2020 Mini Countryman

Treading away from the ‘mini’ badge, Mini offers its largest member of the Mini family. Built on the same platform as that of the BMW X1, it shares many of its aspects with its rival along with some of its mechanical components.

With its unique charisma and personality, the car offers a superb combination of Mini’s classic driving experience along with modern technology and iconic design. The interior of this car feels quite spacious, comfortable and plush.

With the beefed-up numbers, ranging from length to the ground clearance, the Countryman dares to take on any terrain without having much difficulty. The countryman is definitely a car for those who want a compact SUV with a great range of personalization options to choose from.

The countryman offers 5 models, Cooper Countryman, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper Countryman ALL4, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, John CooperWorks Countryman ALL4 and Cooper S E Countryman ALL4, with a base price of $26,900 and goes up to $36,900 and offers an option to choose between either 6/8 speed Automatic or 6/8 speed manual transmission in select variants. The only difference between these models is what lies under the hood.

Other than that a Countryman can be customized under 3 trims, Classic, Signature and Iconic. Classic is the least expensive trim offering only standard features while the Signature offers some additional features like choice of paint color etc. Finally, the Iconic trim offers every feature from the Classic and Signature trim along with some extra personalization options to choose from.

Trims	Cooper	Cooper S	Cooper ALL4	Cooper S All4	JCW ALL4	Cooper S E ALL4
MSRP	$26,900	$29,400	$31,400	$32,400	$38,400	$36,900
Key features	6.5” display with a media system	All standard features plus-	All standard features of Cooper plus-	All standard features of Cooper S plus-	All standard features plus-	All standard features plus-
	Panorama Roof	2.0 L I-4 Engine	ALL4 all-wheel-drive system	2.0 L I-4 Engine	2.0 L I-4 Engine	Plug-in hybrid motor
	Leather-wrapped 3 spoke steering wheel	18” silver aluminum wheels		18” silver aluminum wheels	ALL4 all-wheel-drive system
	17” alloy wheels				18” machined with painted accents aluminum wheels
	A rear camera and parking sensors				Dinamica simulated suede/cloth seat trim

We recommend  

To get the best value for your money, the Cooper S All4 Signature is the variant to go for as it gives a ton of personalization options to choose from along with some extra body colors including the iconic British Racing Green color.

”Mini Cooper S Countryman comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers better acceleration than the base engine. It good for 189 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque” – Cars.usnews.com

Engine and Transmission

Under the hood, the Cooper S comes loaded with a powerful 2L inline 4-cyl engine and churns out a decent 189 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. The BMW X1 takes the pole position with a leading power output of 228 hp.

The Countryman S comes with a powerful engine that feels much smoother and buttery than the base 1.5L engine which feels quite underpowered as it produces a mere 134 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. The 2L engine, on the other hand, has a much better power output of 189 hp than the base model and makes this model a perfect choice for a track day or a weekend drive.

Introduced in 2018, the S E is the first plug-in model of the Countryman which features a 1.5L 3 cylinder engine along with a synchronous motor that produces 65kW and 118 lb-ft of torque.

Models	Cooper S Countryman All4	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic	Buick Encore Essence AWD
MSRP	$32,400	$34,950	$35,950	$31,795
Engine	2.0 L I-4 Engine	2.0 L I4 Premium Unleaded	2.0L i4 inter-cooled turbo premium	1.4L DOHC Turbocharged engine
Transmission	6-speed manual	8-speed automatic	7-speed manual	6-speed automatic
Horsepower	189 hp	228 hp	208 hp	138hp
Torque (lb-ft)	207 @ 1350 rpm	258 @ 1450 rpm	258 @ 1250 rpm	148 @ 1850-4900

Because of its shared platform with the X1, the Countryman shares many stats with it along with the most powerful 2L turbo engine, which the Countryman JCW features in it. The X1 leads the pack as the most powerful car with a power output of 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The MB GLA 250 takes the second place with 208 hp, followed by the Countryman with 189 hp and the Encore (138hp) standing at the end. The engine sounds lively and powerful with a heavy not which can be felt while driving.

The mini also gives the buyers an option to choose from either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission. The gearshifts on the Cooper S felt quite snappy and smooth because of the good reaction time of the shifters.

Acceleration

Under the skin, the Countryman boasts a 2L motor which produces 189 hp that gets this car moving. The acceleration feels not as fast when driven at partial throttle in Green and Mid driving modes. When driven in the sports mode, the car gives a peppy feeling. The pedal is responsive but feels slightly on the heavier side.

Models	Cooper S Countryman All4	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic	Buick Encore Essence AWD
0-60 MPH (sec)	7.2	6.6	7.1	8.4
Quarter mile (sec)	N/A	14.9	N/A	16.2
Engine	2.0 L I-4 Engine	2.0 L I4 Premium Unleaded	2.0L i4 inter-cooled turbo premium	1.4L DOHC Turbocharged engine
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/yr)	N/A	6.8	6.8	6.3

The acceleration feels quick but when compared to its competitors, the X1 (6.1 sec) takes the lead followed by the GLA 250 (7.1 sec) then the Countryman (7.2 sec) and the Encore (8.4 sec) finishing at the last.

Braking

The brake pedal feels responsive with a light amount of resistance to the foot. The braking feels quite smooth but in the S E model, the brakes feel quite harsh.

Models	Cooper S Countryman All4	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic	Buick Encore Essence AWD
Front Brake (in)	N/A	N/A	12.6	11.8
Rear Brake (in)	N/A	N/A	11.6	10.6
Curb Weight (lbs)	3629	3543	3428	3237
60-0 MPH (ft)	117	122	N/A	122

When the weight is taken into consideration, the Mini is the heaviest of all and takes a little less to come to a standstill from 60 mph.

Ride and Handling

The driving dynamics of the new Countryman makes the car feel active and lively. The ride feels smooth and zippy while driving straight. The car manages to take corners quite easily due to its stable steering wheel. The ride feels plush due to the suspension system that handles the potholes and rough terrain without letting any turbulence affect the smooth flow of the ride.

The Countryman gets the 3 different driving modes that offer a unique driving experience and gives the car a unique character. The 3 driving modes are Green, Mid and Sports. The Green mode is the eco mode in which the car becomes quite efficient and saves power when not needed. The gearbox and handling feel slightly on the heavier side during this mode. During mid-mode, the ride feels smooth but the throttle response feels sluggish. During Sports mode, the ride feels buttery smooth and feels sporty. During normal modes, the cabin is quiet, however, when switched to sports mode the cabin gets filled with the rumbling sound from the engine.

While on highways, the Bimmer takes the pole position for the most fuel-efficient car and when on city roads, the Buick takes the crown while others follow it. Overall the Buick takes the first place in fuel economy followed by the other 3 in the second position. 

Models	Cooper S Countryman All4	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic	Buick Encore Essence AWD
MPG (hwy)	30	32	31	29
MPG (city)	21	23	23	24
MPG (combined)	26	26	26	27
Tank cap. (gal.)	16.1	16.1	13.2	14

“The Countryman boasts a sense of roominess you won't find in other Minis along with some thoughtful touches such as an instrument panel that moves with the steering wheel and folding rear headrests” - Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

Mini has upped its quality for the interiors which feels quite up to the mark. With some near-luxury accommodations, the interior feels plush. Mini offers leather seats as standard, along with never-ending options to personalize the interiors to suit the style of the rider. The interior feels quite spacious and roomy that can even fit a 6ft tall person with ease.

Mini has left a touch its signature style into the interiors. With retro-style central console and dashboard that includes an oversized circular center console and toggle switches, the interior feels quite advanced with every control at fingertips.

Models	Cooper S Countryman All4	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic	Buick Encore Essence AWD
Passenger Capacity	5	5	5	5
Front row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	39.9/54.8/40.4	41.9/55.6/40.4	38.4/56/40.2	39.6/54.2/40.8
Second row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	37.5/54/37.6	39.4/55.2/37	35.4/53.2/27.1	38.8/52.5/35.8

While driving at green or mid modes, the cabin is reasonably quiet due to the presence of an acoustic system inside the cabin which insulates the cabin. While at sports mode, the rumbling sound of the engine enters the cabin and makes the ride more thrilling and fun.

Getting in the rear seat feel slightly difficult due to the large seats, but once inside, the extra inches makes it easier to stretch the knee. Same goes for the headroom. The only flaw in the interior that makes sitting at the rear less fun is the presence of a huge bar in the center which blocks the panoramic view of the panoramic roof.

Infotainment

Countryman’s infotainment has all the quirky features that many people would like. Mini has added a 6.5” touchscreen which is colorful and vibrant and also responsive. The graphics displayed on it are of high resolution and vibrant.

The infotainment uses an upgraded version of BMW’s iDrive software, which has great animations and transitions included in it. Also, Mini has added a clever thing into the infotainment, called the analyzer page which shows the driver fuel efficiency for a ride. 

Cargo space

The Boot space provided by the Countryman is significantly less when compared to its platform-sharing sibling, the X1. The BMW X1 (27.1 cu.ft.) bags the first place followed by the Buick (18.8 cu.ft.) then the GLA 250 (17.2 cu.ft.) and the Countryman (15.9 cu.ft.) Finishing at the last.

Models	Cooper S Countryman All4	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic	Buick Encore Essence AWD
Maximum interior cargo volume (cu.ft.)	15.9	27.1	17.2	18.8

The Countryman also has an under-seat hidden storage compartment under the driver’s seat. The cargo space can also be increased when the rear seats are folded down.

“While the "big Mini" looked relatively enormous in European traffic, it managed to maintain an aura of cuteness in the United States, where the roads are dominated by massive pickup trucks and SUVs” – Car and Driver

Design and Dimension

The Countryman is the smallest car when compared to its rivals but still manages to be spacious enough to accommodate 5 persons comfortably. The Cooper easily maintains a balance between its size and interior space.

Models	Cooper S Countryman All4	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic	Buick Encore Essence AWD
Curb weight (lbs)	3629	3543	3428	3237
Length (in)	169.8	175.4	173.9	168.4
Width (in)	71.7	71.7	71	70.1
Height (in)	61.3	62.9	60	65.2
Ground clearance (in)	6.5	7.2	5.3	6.2
Wheel base (in)	105.1	105.1	106.3	100.6
Track width (in) F/R	61.5/61.6	61.5/61.6	60.9/60.8	60.62/60.62

In terms of ground clearance, the bimmer takes the lead, followed by the Countryman. Though they are built on the same platform, because of its beefed up specs, the X1 has an upper hand in terms of the ground clearance and becomes a good contender for off-roading.

Exterior Features-

The 2020 Mini Countryman comes bundled with the following features –

• An option between 18” JCW thrill spoke wheels and 18” JCW black thrill spoke wheels
• Black roof rails
• LED headlights with cornering lights
• Rear spoiler
• Increased personalization options

The new Countryman hasn’t been tested by the NHSTA but has been tested extensively by IIHS and has got an overall rating of Good. To make the car even safer, the Countryman comes bundled with a host of safety features like

• Emergency automatic braking
• Forward collision warning
• Rearview camera
• Rear park distance control
• Electronic stability control (ESC)

Mini Cooper Countryman Cooper S All4 v/s BMW X1 sDrive28i

When pitted against each other, the BMW owned Mini offers a unique experience that offers the best of both worlds. The Cooper S becomes a great choice for those who have a low budget and want something luxurious yet practical. The X1, on the other hand, gives the Countryman a tough competition and even beats the car in some segments. The BMW, though slightly expensive, is definitely for those who want a complete package of all great features ranging from performance to practicality.

Mini Cooper Countryman Cooper S All4 v/s Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic

The Countryman, when pitched against the GLA 250, comes out to be a clear winner as under almost all of the segments, the Countryman took over the GLA and left it in the dust. Both of these cars have their pros and cons but Mini gets an edge over the GLA as it gives a perfect balance between luxury and performance. Also, it offers a great array of personalization options to add a personal touch to the car.

Mini Cooper Countryman Cooper S All4 v/s Buick Encore Essence AWD

The Encore gives the Countryman a tough competition in some segments. The Encore comes equipped with a ton of standard features, though when compared to the countryman at the same cost, the countryman offers some additional features along with plush interiors and a list never-ending personalization options to choose from. As their cost is almost the same, and so the features, it all depends on the choice of the buyer.

The new Countryman is a complete package that has everything in it, from personalization to performance and spacious interiors. It also comes as a performance-oriented version called the JCW that completely changes everything about Mini.

Though under the skin, it shares many of its features with its closest rival BMW X1, it still manages to keep itself unique and carve out a niche for itself. No matter your utility, the Countryman will definitely suit your driving style and needs. The Countryman is the perfect car for family outings or weekend getaways or some off-the-line driving.

This car offers premium features, funky interior designs and the signature Mini’s driving dynamics that makes this car quite desirable. The Countryman easily balances out between overall performance and the level of comfort and becomes a perfect car for those who always look for balance and perfection in everything in life.