What’s this? A Mini that is practical enough for a family and goes like the clappers?
Welcome to the Mini Countryman John Cooper Works. It’s the range-topping, eye-poppingly fast variant of Mini’s SUV.
My neighbours in Dundee are used to different cars appearing on my driveway every week but even their heads were turned by the Mini’s jaunty two-tone paintjob and the quadruple exhausts advertising its power.
The SUV version of the iconic Mini is for grown-ups who need room for kids and dogs but don’t want a boring mainstream car.
With plenty of space for four passengers and a 460 litre boot it has as much space as many mid-size SUVs.
And it has Mini’s fun and funky looks – just in a bigger package.
Does the Mini Countryman put a smile on your face?
But does it have the fun factor? It certainly does if you go for the John Cooper Works version I spent a week with.
It ditches the 1.5 litre mild hybrid engine most Mini Countryman models come with. Instead you get a turbocharged 2.0 litre unit that puts out just shy of 300bhp.
All versions are four-wheel drive and come with a seven-speed automatic gearbox.
It’s fast. Press the accelerator and it shoots off like a rocket. Zero to 62mph comes up in just 5.4 seconds and is accompanied by an agreeably sporty yowl from the engine.
You can choose from different driving modes. Mini calls these ‘experiences’ and they include Eco, Mid for general driving, and Go-Kart Mode for when you want to dial the fun factor up to 11.
Driving the Countryman in rural Angus
A long country drive through some of the best scenery in Angus gave me the opportunity to test the car’s capabilities. I took it on a beautiful and virtually deserted route through Newtyle, past Alyth and around Loch of Lintrathen and Balintore Castle.
It handles better than virtually any other SUV I’ve driven, feeling much more low-slung and, yes, go-kart like than it has any right to.
Accurate steering makes it easy to place even on narrow roads and it grips like a limpet with virtually no body roll.
Being taller and heavier it isn’t quite as nimble as the Mini hatchback but it’s one of the most dynamic and enjoyable SUVs I’ve driven.
The flipside is a firm ride that may feel too harsh for some. It’s not the car I’d buy if most of my driving was motorway miles. If you do need to cover long distances it’s useful to know economy sits at around 35mpg, which isn’t bad considering the car’s performance ability.
Apart from the firm ride refinement is otherwise very good. Cruising down the A90 from Brechin at 70mph I was able to listen to DC Thomson’s podcast the Stooshie then Dundee-based singer-songwriter Roseanne Reid through the optional Harman Kardon sound system without having to nudge the volume up.
What’s new about the Mini Countryman
This is the third generation of the Mini Countryman. Its external appearance hasn’t changed too much but the car is bigger and has more internal space.
It’s fair to say one of the best things about the new Mini Countryman is its interior. With a fabric-covered dashboard, lots of colour, and a unique circular touchscreen, it’s unlike any other car on sale.
The OLED display is crystal clear, even in direct sunlight, and operates everything from climate control to sat nav, media, and smartphone mirroring.
It’s a fantastic piece of modern design and the Mini Countryman is a rare example of a car that’s just as stylish on the inside as it is on the outside.
Downsides? The transmission isn’t as smooth as I’d expect from a brand that benefits from BMW’s engineering. Gearchanges are a bit snatchy, particularly under hard acceleration.
And while the screen looks amazing and is extremely responsive, the icons are small and hard to touch while you’re driving.
This is a car for young or young-at-heart buyers who are tech-savvy and grew up with touchscreens, not button-loving dinosaurs like me, so I’m not sure if many people will be as bothered as I was.
Prices for the Mini Countryman start at around £29,100. The John Cooper Works version carries quite a premium over the standard car and you’ll need at least £42,750 to buy one.
There’s a lot to applaud the Mini Countryman for. The latest version has an interior that’s just as stylish as its iconic exterior. It’s more fun to drive than almost any other SUV and it’s practical enough for families.
Best of all it’s a car that never fails to put a smile on your face.
Mini Countryman John Cooper Works review – Facts:
Price: from £42,750
0-62mph: 5.4 seconds
Top speed: 155mph
Economy: 35.3mpg
CO2 emissions: 180g/km
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