MINI Countryman SD test drive, English gentleman with field boots

The MINI family keeps on growing. The English brand under German ownership is enjoying a real youth boom across its range, and its customers know it.

This week “the least mini” of all, the Countryman, comes into our hands. Powered by a diesel engine, this Countryman SD aims to become the most stylish of the compact SUVs.

The Countryman was born in 2010 with the aim of offering an alternative with off-road capabilities to all those customers looking for a model with a very distinctive look and an intact MINI spirit. Its sales success was, as everyone expected, spectacular. So much so that while other MINI models such as the Paceman had no successor, the Countryman is more alive than ever thanks to a new generation.

Exterior design

The second generation of the Countryman sticks to a continuity in its general lines, which, when viewed in detail, turn out to be a profound evolution in terms of styling. And the Countryman has stopped being an inflated MINI to get off the asphalt and become a model with its own personality.

The front of the Countryman features two light clusters with rounded shapes, as one would expect on a MINI, although with a well-defined profile. The daytime running light, previously located next to the fog lights, is now positioned around the main headlight in the form of an LED line.

The grille keeps a shape similar to its predecessor’s, with a rhomboid mesh that emphasises the sportiness of the ensemble. At the bottom we find a very well-integrated bumper, with three large mouldings and two generous fog light housings.

The side view of the Countryman is that of a vehicle of generous size, with more or less straight shapes, which carries all the DNA of the MINI family. And the Countryman still relies on a slightly raked windscreen and a relatively straight glass surface, which leads to a smaller rear window.

There are also a number of details such as the wheel arch mouldings, which also house a small indicator, rounded door mirrors, satin silver roof bars or a lower body profile/wheel arches finished in unpainted black plastic. The alloy wheels are available in numerous sizes, although those on our unit, with an attractive double-spoke design, measure 18″ and are fitted with 225/50/R18 tyres.

The rear of the MINI Countryman is possibly the area where we find the greatest similarity to its original sibling, the hatchback. The Countryman has an electrically operated tailgate, large teardrop-shaped light clusters and, in this version, a very sporty twin exhaust outlet, in keeping with the “S” character of its engine.

Interior design

More mature and bigger, the Countryman has grown in its concept
The MINI interior is, in this new generation of creations from the British brand, the area where the greatest evolution can be seen. Not only in the aesthetic field, where the changes are obvious, but in build quality, which is far superior to that of the previous model.

As soon as we open the door, which incidentally has a nice light that projects the brand’s logo onto the ground when the remote is operated, we find a cabin where the MINI personality could not be more evident wherever we look.

A dashboard in which rounded shapes are the norm houses a large central dial that, in this new generation of MINI, is dedicated exclusively to the music/infotainment system, moving the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, attached to the steering column, in a position that is much more practical and natural in day-to-day use.

Below the instrument cluster are the dual-zone climate controls and, below them, a row of rocker switches – in pure retro style from which we can do everything from starting the car to adjusting the stability control (DSC) or the Head-Up Display, which, incidentally, uses a methacrylate sheet to project the information, a cheaper solution than projection onto the windscreen itself, but one that brings some drawbacks, such as the system not working if we are wearing polarised sunglasses.

The centre console features a practical storage recess, two cup holders, the very long gear lever with a rotating central ring for selecting the different driving modes, the parking brake and i-Drive controls, and a handy armrest.

Build quality is good, with soft-touch plastics on the upper part of the dashboard and an original upholstery on the doors that extends towards their upper part, although we still find hard plastics in the lower part of both the dashboard and the doors, a material also used on the centre console. No rattles are heard when driving over rough terrain despite the firmness of the suspension, although it is true that some mouldings creak when pressed with the fingers.

Special mention deserves MINI’s ability to create a fun and visually attractive atmosphere in the cabin. One of its best assets is the use of an abundant amount of multi-colour ambient lighting, lighting found in the footwell area, the doors, the roof, the central ring and, for the first time, the dashboard mouldings, which feature attractive backlit details, visible only in the dark.

The front seats are very comfortable, holding the body very well. In addition, they can be optionally equipped with electric adjustment, heating and even two-position memory. Our unit also featured an attractive mixed leather and fabric upholstery, as well as three-level heating and an extendable thigh support.

The interior space is very good, improving positively especially in the rear seats, where the change for the better has been truly noticeable. The rear row has more than enough space for both head and legs, also enjoying comforts such as a longitudinally adjustable bench, a backrest with multiple recline settings and ventilation outlets. The central tunnel is slightly intrusive when seating three passengers, but the manufacturer has been kind enough to leave two well-defined footwells.

The boot is of sufficient size, with a capacity of 450 litres. With good lighting and a hands-free opening and closing system, the Countryman’s boot hides a false floor that houses a clever cushion covering the boot sill, allowing two people to sit comfortably and without getting dirty.

Driving dynamics

The Countryman is available with a varied selection of diesel, petrol and hybrid three- and four-cylinder powertrains. On this occasion we have tested the most powerful diesel variant, commercially named “Cooper SD”, equipped with a 2.0 four-cylinder engine producing 190 CV and 420 NM, mounted transversely at the front.

It still drives very dynamically
This engine is used by numerous BMW models, standing out for its performance and low consumption. On this occasion it is also paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission of exquisite operation, which sends power to the front wheels and, optionally, to both axles.

The figures speak for themselves: with this combination the Countryman can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in under 8 seconds, exceeding a top speed of 210 km/h, all with an official average consumption of just 4.6 litres. In real life we are dealing with an engine capable of returning consumption of 4/4.5 litres on national road trips, rising to 6.5 litres on motorways and up to 7.5 litres in town. The final result after more than 1,500 km of use is 7.2 litres/100 km.

Dynamically there is no doubt whatsoever: the Countryman can be described without hesitation as a true MINI. Built on the same platform as the current BMW X1, the Countryman offers excellent grip at all times, at the cost of a somewhat excessive suspension firmness in certain situations. In normal use this is not a problem.

Direct steering and a braking system complete a very respectable package in dynamic terms, only tarnished by the excessive engine noise when cold and a rather high road noise, which may well be blamed on the tyres fitted to this particular unit.

This unit also featured the MINI Driving Profile system, which is simply the name the British brand gives to its driving mode system, which on this vehicle consists of three different profiles: ECO, which activates the transmission’s sailing mode, NORMAL, and SPORT, which firms up the steering, sharpens throttle and gearshift response and activates a sound synthesiser to mask diesel noise.

Range and versions: how much does the car you are looking at cost?

The Countryman range starts at €27,800, corresponding to the Cooper Countryman, equipped with a 1.5 petrol engine producing 136 CV. The most expensive versions are the Cooper SE and Cooper S John Cooper Works, with 223 and 235 CV respectively.

Our unit has a base price of €35,400, although its optional equipment is extensive. Notable items include the smart LED headlights, the hands-free tailgate, the front seats with electric memory, adjustment and heating, and the Head-Up Display system. In total, more than €44,000 to turn this Countryman into an expensive indulgence that will, admittedly, satisfy the most demanding families.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverMINI Countryman21 versions · from 35,550 €