The MINI Countryman is updated and its WLTP range increases to over 500 km

Since it went on sale two years ago, the electric MINI Countryman has been gaining popularity for combining the brand’s distinctive style with the sustainability offered by its Zero Emissions propulsion system. Now, with the aim of maintaining its competitiveness in the market, the British firm, part of the BMW Group, has decided to improve its efficiency and increase its range, introducing a technical upgrade to units produced from next March 2026.

MINI offers this model in two versions, Countryman E with front-wheel drive and Countryman SE ALL4 with dual electric motors and all-wheel drive. The exterior design barely changes, with just a few aerodynamic touch-ups and exclusive details, with all the improvements concentrated in the propulsion system.

The most notable novelty is the incorporation of a new inverter with silicon carbide semiconductors. These components are more efficient than traditional silicon ones, as they reduce energy losses during the conversion of direct current from the battery to alternating current for the motors, generating less heat and making better use of the available electricity.

Additionally, lower-friction wheel bearings have also been installed on the front axle, reducing rolling resistance. The battery pack, on the other hand, maintains its gross capacity of 66.5 kWh, but now offers a slightly higher net usable capacity of 65.2 kWh, compared with the 64.6 kWh of the previous model. This small increase in net capacity of 0.6 kWh, together with the efficiency optimisations, allows more kilometres to be covered without the need for a larger battery pack.

Improved range so you can go even further

As a result, the new Countryman E is now capable of covering up to 501 km under the WLTP homologation cycle, compared with the initial 462 km of the previous model. Likewise, the SE ALL4 version increases its range to 467 km, compared with 433 km for the previous model. The aerodynamic coefficient of 0.26 contributes significantly to these efficiency gains. On the other hand, when it comes to DC charging there are no notable changes, with just under 30 minutes needed to increase the charge from 10 to 80 percent.

As far as performance is concerned, the power of the motors does not change. The Countryman E retains the 150 kW of its single motor located on the front axle, with 250 Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the two motors of the Countryman SE ALL4 offer a combined output of 230 kW with 494 Nm of torque.

MINI has not announced any price changes, so it is deduced that there have been none. That being so, in the German market the Countryman E should be available from €38,120, while the price of the top-of-the-range SE ALL4 version should start at €43,320.

With this update, MINI demonstrates how it is possible to deliver real gains in range and efficiency without altering the essence of the vehicle or requiring profound redesigns, simply by implementing targeted improvements to key components.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverMINI Countryman21 versions · from 35,550 €