A Crossover with kick
The English language is a fickle thing. Flammable and Inflammable are one in the same. Literally no longer means literally. And apparently, neither does Mini. The cleverly designed compacts of the 60s made the most of their namesake stature, offering drivers and passengers a practical and affordable means of transit, especially in post-WW2 Europe. The Mini of today shares the same name as its predecessor but is decidedly less diminutive, less Spartan and perhaps less suited to weaving through the streets of Turin with a stolen gold shipment. But let’s be fair. The Mini is hardly the only car to change with the times. Just because it’s not the tiny thing it once was, does that mean it’s no longer a good vehicle? Short answer: no.
The Countryman is the biggest Mini in the lineup – and the most expensive. This John Cooper Works tuned variant pushes the base up from $34,656 to $46,056. But with that, you also get increased power (301 hp), big brakes, re-worked cooling and other tweaks. For an extra $500 you can get a feature Mini call Dynamic Damper Control, which essentially adjusts the softness of the suspension depending on your driving mode. Green makes it softer, Sport makes it stiffer. Since buyers are already paying a premium for the JCW goodies, we feel this should be included by default.
The Countryman shares platforms with the BMW X2, which is also where it borrows its engine from – and we like that engine. This thing looks (and sometimes feels) heavy. But put your foot down and after the slightest hint of turbo spool, you get shoved into the back of your seat. The all-wheel-drive setup and multiple safety systems keep the big Mini stable under speed but be careful not to let the turbo lag get the better of you. Mini also fitted the JCW Countryman with a new exhaust system, but like its big brother BMW, the delightful burbles and rumbles aren’t entirely authentic. Still, it adds to the experience and it does sound quite nice.
The 8-speed automatic is perfectly suitable for this car. It’s snappy in sport and smooth enough otherwise. Sure a manual would be more fun, but with such a low buyer rate for 6-speeds in North America, it’s not hard to understand why the option is no longer there. Besides, this is a family car. Speaking of…the back seats are honestly very roomy. Granted I’m not exactly a super tall person but none of my passengers had any issue. I don’t imagine a child would either. The Mini’s boxy shape means lots of headroom too. You’ll get some ample cargo space too, especially with the seats folded down.
Mini’s infotainment system is essentially a re-skinned version of BMW’s iDrive system. It might take a little getting used to at first but will soon become second nature. Its full of easy-to-access info and colourful, fun graphics. The centre console as enough quick-access tangible buttons to keep your eyes on the road and off the screen. But my goodness the fact that the volume button icon turns with the knob is more than mildly irritating. Not everything has to be quirky you know!
Despite some drawbacks, both minor and otherwise (the cost), the JCW Countryman is a genuinely fun family car that is more than capable of giving you a fun drive when you need it, and a safe commute when you don’t.
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