At the beginning of 2010, BMW released official photos of the new compact crossover MINI Countryman, which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
Compared to the regular Mini hatchback, the Countryman crossover has grown in all dimensions. Its length is 4,097 mm (wheelbase - 2,595), width - 1,789, height - 1,561, ground clearance (clearance) is 149 mm, and trunk volume varies from 350 to 1,170 liters.
Mini Countryman trim levels and prices
A line of five 1.6-liter four-cylinder units has been prepared for the car, two of which are turbodiesel and three are gasoline. MINI One B (90 hp 215 Nm, 0-100 km/h in 13.2 seconds, top speed 170 km/h), MINI One (98 hp 153 Nm, 0-100 km/h in 12 .7 seconds, top speed 175 km/h), Cooper D (112 hp 270 Nm, 0-100 km/h in 10.9 seconds, top speed 180 km/h), Cooper (122 hp 160 Nm , 0-100 km/h in 10.2 seconds, top speed 190 km/h).
At the top of the range is the Mini Cooper S Countryman modification, equipped with a 184-horsepower (240 Nm) engine with direct fuel injection and turbocharging. With it, the crossover is capable of reaching a hundred from a standstill in 7.6 seconds, and its top speed is 214 km/h.
Options and prices MINI Cooper S Countryman All4
The suspension on the Mini Countryman has been strengthened compared to other Mini modifications, and optionally you can order the installation of a sports suspension with springs shortened by 10 mm. It is also possible to order an all-wheel drive system.
The standard MINI Countryman (2015-2016) has small 16-inch wheels (17-inch on the Cooper S version), but decent 19-inch wheels are also available at extra cost.
The five-door Mini Cooper Countryman comes standard with four separate seats in the cabin, but for those who wish, three seats can be installed in the back at no extra charge. It is possible to order a large panoramic roof, adaptive headlights, heated windshield, Bluetooth, satellite navigation and a stereo system.
If a completely new generation hatchback debuted in the fall of 2013, the Countryman crossover based on it has so far only undergone a planned restyling. The updated model debuted at the 2014 New York Auto Show.
You can distinguish the Mini Countryman of the 2015 model year from the pre-reform car by a new radiator grille, LED fog lights and running lights, a different design of wheel rims and metal trims on the bumpers. True, the latter are only available for all-wheel drive versions of the SUV.
Options and prices MINI Cooper SD Countryman All4
In addition, the Mini Countryman (2015-2016) is available with four additional exterior paint options and a high-gloss contrast coating for the roof and door mirror caps. Inside, the car received a retouched instrument panel and a chrome-plated gear selector. In addition, the company notes that noise insulation has been improved.
From now on, all engines available for the Mini Countryman meet Euro 6 environmental standards, and the 1.6-liter turbo engine on the Countryman S version was boosted from 184 to 190 hp. Now such a crossover reaches a hundred from a standstill in 7.5 seconds. (0.1 seconds faster than before).
Sales of the new product started in the summer of 2014.
The price of a new car starts at 730,000 rubles. The first generation car was produced for exactly 10 years, from 1961 to 1971, and then was excluded from the production program. The second generation of the revived legendary car was presented in the fall of 2006. The new car has grown by 60 mm in length and almost the same in height. The basic version of One is equipped with a 1.4-liter engine producing 95 hp. The car's arsenal also includes a 120-horsepower 1.6-liter gasoline engine with a Valvetronic variable valve timing system. The more powerful S car can be purchased with a 184-horsepower 1.6-liter turbo engine. With this engine, acceleration to hundreds takes just over seven seconds, and the top speed is 225 km/h. In tandem with any of the engines, you can order an automatic transmission. On the updated Cooper, the steering is fully electric, replacing electro-hydraulic. Turning the key is a thing of the past - now the engine starts and turns off with a light press of the start/stop button. More than 60 options and a huge number of accessories allow you to give your car even more individuality. From sports seats and chrome trim to a joystick-controlled navigation system, there's almost everything to suit every taste.
The whole photo shoot The only representative of MINI that can drive not only on asphalt, it also became the first model of the brand that actually allows you to carry more than one passenger and even some luggage
Almost everyone on the street looks at him. But if the representatives of the stronger half are simply looking at the new Countryman with interest, then the girls literally squeal with delight. And if they find themselves in the salon, they flatly refuse to leave. Because inside the crossover seems animated: some living design lines, a luminous edging around the “round” central screen, changing color depending on the driver’s actions and driving modes. There is a feeling that the car is talking and communicating its mood. So, the circle turns red in the parking lot when approaching an obstacle, a “crawling line” runs along it when adjusting the music volume, and when entering the road, the “saucer” begins to duplicate the tachometer revolutions. At night, the interior panels light up in the cabin, and their color and intensity can be changed...
Bavarian roots
The new product is built on the global front-wheel drive BMW platform (the MINI brand belongs to the BMW concern), which is used by all MINI passenger models, as well as compact representatives of the Bavarians, in particular, the BMW 2-Series Active Tourer and Gran Tourer, as well as the X1 crossover. Soon the next-generation BMW “unit” will ride on the same chassis.
The initial modification is equipped with front-wheel drive, a manual transmission and a 3-cylinder petrol 1.5-liter turbo engine with 136 hp. However, it can be equipped with both an all-wheel drive transmission and an automatic transmission. All other options offered in Russia have 4-cylinder engines, all-wheel drive and an automatic transmission. This is a version with a 2-liter 192-horsepower gasoline unit, as well as modifications with a 2-liter turbodiesel developing 150 or 190 hp. depending on the degree of forcing. We have a 150-horsepower version on test.
Compared to the previous generation model, the new Countryman has dramatically increased in size. He added 20 cm in length and 3 cm in width. The height, however, decreased by 0.4 cm, but this is practically nothing. The wheelbase has grown by 7.5 cm. The volume of the luggage compartment has increased by 100 liters - from 350 to 450 liters. In short, the world has never seen such a big MINI.
The design of the new product is immediately recognizable as belonging to the brand: this “big-eyed” front end with a slight slope of the windshield has many fans around the world. But while previously they were forced to put up with the lack of practicality in their favorite car, the Countryman is quite good as a family vehicle.
First of all, there is a really spacious interior. Therefore, contrary to usual, I will begin the story about the “inner world” of the crossover from the rear seats. Surprisingly, there was more space here than expected. There is an impressive gap in front of the knees, there is plenty of space for the feet under the cushion of the front seat, even if it (the chair) is lowered all the way, and there is plenty of space above the head. Despite the fact that the test copy is equipped with a panoramic roof, which ate several centimeters from the ceiling. The backrests of the sofa are adjustable in angle of inclination, there is a convenient folding central armrest with cup holders and ventilation deflectors between the front seats. In short, you can comfortably cover hundreds of kilometers.
You can't find fault with the driver's seat either. The seat is tight, with a adjusted profile, pronounced lateral support and a retractable cushion extension. The seating position is low by crossover standards, but compared to other MINI models, we can say that the driver is positioned quite high.
Ergonomics, when compared with its predecessor, has become normal. For example, control of the power windows, which in the previous Countryman was carried out using toggle switches on the center console, is now located like everyone else - on the driver's door. The central screen has become touch-sensitive, but personally, I find it much more convenient to use the selector on the central tunnel - essentially, a modified joystick of the “battery” iDrive interface. And finally, the speedometer is no longer in the center of the front panel, as it was before, but in front of the driver’s eyes. Moreover, there is a retractable “glass” for the projection display.
The trunk is also full - its 450-liter volume allows you to fit enough things. In addition, the compartment increases if you move the rear sofa forward by 13 cm, but if you fold the backs of this very sofa altogether, you will get a flat floor at the back. In the underground, in the basic equipment, there is another niche for luggage, but for an additional fee it can be filled with a “dokatka”. The rear door has an electric drive with a “foot” opening function (by moving your foot under the bumper). If the owner likes to relax in nature, the car can be equipped with a picnic bench with protection from dirt, installed right there in the trunk.
Turbodiesel happiness
While in the cabin, it is practically impossible to understand that there is a turbodiesel under the hood: there are almost no vibrations during its operation, and the characteristic “chirping” is heard only when the windows are open. And how he pulls! When you press the accelerator pedal, there is absolutely no turbo pause effect even with “standard” engine and gearbox settings, and if you switch to “dynamic” mode, the car begins to respond to fuel supply with the agility of a small sports car. At the same time, the 8-band automatic transmission shifts faster, smoother and more skillfully than a professional driver; when you want to drive economically, you can turn on the “green” mode. In this case, the accelerator pedal becomes a little “dull”, and the number of kilometers played in the “standard” driving mode is displayed in green numbers on the tachometer dial. I tried it a little and... turned on the “sport” settings. Because it is impossible to drive this car calmly!
It seems like there’s nowhere to rush, but I’m driving faster than the traffic flow, angry at the slow-moving vehicles and speed cameras. I would rather get away from the city, away from busy highways: I have in mind some winding roads, quite free from other cars, and I really need to go there...
What a pleasant heaviness the small sharp steering wheel has, making only 2.5 turns from lock to lock, how great this crossover with 165 mm ground clearance, almost without heeling, is screwed into turns! I enjoy the “tasty” effort on the controls and their precise reactions to my actions. The tires are already squealing in the corners, and I am increasing the speed, reveling in my fusion with the car! And even on the verge of sliding, it is not difficult to feel the balance of the crossover. This is a real MINI, without any size compromises and a higher center of gravity!
Surprisingly, the new Countryman also feels great on high-speed tracks with long straights and gentle turns. I remember that my predecessor behaved quite nervously in such conditions. Here, the sharp steering wheel does not at all prevent the driver from feeling confident at high speed, since it has a very clear “zero”. And the crossover practically does not react to rutting, despite the optional 18-inch “shoes”, two sizes larger than in the standard configuration. And the turbodiesel, carrying “only” 150 hp, continues to pull vigorously at a speed of 130 km/h, allowing you to overtake with ease.
It would seem that with such sporty settings and a high body, the crossover chassis should be bone-crushingly rigid, as evidenced by the previous generation model. However, nothing like that! Yes, the suspension is tight, the car follows the profile of the road surface and “itches” a little on the asphalt bumps, but it swallows all the patches and cracks with a bang, while the driver and passengers have a feeling of the high energy intensity of the chassis. Only on large potholes does the suspension react with a knock, but overall the level of comfort is not bad. And for a MINI, the smoothness of the ride is completely unprecedented. If you “change” the car to standard 16-inch wheels, and even abandon the “runflat” (the test vehicle has 18-inch runflat), the Countryman will certainly become even more comfortable.
And sound insulation has become better: although the hum from the tires is clearly audible in the cabin, it is not so strong as to be annoying. All other noises are perfectly balanced and none of them stand out.
The new MINI Countryman is the first car that over the past couple of years has made me drive past my house in the evening and go for a night of driving along country roads. It wins the hearts of the fairer sex with its charismatic appearance and unique interior, while it captivates men with its refined driving performance. All that remains is to find 2,100,000 rubles - that’s how much this test copy costs.
| Technical specifications MINI Cooper D ALL 4 Countryman |
|
|---|---|
| Dimensions, mm | 4299x1822x1557 |
| Wheelbase, mm | |
| Ground clearance, mm | |
| Trunk volume, l | |
| Curb weight, kg | |
| engine's type | L4, turbodiesel |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm | |
| Max. power, hp/rpm | |
| Max. torque, Nm/rpm | |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Max. speed, km/h | |
| Acceleration time 0-100 km/h, s | |
| Fuel consumption (average), l/100 km | |
| Tank volume, l | |
The new Mini Countryman first appeared before the general public at the annual Los Angeles International Auto Show in November 2016. In fact, the model is a full-fledged second generation, and not another planned restyling. It will not be difficult to distinguish the new product from its predecessor; it has stylish round headlights with lensed optics and an elegant border of LED daytime running lights. The radiator grille is made in a corporate style and consists of many thin, horizontally oriented fins. The off-road character of the car is emphasized by small roof rails and protective linings made of unpainted plastic on the sills, wheel arches and bumpers. They are designed to protect the paintwork of body panels from mechanical damage.
Mini Countryman dimensions
The compact five-seater crossover Mini Countryman, in terms of its size, belongs to the C-class family. Its length is 4299 mm, width 1822 mm, height 1557 mm, and the wheelbase is 2670 mm. Compared to other SUVs, the Mini Countryman's ground clearance is quite small - only 165 millimeters. Thanks to this ground clearance, the car will more easily endure a trip on a dirt road and will be able to attack curbs while parking.
The Mini Countryman's trunk is quite spacious. With the backrests of the second row of seats raised, up to 450 liters of free space remains in the rear. Thanks to this volume, the crossover is perfect for the everyday tasks of a city dweller and will not lose face even during a long trip with an abundance of luggage and several passengers on board.
Specifications Mini Countryman
On the Russian market, the Mini Countryman will be equipped with three engines, a hybrid powertrain, manual and automatic variable transmissions, as well as all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive. Thanks to the wide range of units provided, the car becomes quite versatile and is able to satisfy most of the needs of a potential buyer.
- The diesel Mini Countryman will receive an inline turbocharged four with a volume of 1995 cubic centimeters. The Common Rail system allowed it to develop 190 horsepower at 4000 rpm and 400 Nm of torque in the range from 1750 to 2500 rpm. A crossover with all-wheel drive will accelerate to hundreds in 7.4 seconds, and the top speed, in turn, will be 218 kilometers per hour. Diesel engines are renowned for their excellent torque and efficiency. Fuel consumption of the Mini Countryman will be 5.6 liters of fuel per hundred kilometers at a city pace with frequent acceleration and braking, 4.8 liters on the highway and 5.1 liters per hundred in the combined driving cycle.
- For those who like it a little hotter, the Mini Countryman can offer a 1,998cc turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine. Thanks to an innovative turbocharger, engineers were able to squeeze out 192 horsepower in the range from 5000 to 6000 rpm and 280 Nm of torque from 1350 to 4600 rpm. Acceleration of the Mini Countryman to hundreds will take 7.2 seconds, and the speed ceiling will be 222 kilometers per hour. Despite the high power, fuel consumption is quite low. The crossover will consume 7.9 liters of gasoline per hundred kilometers in the city, 5.8 liters on the highway and 6.6 liters in the combined driving cycle.
Bottom line
The compact crossover Mini Countryman keeps up with the times. It has a classic and catchy design that will perfectly emphasize the status and individuality of its owner. Such a car will not dissolve in the gray everyday traffic and will not get lost in a large parking lot of a shopping center. The interior is a realm of high-quality finishing materials, precise ergonomics, practicality and uncompromising comfort. Even a long trip or hours spent in traffic jams will not cause unnecessary inconvenience. The manufacturer understands perfectly well that, first of all, the car should provide driving pleasure. That is why, under the hood of the crossover there is a powerful and technologically advanced power unit, which is an alloy of innovative technologies and many years of experience of engineers in the field of engine building. The Mini Countryman will last for many kilometers and will give you unforgettable emotions from your trip.
Video
The British miracle “Mini”, which has been exciting the hearts of car enthusiasts and aesthetes for many decades, surprised us in 2010 with the continuation of its model range in the form of the Mini Cooper Countryman. The model is assembled in Austria, the city of Graz. By the way, this is the first “Mini” whose production went outside the United Kingdom. The Countryman is positioned by the company as a “compact crossover.” And the main word here will be “compact”. Five-door, with front-wheel drive and even all-wheel drive, it still feels somewhat like a toy. This is the fate of Mini cars in principle: the first of the emotions they evoke will always be tenderness!
General information about Mini Countryman
Countryman literally means “village dweller”! But this is not a farmer-cowboy, transporting cows in the back of a pickup truck and cutting through the roadless expanses of the ranch surroundings on his powerful 4x4! If we imagine a villager who chooses a Mini Cooper Countryman, it will be an inhabitant of a typical English village. With licked green landscapes and sheep outside the window. And prim old ladies, meeting their five-o-clock in full dress, exchanging village gossip with dignity! And considering that “Mini” likes to attribute femininity, perhaps those very same ladies will “have a blast” at “Countryman”!
extremely popular in our country. Find out why this car is valued.
Each is practically an exemplary representative of his class. You can learn more about legendary German cars from our articles.
However, the Mini's toy appearance is quite deceptive. Those who have once chosen this car know that under the hood it hides much more than you expect at first glance. And the myth that Mini produces women's cars has long been refuted. The brand has quite a few male admirers. In general, such chauvinism towards small cars is observed mostly in our country. Europe, with its narrow streets and crazy problems with parking spaces, is not surprising with a two-meter tall, corpulent man who chose a small car to get around.
Dimensions Mini
Of course, when we compare “Countryman” with its brothers from the “Mini” ranks, it may even seem like a giant! But the parameters from the crossover position are quite modest:
- length 4110 mm,
- width 1789 mm,
- height 1561 mm
- trunk volume – 350 l (maximum 1170 l, with rear row seats folded),
- ground clearance (clearance) – 145 mm.
As a result, we get a car slightly larger and taller than a standard subcompact passenger car. It’s still too early for Countryman to join the ranks of full-fledged “crossovers” with such data. But to the category of so-called. “SUVs” are easy to classify.
Appearance
As soon as you look at the Countryman, you unmistakably guess that it belongs to the “Mini” family. Despite the fact that he is a sort of “overgrown”, the headlights and stance are typically wide for a Mini, thanks to which he subtly resembles a bulldog! No wonder - a very popular breed in England! The claim to “crossover” is evidenced by increased dimensions in all respects, 5 doors, and roof rails.
Countryman gained solidity thanks to inflated fenders and a more massive bumper. The contrasting edging of the thresholds looks very stylish. If we take models equipped with a panoramic roof, we can safely talk about the design as “retro-futuristic” - such paradoxical feelings are evoked by this car.
Interior designers remain true to the retro concept. Toggle switches for switching instruments in the “aviation” style, a round large (maybe too much!) speedometer located on the central panel. A screen with on-board computer readings is easily placed inside the speedometer. The LED interior lighting changes color from orange to bluish with the simple press of a button.
Pleasant little things: armrests, cup holders, stands for mobile phones, moving along the length of the entire cabin, thanks to a special rail with locks.
The option of leather trim gives the interior a special chic, evoking thoughts of English clubs for real gentlemen.
But, no matter how you look at it, it doesn’t leave you with the feeling that there’s a lot of unnecessary stuff, and at the same time there are problems with ergonomics: you want to do something smaller, something larger. And some things don’t seem entirely necessary.
Price
“Mini Cooper Countryman” is presented on the Russian market in all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive variations, with a gasoline turbo engine producing 122, 184 hp. There is a diesel option - 143 hp. Any car can be equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission, or a 6-speed automatic transmission, depending solely on the wishes of the client.
The Mini is generally characterized by flexibility in installing any options. Included Base The car can already be considered fully equipped:
- 6-speed manual transmission
- ABS+ emergency braking system,
- Front and side airbags, seat belt pretensioners, child seat anchors,
- Air conditioner,
- Alloy wheels (16-18 inches),
- Finishing of the panel, center console, doors with plastic in 3 colors (beige, brown, black),
- Fabric seat and interior upholstery
- Electric drive of 4 windows,
- Power side mirrors
- Rearview mirror with anti-glare function
- Audio system (FM-CD-MP3-AUX) 6 speakers,
- Adjusting the driver's seat
- Steering wheel height adjustment,
- Spoiler, roof rails
- Central locking (D/U),
- Starting the engine with a button.
Additional options can be listed endlessly. The color scheme alone can vary in 11 (!!!) colors. Possibility to install a sunroof and even a panoramic roof. Full leather or combination seat trim, heated seats, a navigator, a Hi-Fi audio system, bi-xenon headlights, fog lights, separate rear seats, 19-inch alloy wheels - all this is not a complete list of bells and whistles offered by the manufacturer.
It’s original for Mini to offer options in a package named after different spices:
- Salt includes additionally: heated front seats and mirrors, alarm, on-board computer, height adjustment of the driver's seat)
- Pepper: Salt plus climate control, fog lights, rain sensor
- Chili: Pepper adds xenon, sports seats, leather trim.
The manufacturer does not oblige you to purchase only one package of options. An individual approach to each customer is the famous “Mini” policy.
Options to supplement your “Countryman” with almost any option depend only on the client’s desire and imagination. Well, and from the willingness to pay, of course! Speaking of prices:
- Mini Cooper Countryman, front-wheel drive, 1.6 engine, 122 hp. basic equipment is offered for a price about 1 million rubles.
- Mini CooperSCountryman with all-wheel drive (ALL4), S means “sports”, equipped with a turbo engine, 1.6 l, 184 hp, electro-hydraulic rear wheel drive. Minimum cost in the "base" » 1 million 455 thousand rubles.
- Mini CooperSD Countryman, four-wheel drive, turbodiesel. Engine 2 l, 143 hp. will cost more than 1.5 million rubles
- MiniJohnCooperWorks Countryman, all-wheel drive, reinforced suspension, 218 hp engine, will cost from 1 million 760 thousand rubles.
Any configuration may include an additional package of options, the cost of which is determined solely by the amount of equipment purchased.
Test Drive
Of course, no one expects the Mini Cooper Countryman to have SUV properties. Even the most “vigorous and charged” Countryman with all-wheel drive and reinforced suspension remains a car for driving on smooth (preferably) city roads. In bad weather conditions (wet snow) it is prone to skidding, so you need to be especially careful when changing lanes. The steering wheel requires concentration from the driver: even when driving straight, microsteering is indispensable. The ride is smoother than that of the smaller Mini brothers, but the McPherson suspension does not save you from a painful reaction even to trivial irregularities.
The side mirrors are too small for a full view, which is very annoying when changing lanes. Good visibility is also hampered by the roof that floats forward. The disadvantages include the lack of a full-fledged spare tire - the manufacturer supplies the Countryman only with a branded repair kit. Given the sensitivity of the wheelbase to road imperfections and taking into account the quality of Russian roads, this fact is somewhat annoying.
When reaching the promised maximum speed (190 km/h), roaring sounds burst into the cabin. Some might consider them sporty. Most people find them scary! It reaches the first hundred, as it is written in the text of the characteristics, in 7 seconds. However, this figure is very average. And it’s hard to count on a racing driving style even in the sports version. Unless on ideal surfaces in excellent weather conditions.
The manual transmission has a tight clutch, which responds to attempts to conquer uneven roads and roads that are not like asphalt with a pronounced burnt smell. So, don’t overuse the manual transmission on country roads: it’s easy to burn out the clutch when trying to drive off-road!
Possible competitors
Among the Mini Countryman's competitors, the most frequently heard names are: Nissan Juke; BMW X1; Ford Kuga; Renault Koleos; Nissan QashQai; VolksWagenTiguan... and other crossovers similar to Countryman, mainly in price category. Many of them, unlike the Mini Countryman, have truly off-road qualities. Perhaps a comparison with Nissan Juke and BMW X1 is appropriate. Although the “penny” BMW can hardly be considered a full-fledged competitor: the Mini’s ownership of the Bavarian concern makes them more like relatives!
