MINI Countryman (2017-2024) Review

If you've outgrown the MINI Hatchback but still want something stylish and fun to whisk the family round in, then the MINI Countryman ticks a lot of boxes. The handling's great, while the 450 litres of space in the boot makes the MINI Countryman a very practical option. It's an even more appealing proposition now that there's a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option. 

There are some compromises to be made though - you'll certainly pay a premium for one, while the ride is a bit too firm compared to mainstream rivals. However, if you're after a funky small SUV that's got a plush interior and will put a smile on your face when you drive it, then you'll love the MINI Countryman.

One of the MINI Countryman's closest rivals has to be the Audi Q2. It's another premium small SUV, but does things a little differently, with a more conservative design and a more traditional (but slightly more upmarket) cabin. 

There's also the Volkswagen T-Roc, though if you're looking to spend a little less, then the brilliant Ford Puma is certainly worth looking at in more detail. Representing even better value are the SEAT Ateca and Skoda Kamiq, though they lack the trendy design of the MINI Countryman. There's also the MINI Clubman to consider. It might lack the SUV looks of the Countryman, but it's just as practical. 

Despite some of the clumsy design choices that hinder access to some of the car's controls, the MINI Countryman's cabin is very well finished and high in quality. It's certainly one of the best finished and put together interiors in a small SUV.

The materials used in the MINI Countryman all add to that quality feel, while ambient lighting is standard across the range to further enhance that impression you're in a premium car. And no matter how hard we pressed or pulled the trim, we couldn’t motivate it to make any creaks or squeaks. Everything just feels solid in the MINI Countryman. 

There are also lots of personalisation options with the MINI Countryman, which means you can add things like wood inserts and coloured sports seats, while there are some high-end leathers available to really enhance the luxury feel.

Which ever trim level of the MINI Countryman you choose, all models enjoy a 8.8-inch touchscreen. Based on BMW's iDrive operating system, it's one of the most intuitive systems to use. That means that you can happily use the touchscreen interface, you'll find it's much easier using the rotary dial controller that's positioned between the front seats to navigate round the system, especially if you're driving. It's not just easy to use, but the controls are nice and responsive, while the definition of the display is also very good. 

The MINI Countryman comes with Apple CarPlay as standard, but rather annoyingly for a lot of potential buyers, there's no Android Auto, not even as an option. All versions come with DAB radio, built-in sat-nav, Bluetooth and various connected services. Opt for the Navigation Plus Pack and you not only get a 5.5-inch digital dash, but also a head-up display that projects key driving info onto the front windscreen.

Despite it's MINI name, the Countryman is actually pretty large inside with an impressive interior space for a small SUV. The MINI Countryman measures 4299mm long and 1822mm, while it's 1577mm high. This results in a high roof and wide body, making the Countryman a comfortable and practical family car. 

Getting in and out is easy, thanks to the raised seating position and wide doors, while there's lots of leg and head room. You don't feel cramped up front, though we'd recommend looking out for cars with the Comfort Pack as these get armrest to make those longer journeys a little more comfy. 

In the back and the rear bench should squeeze in three adults, though in reality it's more suited to two. As a family car for shuttling two kids around in the back, it's more than up to the job. 

The MINI Countryman enjoys a 450-litre boot capacity and is actually bigger than you'll find in most small SUVs - it's bigger than the Nissan Qashqai's 430-litre boot for example, and will easily be able to carry a couple of suitcases or a large child’s buggy. 

The rear seats of the MINI Countryman can be folded down to increase luggage space to 1,390 litres, though if you're looking at the MINI Countryman PHEV, you do loose some boot space. This sees you sacrifice some 45 litres of stowage that sees the boot capacity drop to 405 litres, while with the rear seats folded down its 1275 litres. 

The original engine line-up for the MINI Countryman included a couple diesels, but these have since been dropped from the range in favour of a plug-in petrol hybrid. 

Starting with the petrol engines and there's a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder that's badged as Cooper. With 136PS this will get to 62mph in 9.7 seconds, while those looking for something a little quicker will want the MINI Countryman in Cooper S spec. These enjoys a more powerful four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine with 178PS and a 0-62mph time of 7.5 seconds.

The MINI Countryman Plug-in Hybrid takes the 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine in the Cooper and pairs it with an electric motor. With the front wheels driven by the petrol engine, the electric motor powers the rears. This combined power delivers 220PS and a 0-62mph time of 6.8 seconds.

There's manual options for both the Cooper and Cooper S if you wish, while it's automatics for the rest, including the All4 all-wheel drive Copper and Cooper S models.

The four-cylinder engine is extremely refined and moves along with good pace, while engine noise is kept low thanks to the excellent six-speed auto gearbox that changes up at 2500rpm. 

In the MINI Countryman PHEV, things are very quiet when moving round town under electric power (though it can run under electric-power alone up to 77mph). There's just the faint hum of the electric motor pushing the car forward, and the times when the motor is working in unison with the three-cylinder engine, there's a pleasing thrum to it that is rather engaging. 

While the MINI Countryman is certainly one of the better handling small SUVs, it does come at the expense of ride comfort. We found it to be a little too firm, especially in the PHEV, not helped by the extra weight of the batteries. This is amplified the larger the wheels get, so it's certainly something to think about if you're looking for a more sedate driving experience.

The MINI Countryman was tested by Euro NCAP back in 2017 and was awarded the full five stars. This included a very high score of 90 per cent for adult occupant protection, and while not quite as impressive, it still scored a very strong 80 per cent for child occupant protection. On top of this it was also awarded a 64 per cent score for pedestrian mitigation and a disappointing score of 51 per cent for safety assist.

This relatively low score can be attributed to the lack of lane assist system (even as an extra), though all versions of the MINI Countryman come with automatic emergency braking (AEB) and MINI’s Emergency E-call is also included. This means the car will automatically call the emergency services in the event of an accident, while the Countryman is fitted with six airbags to protect both the driver and passengers (both front and rear), though a knee airbag is not available as standard or as an option. 

The MINI Countryman comes with seat belt pre-tensioners and load-limiters, while there are ISOFIX fittings for child seats for the rear outer seats. 

The new MINI Countryman arrived in 2017, so some examples have been on the road a few years now. While we've heard of some isolated issues, the good news is that there doesn't appear to be any major faults that affect the range. 

MINI as a manufacturer came in 27th out of 34 in Honest John's Car Satisfaction survey in 2020, beaten by the likes of Dacia, MG and Alfa Romeo. 

The MINI Countryman is a premium small crossover SUV, so you're going to have to dig a little deeper for insurance than you would more mainstream rivals. 

The lowest insurance group rating for a MINI Countryman is 15 for the Cooper, while the starting insurance group for the Cooper S is 23, with premiums rising depending on what add-on packs are included on the car. If you're after the MINI Countryman PHEV, insurance starts at group 26. 

VED rates for most MINI Countryman models fall between £145-155 per year, though if you're getting a high-spec car that's had a number of options bolted on, keep an eye on the price. If the list price goes over £40,000, it will be hit with a £325/year premium car tax for five years (from the second time the car is taxed). 

There are three trim levels to choose from with the MINI Countryman - Classic, Sport and Exclusive.

The MINI Countryman in Classic trim is the entry-level trim and comes with 16-inch alloy wheels as standard (though they grow to 17-inch rims if you opt for the Cooper S or PHEV). Elsewhere and there's a pretty extensive list of features that includes LED front and rear lights, ambient lighting, 8.8-inch touchscreen, sat nav, Apple CarPlay (no Android Auto), rear parking sensors and cruise control. 

The MINI Countryman Sport builds on the Classic with 18-inch alloy wheels, John Cooper Works sports seats, sports suspension, aero kit and spoiler the highlights. 

Finally there's the MINI Countryman Exclusive. The top of the range trim level benefits from either 18 or 19-inch alloy wheels and leather sports seats, as well as some posh exterior badging. 

If you're looking for things like rear parking cameras and heated seats, you'll need to budget for one of MINI's extra packs of goodies (and these can be added to any of the three trims). The Comfort Pack for £900 includes automatic air conditioning and heated seats, while the £1600 Comfort Plus builds on this with extras like a rear camera, folding (and auto-dimming mirrors) and front park sensors. 

The £1300 Navigation Plus Pack includes a digital dashboard, a head-up display and wireless charging. Still no Android Auto though. Finally, the £800 Activity Pack on the MINI Countryman includes a bigger fuel tank, rear sliding seats, automatic boot release and a picnic bench.