, bulgy wheel arches, massive alloy wheels and roof rails gives sporty look to this car. The chrome finished door handles and chrome lining around windows look premium. The quarter glass in the D-pillar gives it the true essence of a SUV and gels well with styling of this car. The vertical tail lights and boot gate of Countryman looks similar to its younger siblings. The twin circular chrome finished exhaust pipes have been perfectly fitted in its rear bumper and gives it a sporty look along with its square shaped rear glass and short wiper and antenna.

Interior

Countryman shares its black colored interiors with its other siblings which gives you a rich and luxurious feel inside. The premium quality of leather and plastic work inside makes it look up market. The rear seats can be occupied by three adults but looking at the less shoulder room, we will only recommend two passengers at the back. The flat under thigh and back support could have been better though. The knee room is quite satisfactory at its front and the aura inside even gets better with an electric sun roof.

Comfort and Convenience

The car is quite comfortable inside as it features all power windows, electrically heated, retractable outside mirrors, paddle shifters and cruise control. Other features like auto headlights, wiper and automatic climate control are also standard in this car. We wish if it had electrically adjustable seats and rear AC vents.

Dashboard and Storage

The all circular theme is quite visible on this black colored dashboard as it features a big dial for its analogue speedometer mounted right between its circular AC vents. The chrome surrounded round pod can also be seen just above its three spoke steering wheel which houses an analogue tachometer and an integrated digital speedometer. Mini has used premium quality of leather and plastic buttons on this dashboard. Countryman has an air-cooled glove box at its front. It also features few cup holders and door pockets on all doors. It has a boot capacity of 350 litres which can be extended by folding down its rear seat which splits into 40:20:40 ratios.

Music System

Countryman comes with a company fitted surround audio system with powerful speaker. The car is also equipped with Bluetooth connectivity which gives access to your phone while driving. The music system is integrated in its central console while the audio and Bluetooth controls are mounted on its steering wheel.

Engine and Gearbox

Mini Cooper Countryman is available with one petrol engine and one diesel engine. The petrol one uses the turbocharged 1.6L four cylinder engine which pumps out a power output of 181 bhp at 5500 rpm. The maximum torque output of this liquid cooled engine is of 240 Nm which ranges from 1600-5000 rpm. This engine is mated with a six-speed automatic gearbox. The diesel engine has displacement of 2.0 litre and generates maximum power of 130 bhp.

Acceleration and Performance

This turbo charged motor supplies power to its front wheels only as there is no all-wheel drive option in the Indian spec Countryman. The petrol unit shows no sign of lag in any gear at any rpm. You will be pleased to enjoy the hard acceleration of this car. The well-spaced auto gearbox works effectively and makes it speed ripper. The car touches the top speed of 210km/hr and does 0-100km/hr in less than 8 seconds. The torque to weight ratio of this car is really incredible and that helps it a lot.

Mileage and Safety Features

Mini Countryman can give you a fuel efficiency of around 10-12km/ltr in city traffic while these figures may increase on long trips. The car offers many vital safety features like 6airbags, parking sensors, ESP, DSC and central locking.

Suspension and Brakes

The car has independent suspension system at front and features hydraulic coil springs at the back. Countryman is equipped with ventilated disc brakes at its front and simple discs at the back. For further precise braking, the car features ABS with EBD.

Ride and Handling

The tall stance of the car indicates towards the body roll but surprisingly, the car remains well in control around corners thanks to its strong suspension system and wide tyres. Its wheelbase of 2595mm adds stability to this car at high speeds while its high ground clearance improves it off road abilities. The car can easily cross all the obstructions on our Indian roads and its suspension system digests most of the potholes. The light steering wheel and all around visibility makes it a good car for city usage. The electronic steering wheel handles well around corners and you enjoy complete control on this car thanks to its accurate braking system.

Shades, Variants and Warranty

Currently, Countryman is available in three colors and five variants: One Countryman, Countryman diesel, Countryman diesel high, S Countryman and S Countryman high . It comes with a warranty of two year/unlimited kilometres.

Verdict

Certainly, it’s a true value for money car which is good on space, ride and handling. Mini has started local production of this car which makes it cheaper in India and offers new diesel engine options.