2019 Mini Countryman John Cooper Works Wagon

The countryman offers 5 models, Cooper Countryman, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper Countryman ALL4, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, John Cooper Works 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 Signatureoffers 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

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Mini gives a ton of options to choose from which can be confusing for a buyer. The John Cooper Works ALL4 Signature is the version that we recommend as it features the most powerful engine in the Mini line-up producing 228 hp, along with some extra personalization options to add a personal touch to the car.

“The 2019 Mini Countryman JCW features a standard turbocharged 2-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. You'll have enough oomph for daily driving around town” – cars.usnews.com

Engine and Transmission

Under the hood, the JCW comes with a powerful 2.0 Liter Inline 4-cylinder engine and its output is the highest in the line-up. With 228 hp and 258 lb-ft, it shares its platform with the BMW X1. The JCW also offers a choice of transmission.

Both the Countryman JCW and the Cooper S comes with a powerful engine that feels much smoother and faster than the base 1.5 L engine.The standard engine has an output of 134 hp with 162 lb-ft of torque, which feels quite underpowered. The 2.0 L engine, on the other hand, produces 228 hp along with 258 lb-ft of torque, making it perfect while on city roads or on a highway.

The S E model of the cooper is a plug-in hybrid car that was first introduced in 2018. The S E comes with a 1.5 –L 3 cylinder engine along with a synchronous motor that has an output of 65kW and 118 lb-ft of torque.

Models	Countryman JCW ALL4 signature	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Volvo XC40 T5 Momentum	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic
MSRP	41,400	$34,950	$36,695	$35,950
Engine	2.0 L I-4 inter-cooled Turbo premium	2.0 L I4 Premium Unleaded	2.0L i4 Intercooled turbo	2.0L i4 inter-cooled turbo premium
Transmission	6-speed manual	8-speed automatic	8-speed automatic w/OD and auto-manual	7-speed manual
Horsepower	228 hp	228 hp	248 hp	208 hp
Torque (lb-ft)	258 @ 1450 rpm	258 @ 1450 rpm	258 @ 1800 rpm	258 @ 1250 rpm

Because of the same platform, the JCW shares many of its performance stats with the BMW X1 like the engine, horsepower, and torque. Volvo XC40 leads the pack with the highest amount of power (248hp) coming out of its engine. MB GLA 250 is an underpowered SUV that stands at the end of the line with the least power output of 208 hp. The engine sounds full of bass and heavy and when at sports mode, the rider can hear rumbling sounds along with crackles and pops.

Also, Mini offers an option to choose between a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic sports transmission. The manual transmission feels quite smooth, all thanks to the shifters, which have a good reaction timing and feel snappy while shifting gears.

Acceleration

The JCW boasts a powerful 2-liter mill which churns out 228 hp that delivers better acceleration than its rivals and other models available in the line-up. The Countryman offers 3 driving modes Green, Mid and Sports. The sports mode changes the character of the car, while in mid or Green mode, the acceleration feels heavy and flat.

Models	Countryman JCW ALL4 signature	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Volvo XC40 T5 Momentum	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic
0-60 MPH (sec)	6	6.3	6.1	7.1
Quarter mile (sec)	N/A	14.9	16.1	N/A
Engine	2.0 L I-4 inter-cooled Turbo premium	2.0 L I4 Premium Unleaded	2.0L i4 Intercooled turbo	2.0L i4 inter-cooled turbo premium
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/yr)	N/A	6.8	N/A	6.8

When compared to its competitors for the 0-60 test, the JCW (6 sec) takes the lead followed by the Volvo (6.1 sec) then the Bimmer(6.3 sec) takes the 3^rd place and MB (7.1 sec) proves to be the slowest in the pack.

Braking

The brake pedal feels light and has a light to moderate amount of resistance, however, the brakes are not as harsh as on the S E model.

Models	Countryman JCW ALL4 signature	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Volvo XC40 T5 Momentum	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic
Front Brake (in)	N/A	N/A	13.6	12.6
Rear Brake (in)	N/A	N/A	11.9	11.6
Curb Weight (lbs)	3613	3543	3629	3428
60-0 MPH (ft)	N/A	122	125	N/A

When weight is considered, the MB GLA is the lightest of all, however, it lacks power whereas the Volvo is the heaviest yet is the most powerful of all.

Ride and Handling-

When it comes to the driving dynamics, the Countryman feels active and lively. The ride is smooth and zippy. It manages the corners really well due to its well-weighted stable steering. The ride feels plush even on the roads with potholes and cracks.

The Countryman has 3 drive modes Green, Mid and Sports. The Green mode is the eco mode of Countryman in which the car disconnects the engine from the powertrain and when the pedal is pressed, the engine starts without any latency. Also during this mode, the cabin feels really quiet due to the acoustic system provided by the company.

Handling feels heavy and so the gearbox. While in the Mid mode, the ride feels comfortable and firm but the steering feels quite heavy. The rumbling sound from the engine can be heard along with some crackles and pops. Finally when at Sports mode, the characteristics of the car get completely changed.

Because of the presence of the active exhaust, the exhaust note becomes 2 times louder than the in the normal mode. The gearbox feels sharp and the ride in this mode feels stiff. At sports mode, the Countryman JCW feels like a mini on steroids.

In terms of fuel economy, the Bimmer takes the pole position when on the highway and while in the city, the other 3 cars except the Countryman share the first position followed by the Countryman. The Countryman has slightly less fuel economy, but to make up for this, Mini has installed a bigger fuel tank just like the BMW X1

Models	Countryman JCW ALL4 signature	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Volvo XC40 T5 Momentum	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic
MPG (hwy)	30	32	31	31
MPG (city)	21	23	23	23
MPG (combined)	24	26	26	26
Range (miles) (city/hwy)	338/483	370/515	327/515	304/409
Tank cap. (gal.)	16.1	16.1	14.2	13.2

”The Countryman hits the mark for interior quality with near-luxury accommodations. Standard leatherette upholstery sets it apart from rivals that have standard cloth seats” – cars.usnews.com

Seating and Comfort

The interior quality of the Countryman is really up to the mark and offers some near-luxury accommodations. Mini offers leather upholstery as standard which sets it apart from its competitors out there. The interior feels quite spacious. The front row feels quite roomy and even a 6-ft tall person can fit in there with ease.

The mini has added some quirks to the interior like an oversized circular central console, retro-style dashboard and toggle switches for various functions like engine start/stop, lighting, and a slider for the iconic panoramic roof.

Models	Countryman JCW ALL4 signature	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Volvo XC40 T5 Momentum	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic
Passenger Capacity	5	5	5	5
Front row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	39.9/54.8/40.4	41.9/55.6/40.4	39/56.7/40.7	38.4/56/40.2
Second row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	37.5/54/37.6	39.4/55.2/37	39.1/56.3/36.1	35.4/53.2/27.1

The interior sound quiet when the car is at Green mode due to the presence of the acoustic system in the car. However, the engine sounds do come inside the cabin making the ride less monotonous. The plastics used in various places feel quite rigid and of good quality. There is also a small hidden storage place under the driver’s seat which increases the cabin space.

Getting in at the rear feels difficult due to large seats and small doors, but once inside, there is still someplace left for the knee to stretch. Also, the headroom at the rear is fine. There is a huge bar in the center that blocks the panoramic view of the panoramic sunroof for the people sitting at the back.

Infotainment

The infotainment consists of Mini’s signature circular infotainment console which has a 6.5” touch screen. The display is quite colorful and very responsive and the graphics are of high resolution. The infotainment can also be operated by a knob present in the center console.

The infotainment software is a redesigned version of BMW’s iDrive. Mini has added some great animations and transitions while navigating through the infotainment. There is also an analyzer page which tells the driver about fuel efficiency for that ride, which is a clever addition to the infotainment. IDrive in front of the Mini’s infotainment looks quite bland and greyscale.

Cargo space

The cargo space provided by Mini is quite less when compared to its rivals in the segment. The Countryman comes with just 17.6 cu.ft. of cargo space while the BMW X1 takes the lead as it offers the largest cargo space (27.1 cu.ft.) among its rivals. 

Models	Countryman JCW ALL4 signature	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Volvo XC40 T5 Momentum	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic
Maximum interior cargo volume (cu.ft.)	17.6	27.1	20.7	17.2

The Countryman has a hidden storage space under the driver’s seat. Also when the rear seats are folded down and the rear trunk floor is lifted, the Cargo space increases. 

“Take one look at it and you'll see those classic Mini design elements that help it stand out from the crowd” - Edmunds

Dimension and weight

The Countryman is the smallest car in terms if length among its rivals, but is spacious and powerful. The MB GLA 250, on the other hand, is the lightest yet lacks power. Comparing the overall dimensions, the Countryman easily maintains its equilibrium between size and spacious interiors easily.

Models	Countryman JCW ALL4 signature	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Volvo XC40 T5 Momentum	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic
Curb weight (lbs)	3613	3543	3629	3428
Length (in)	169.8	175.4	174.2	173.9
Width (in)	71.7	71.7	73.3	71
Height (in)	61.3	62.9	65.3	60
Ground clearance (in)	6.5	7.2	8.3	5.3
Wheel base (in)	105.1	105.1	106.4	106.3
Track width (in) F/R	61.5/61.6	61.5/61.6	63/64	60.9/60.8

The Volvo offers the best in class ground clearance (8.3”), which makes it the leader among its rivals. The GLA is quite low making it not an ideal choice for off-roading. The Bimmer has slightly beefed up specs than the Countryman, though they are built on the same platform.

Exterior Features

The 2019 Mini Countryman comes bundled with the following features –

• The 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 JCW v/s BMW X1 sDrive28i

With many things in common, the BMW owned Mini offers a unique car to compete with the BMW X1. The JCW offers a unique experience but when its price is taken into account, the BMW takes the crown as the worthy option along with some other points which make the Bimmer a perfect choice. But if lower models of Countryman are considered, then Mini becomes an apt choice to go with.

Mini Cooper Countryman JCW v/s Volvo XC40 T5 Momentum

When the JCW is pitted against the XC40, The latter takes the lead in almost all of the aspects, be it interior, engine performance or the fuel economy. Mini Cooper does give a performance-oriented experience, but when utility comes in the view, the XC40 gives the best value for the money spent.

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

The MB GLA 250 is a luxury vehicle while the JCW is a performance-oriented vehicle. Both of these cars have their pros and cons but the JCW gives a better value for its money, though it is $5000 more than the GLA, It gives a treat of both luxurious interiors along with performance that will leave the rider with a big smile on the face.

The new Mini Cooper Countryman JCW gives everything to a rider from joy of driving to the spacious interiors. This performance-oriented version of the Countryman literally changes the image of the countryman as a standard family wagon.

Whether you are a daily driver or a performance enthusiast, the JCW will definitely suit your style. With a great engine under the hood, the JCW sounds powerful and bold. The XC40 gives this car a tough competition because of its strategic pricing and some numbers which are slightly higher than the JCW.

The JCW is definitely for the people who are looking for a performance-centric car with practicality in it. But if you are looking for an off-roader, then Volvo XC40 is the perfect choice because of its best in class ground clearance along with advanced safety features bundled with it.