Mini Countryman

Exterior

One look at the Countryman will have you convinced that there is Mini DNA in its design cues. Up-front, it gets a wide grille with a honeycomb pattern, flanked by oval headlamps that have LED light ring surrounds. There are also fog lights mounted in the grille, replicating an almost rally-car like front-end. Then there are the racing stripes on the bonnet with a raised portion in the middle.

Along the sides, it gets the plastic wheel arch cladding, and there's an indent on the lower half of the doors. And not to mention, the flared rear haunches. Viewed from the back, it looks a lot like the Cooper, except for its taller stance. It sports the Countryman badging across the tailgate, dual exhausts and large, soft-edged tail lamps. It weighs in at 1.5 tonnes and is based on the UKL2 platform that also underpins its German sibling.

Variants

The Mini Countryman variants are as follows: Coopers S and Cooper S JCW Inspired. Features include a Head-Up Display, panoramic sunroof, FindMate - Geo-Tagging for personal belongings - it lets users tag their stuff electronically, like suitcases and bags. If any of the items get misplaced, the connected apps will help in tracking what's lost. Then there is the Mini Connected App, ambient lighting, automatic tailgate, powered front seats with a memory function, a 6.5-inch touchscreen on the first two variants, while the top-of-the-line model gets an 8.8-inch touchscreen unit, cruise control and the 'picnic bench' that can be pulled out from underneath the boot floor and tucked back in.

On the safety front, the Mini Countryman new model comes equipped with 6 airbags, reversing camera and sensors, ABS, Cornering Brake Control, Brake Assist, and Dynamic Stability Control.

Interior

The Countryman's cabin feels a lot more well-finished and plush than ever before, justifying its on-road price. Mini Countryman, in terms of quality, is, in fact, at par with rivalling compact luxury SUVs. A lot of retro touches find their way into the cabin, while the soft-touch plastics and chrome accents give the cabin premium air. There are also LED lights incorporated in the dashboard that lights up beautifully. Even the colours of the lights can be changed via a toggle.

Those circular aircon knobs, chrome-finished toggle switches, steering column-mounted dials and the pull-up door lock knobs with 'MINI' embossed on them, are all ideas buyers are bound to love. The front seats are very comfortable; so are the ones at the rear. There's quite a lot of legroom for rear occupants, with decent thigh support. The headroom, too, is good, and the backrest can be manually adjusted. You also get aircon vents at the rear.

Engine Specification & Performance

The Mini Countryman is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine that makes 192bhp and 280Nm of torque. Paired to the engine is a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Moreover, it is a front-wheel-drive car. The petrol engine is quite responsive and has a strong top end. Put your foot down, and the car simply darts out of sharp turns.