New Mini Cooper Countryman: ready for the outdoors

This Mini has all the usual styling cues, but stretched to bigger proportions.

MANILA, Philippines–If looks were everything, the new Mini Countryman would have us at “hello.” And it’s not about conventional beauty either. Minis are beautiful only if you consider a bulldog’s looks as a canine evolutionary high point. What’s more, the peculiarly endearing looks of the original hatchback have been successfully transplanted to a much larger, taller vehicle: the Countryman five-door crossover.

All the familiar Mini styling cues are present but stretched to bigger proportions. The huge bulbous eyes with chrome surround flank a frowning split grille with black rectangular inserts. The headlamps, as well as the fog lamps, now use LED lighting for a brighter beam and less energy consumption. The fog lamps double as the daytime driving lights.

All pillars are blacked out or glass-covered to achieve a “floating roof” effect. There’s a stylized vent just aft of the clamshell hood and thick black fender liners to emphasize the crossover’s lines. The two-tone, 18-inch wheels shod with 45-series tires may not be ideal for driving on rough roads, but they do a good job of filling out the corners. A chrome underscore beneath the doors and white-painted door mirrors round out the accents.

Inside the Countryman is space we never thought possible in a Mini. The driver will feel snug within his corner of the cockpit, while the front passenger has more stretch-out room.

With four side doors, the rear seat is easily accessible. It features sufficient width and surprisingly plentiful legroom. The space within the Mini’s diminutive frame is easy to maximize, thanks to the rear seat that can slide fore and aft in a 60:40 split.

The backseats also fold individually to allow access to the cargo area or for long objects to slide through. Cargo space varies from 350 to 1170 liters with the seats down. Certainly more than a picnic basket can fit in this Mini.

The cargo space itself is limited in depth but nevertheless is tall and wide. Our Countryman S featured run-flat tires so that freed up a second storage space underneath the cargo floor.

Translating the styling of a Mini to a crossover is one thing, but imbuing it with that trademark driving feel is something else. A good sign is the sharp bark that greets us when we push the Engine Start button.

As with all Minis, there’s a high degree of customization possible.

The Countryman S is powered by the same 1.6-liter inline-four in the hatchback. A twin-scroll turbo setup minimizes lag and maximizes punchiness. It also produces a satisfying engine note, with some exhaust pop mixed in. With only the front wheels hooked up to the power, the Countryman is vulnerable to torque steer during hard acceleration.

There’s a slight tug at the wheel particularly when negotiating tight turns. It’s nothing alarming, and quite in character with the car’s enthusiast bent.

The taller ride height leads to more comfortable drive as you no longer feel so low versus other cars. Despite the increase in height and presumably center of gravity, the Countryman behaves much like the hatchback.

Cornering feel is flat, with little body roll. Steering is quick and highly reactive. The ride is firm and manages to stay just short of being harsh. If your objective in owning a Countryman is to have that Mini driving quality, this all-new version will certainly satisfy.

The Mini Countryman expands the idea of an ugly-beautiful, exceedingly fun-to-drive vehicle into the crossover segment. It would be the perfect vehicle for getting to a far-off destination this summer.

Perfect timing, then, for the new Countryman to have its public debut at the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), where it slots into the theme of Outdoor Mobility with ease and confidence of execution.

The Mini Cooper Countryman comes a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, good for 122 HP and 160 Nm. Zero to 100 kph is quoted at 11.6 seconds, and top speed is at 182 kph.

The Countryman S ups the power to 190 HP and torque to 240 Nm. Zerp to 100-kph drops to 7.8 seconds, and top speed is 212 kph.

The John Cooper Works Countryman packs the most grunt, with 218 HP and 280 Nm, good for a 7-second sprint to 100 kph, and a top speed of 223 kph.

Prices are: Mini Cooper Countryman, P2.55 milllion; Mini Cooper S Countryman, P3.05 milllion; and Mini John Cooper Works Countryman, P3.9 milllion.

As with all Minis, there’s a high degree of customization possible, from the wheels to the paint, with jungle green metallic and midnight grey metallic among the new colors. The roof and mirrors can be ordered in contrasting colors, including red for the JCW variant. Sport stripes and hood stripes can also be added. A new piano black exterior is available, with selected surfaces finished in a high-gloss black: headlamp and rear light surrounds, roof rails, and cross ribs.