Mini Countryman: Funky and attractive with an added dose of practicality!

As the title suggests, the Countryman is, essentially, a Mini Cooper that gets added practicality as a bonus without tinkering much with the overall dynamic prowess of a conventional Mini Cooper. So much so, the Countryman actually gives some of the entry-level luxury SUVs in the country a run for its money.

Taking a look back in history, the Countryman was the company’s first five-door model under BMW ownership. Also, it’s a Mini that isn’t produced originally in the United Kingdom; instead, it is manufactured in Austria.

The previous-generation Countryman was launched in India in 2012 and started being locally-assembled in 2013, which subsequently lead the company to reduce the overall pricing. It may not inherit the typical traits of a Mini Cooper, but it impresses with its space and practicality, particularly in its second-generation configuration.

Above all, the Mini Countryman is surely a hoot to drive as well, just don’t expect it to be as precise as the Cooper S, thanks to the added bulk. Regardless, the Countryman still drives better than most other SUVs in the segment. So, with that out of the way, would you pick the Countryman instead of an entry-level luxury SUV in the Indian market. Here’s why you should.

Specifications

One look at the Countryman and you will be convinced that there is certain Mini DNA in its design cues. Up-front, it gets a sad face-like honeycomb grille, flanked by oval headlamps that have LED light ring surrounds. There are also fog lights mounted in the grille, replicating an almost rally-car like front-end. The plastic wheel claddings and skid plates hint that this is an SUV, but it makes no pretence of being even remotely close to an off-roader.

As for the dimensions of this faux SUV, the Countryman measures in at 4,299mm of length, 1,822mm of width, and 1,557mm of height. The standard 17-inch wheels are separated by a wheelbase of 2,670mm. Apart from that, it has a fuel tank capacity of 47-litres. The base-spec variant tips the scale at 1,583kg.

Under the hood, the practical Mini comes powered by just a petrol engine, although there was a diesel engine, too, which was discontinued to make the Country a BS-VI approved vehicle. Nevertheless, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with fixed geometry is peppy enough, as it churns out 189bhp and 280Nm of torque. It comes mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission as a sole fit.

Mileage

In the case of fuel efficiency, do not expect the Mini to be an injudicious sipper. Of course, it the erstwhile diesel engine that was rated to deliver better fuel efficiency number. As for the petrol engine, however, expect it to deliver somewhere around 10km/l.

Features

The top-of-the-line variant gets an 8.8-inch touchscreen unit, cruise control, ambient lighting, automatic tailgate, powered front seats with a memory function, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen on the base variant. On the safety front, Mini Countryman comes equipped with 6 airbags, reversing camera and sensors, ABS, Cornering Brake Control, Brake Assist and Dynamic Stability Control.

Colours

The Countryman, as of mid-2020, comes in seven shades, namely, Light White, Thunder Grey, Island Blue, Chilli Red, Melting Silver, British Racing Green, and Black. Of the lot, the British Racing Green looks the best on the Mini Countryman.

Brochure

All the details regarding the Mini Countryman, namely, the engine, specifications, variant wise equipment, colours, dimensions, interiors, and exterior details are extensively covered in the brochure.

Variants and PricesAs of mid-2020, the Mini Countrymanis available in two variants, in the same petrol-automatic configuration. The prices start at Rs. 38.50lakhs for the Cooper S variant going all the way to Rs. 42.40lakhs for the Cooper S JCW Inspired variant (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi). For the variant-wise on-road prices, visit us at autoX. Also, grab the latest info on the new cars, only at autoX.