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Mini’s modern-day Countryman is back for another swing at the hatchback market, but will the 2023 hybrid steal the show?
Technically speaking, a “Countryman” refers to an individual born in the rural countryside. This definitely doesn’t apply to the new Mini Countryman. The Countryman is MINI’s only SUV so far and even has plans to be electrified in the next few years. Yes, it’s filled with familiar design cues, but the proportions, shapes and detailing aren’t like other MINIs’, either contemporary or historic nor do they seem anything remotely “country-like”.
The Mini Countryman is the sort of family car for those who need a practical vehicle but still want it to be fun to drive. It may not be a true off-roader, but it is still a small but mighty SUV, which means it’s bigger and far roomier than the Mini 3-door and 5-door hatchbacks or the Mini Clubman estate. Rivalling upmarket compact SUVs such as the Audi Q2, Lexus UX, and BMW X1, the Countryman has its work cut out convincing customers that it’s the crossover of choice.
Known as a practical and stylish car from a practical and stylish car brand, it’s not hard to see why UK drivers still flock to each new model. One noticeable difference between the Countryman and other Mini models is the size. Practical is another word for big, and in comparison to some other Mini models, it is significantly bigger. Nevertheless, it’s a highly customisable small SUV with enough paint and contrasting roof colours, bonnet stripes and sticker packs to ensure you’ll never park next to an identical one.
The Body, Interior Layout and Finish
As mentioned, the Countryman is MINI’s only SUV so far. While it has familiar design cues to its alternative models, the proportions, shapes and details aren’t like other MINIs’, either contemporary or historic. The bodywork looks more muscular, with greater definition and robustness. There are roof rails, chiselled edges and headlamps that look like rounded-off rectangles rather than cutesy circles.
The latest Mini has sculpted bumpers and features the usual glitzy, Union Flag-style taillight design. But the Mini Countryman does even more to ensure that it looks good on the road. Drivers also have the option of the usual massive array of Mini personalisation options to stamp your mark on your new Countryman.
Inside, the Countryman is undeniably a MINI at heart, as evidenced by the circle design theme, though there is BMW-like plushness to the materials. All Countrymans come with a well-bolstered driver’s seat that is not only comfortable to sit on for an hour or more, but offers excellent support in corners, too. It can be arguably said that the interior has a quality feel to match the Audi Q2 but with more MINI-like fun touches such as circular features and chunky toggle switches that make mundane tasks such as starting the engine feel that little bit more special.
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On the technical front, both two and four-wheel drive are again offered, mated to engines (two petrol and two diesels) that carry over from the current Clubman. The infotainment screen is incredibly quick and easy to use, and its playful graphics fit the cheeky character. The Countryman comes with a colour navigation system and DAB radio as standard, so, unlike some of the brand’s other models, it does not require further expenditure.
All the fun and personalised looks aren’t what makes the Countryman a practical family car though. Thankfully, this Mini is reasonably practical and comes with plenty of room in the front and back, and a comfy driving position. Storage space for odds and ends is decent inside the cabin, with plenty of cubbies and reasonably sized door bins. The 450-litre boot is pretty big for a car this size and the lack of a boot lip makes it easy to slide heavy luggage into place. The boot’s maximum capacity of 1,320 litres is pretty decent and the rear seats split three ways, so you can carry long loads and two rear passengers at once.
Engine and Drive
The Mini Countryman feels sporty to drive which is thanks to quick steering and firm suspension. What’s great is that the Mini Countryman combines this practicality with a true Mini driving experience. Powering the Countryman line-up is a range of all-turbo, all-petrol engines found elsewhere in other MINIs and BMWs.
The latest model has a range of decent petrol, diesel and hybrid engines. All Countryman models have pointy steering and little body roll that makes them quite fun to drive. Cooper models feature a 1.5-litre, 136hp, three-cylinder petrol, while the Cooper S has a 2.0-litre, 178hp, four-cylinder motor. If economy is at the forefront of your mind then there’s also a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Countryman, which combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor power to deliver 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds, while boasting of an impressive fuel economy figure of up to 166.2mpg.
Like many MINI’s, there are some fairly big blind spots to deal with and suffers from more tyre roar and wind noise than a BMW. However, the SUV is safe as it scored five stars when it was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2017 and all models come fitted with automatic emergency brakes as standard.
What Will the Electric 2023 Countryman Offer?
The new MINI Countryman will be the third generation of the British brand’s largest model and will grow into a proper SUV, spawning the first-ever MINI Countryman Electric. Most noticeably, the Countryman will be noticeably bigger than today’s car, which should provide enhanced load capacity and leg room.
This plug-in hybrid variant undercuts rivals such as the BMW X1 xDrive25e with which it shares much of its tech as it is said to boast an impressive electric range, low company car tax rates and a typically MINI list of customisation options. In comparison to rivals like the Volvo XC40, the MINI Countryman Electric should achieve a maximum range of around 311 miles in the range-focused configurations.
While the Countryman will grow moving to its next-generation, the hatchback will see a reduction in exterior dimensions. This will create enough space for the rumoured MINI Paceman electric SUV-coupe to join the range.
Despite costing more than some other MINI models, the 2022 Countryman does offer a lot more space and has a great NADCAP rating to back it up. The leasing costs of the new Countryman start at around £279.14 (inc VAT) per month. To learn more about 2022 MINI Countryman leases or to see our range of MINI leases, check out our lease page today.