2024 Mini Countryman Electric First Drive Review: Perfect SUV For Car Lovers In India?

Until recently, the Cooper SE was your only bet if you wanted to own a Mini with an electric powertrain. And if you were an enthusiast, it meant choosing between fun and family. Well, Mini India seems to have resolved the issue with the introduction of the all-new Countryman in India in its electric version. So, the question is – can the all-electric Countryman achieve that perfect balance between comfort and fun-to-drive factor? Well, it just might!

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2024 Mini Countryman Electric First Drive Review: Looks Like A Mini?

In terms of design, it undeniably resembles the outgoing Mini Countryman. While it still has a similar silhouette, it is a bit sharper now. There is a definite increase in its overall size – the new Countryman has grown in every dimension. It's now longer by 1,300mm and higher by 850mm.

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At the front, there is a sharper LED headlight cluster and a closed-off grille, which is now wider and taller than before. However, the most eye-catching element is on the sides – the multi-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels. They make the car stand out without making it uncomfortable to drive, but more on that later. 

My favourite aspect of the new Countryman's design, however, is the rear end. While the front and sides look a bit similar to the older model, the rear has benefited the most from the upgrades and significantly stands out. There is a sharper and more protruding hatch design, along with a heavily revised LED taillight cluster, which is sharper and looks more modern now – in my opinion, at least – despite having the Union Jack glow pattern. Overall, the Mini Countryman no longer looks like an overweight version of the Cooper 5-door – it's sharp, eye-catching, and gets a personalised design treatment.

Also Read: 2024 Nissan X-Trail First Drive Review: X Marks The Spot

2024 Mini Countryman Electric First Drive Review: Feels Like A Mini?

Just like the exterior, the interior of the all-electric Countryman feels a bit familiar but better looking and more contemporary. The entire cockpit has a textured finish – boomers might call it retro, but coffee-sipping millennials might refer it to as new age. Interestingly, the colour pattern transitions quite nicely from a cool blue shade at the front to a warm, inviting beige at the back. It almost seems like the company is trying to appeal to both enthusiasts and their families.

While there is little to fault in terms of quality, its rivals indeed use a bit better quality of materials. Mini has used semi-hard plastics in areas that lack the aforementioned textured finish, especially behind the dashboard and around the door pockets and rear centre console. To be fair, most of them are made from sustainable materials, which should give you some peace of mind. The door handles are big, chunky units, finished in the same bronze shade as the exterior. Overall, the Mini Countryman follows the same colour theme inside and out, and I quite like it.

In terms of comfort, the new Countryman is quite impressive. There are large body-hugging seats wrapped in Vescin Vintage Brown leatherette upholstery. Another noticeable aspect of the cabin is that it's impressively spacious, even the front row. The Mini feels like a Maxi in this regard, making it quite practical as well. You get large storage spaces, cup holders, and door pockets, with the only problem being a small fixed cubby bin in the middle of the centre console. There is no space under the centre armrest as well to help remedy the situation.

The biggest highlight of the cabin, however, is the large 9.5-inch circular touchscreen infotainment system. It is an all-digital affair, and Mini has really hit out of the ballpark with the graphics quality. However, in an attempt to make it look extremely cool, they have made the layout a tad too confusing. You have to play around with the system for a day or two to get a hang of it. Other interesting features include a heads-up display, a messaging driver’s side seat, a panoramic sunroof, and a wireless charger. The rear seat is spacious and gets basic creature comforts, including a large armrest, two type-C charging ports, a 12V electric socket, and adjustable seats. While I may be nitpicking, a sun blind for the comfort of rear passengers could have been the icing on an otherwise delicious cake.

Also Read: Mercedes-Benz EQA First Drive Review: Electrifying Finesse!

2024 Mini Countryman Electric First Drive Review: Drives Like A Mini?

The only iteration of the electric Mini Countryman we get in India is the single-motor version. Internationally, Mini also offers a more potent twin-motor version. While I completely understand the reason behind this decision, I can't help wishing for a bit more oomph. The motor develops 204bhp and 250Nm of peak torque. Step on the throttle pedal, and the Countryman responds with linear acceleration and a progressive rush across the speedometer. While it can’t be called fast, I'd definitely refer to its performance as brisk. Mini India claims a 0 – 100km/h acceleration time of 8.6 seconds, which, I think, more or less reflects the way it drives. As I said, it's brisk but not fast enough to overwhelm you, not even if you are a novice. To give the credit where it's due, it has a top speed of 170km/h, which it can achieve fairly quickly. 

The Countryman EV doesn’t get drive ‘modes,’ but what it gets is ‘experiences’. You have many to choose from, and every single one of them can change comfort, light, and sound settings to alter and enhance the driving feel. Some of them can even alter the driving characteristics – Core, Efficient, and Go-Kart. The first one offers the best balance of performance and efficiency and is the standard setting when you switch on the car. While Efficient is self-explanatory, Go-Kart enhances the throttle and steering response. Suffice it to say, I chose Go-Kart for most of my drive. It's the quickest and liveliest, albeit at the expense of the battery capacity.

Now, this is the first electric Countryman, which means that we have to address its battery size and range. The EV comes with a 66.45kWh battery pack, with a WLTP claimed range of 462km from a single charge. During our time with it, it returned around 380km of range in real-world conditions, which, in my opinion, is not bad at all. It can be extremely efficient if you are careful with the throttle pedal; however, if you are not, its battery drains pretty quickly. The Countryman EV is not a lightweight car, which means that if you demand speed from it, it won't be without consequences.

2024 Mini Countryman Electric First Drive Review: Handles Like A Mini?

Now, while the performance of the motor is not exceptional, the handling of the new Countryman EV is, especially considering its size and weight. As I mentioned before, it doesn't feel fast but it can still easily carry speed, thanks to its handling – an archetypal Mini. As soon as you start moving, it’s impressive to see how sharp and direct it is from the get-go. The steering is also extremely responsive, which, too, plays its part in inducing confidence as you push the vehicle to its limits. Yes, the steering is electric, meaning that it has a bit of artificial heft, but overall, it's quite responsive. The Mini DNA is quite apparent here.

Another aspect of the new Countryman that I like is its balance between comfort and handling. Despite the 19-inch alloy wheels, the car glides over rough patches and remains pliant most of the time. However, if you start pushing the car, it does tend to remind you that it's a large and heavy family vehicle through screams from the tyres. Overall, the Countryman tends to hold its line well and doesn't get out of shape.

The brakes are sharp and equally responsive. Bringing such a massive vehicle to a stop is definitely a tall order, but the brakes get it done well. It may lack in terms of sheer acceleration, but it inspires enough confidence to maintain higher speeds, for you know quite well that you can stop on a dime.

2024 Mini Countryman Electric First Drive Review: Is it a Mini?

Well, both yes and no. The size is unlike anything you would expect from a Mini, but as soon as you start driving the vehicle, you understand why it has the size that it does. The Mini Countryman was an acquired taste when it was first introduced but has progressively become better and more popular. The 2024 third-generation model is without a doubt the best iteration of the model! Yes, there are a few niggles here and there, but if you look past them, you get a spacious, fun-to-drive vehicle, with an extremely cool package. Mini India has priced it well, too, around that of its rivals, like the Volvo XC40 Twin-Motor, Kia EV6 GT, and its sister model, BMW iX1.