New Mini Countryman lands in Mzansi, now bigger and better

Image credit: Naresh Maharaj

Image credit: Naresh Maharaj

I sat in the drivers’ seat for a long drive, then swopped into the front passenger seat and then at the back and I can conclude that there is plenty of space and legroom that will seat four passengers and the driver with ease.

Start it up and the engine idle is distinctly Mini. Select a gear and drive off and the quick changes of the gearbox, perfectly synchronised with the turbocharged engine is also very distinctly Mini. As the saying goes, first you hear it then see it and that is so typical of the Mini.

Here's what’s new in the Mini Countryman Cooper:

• LED headlamps and LED fog lights now as standard
• LED rear lights in Union Jack design
• Distinctive front design with the newly designed radiator grille
• New body finishes, new option Piano Black exterior
• New light-alloy wheels
• The latest generation of engines, all models comply with Euro 6d emissions standard
• Sports leather steering wheel as standard in all model variants
• A new range of leather trims and interior surfaces
• MINI Connected with new functions
• Extended range of Original MINI Accessories.
• A newly designed central instrument in Piano Black High Gloss design available as an optional extra
• Standard seven-speed Steptronic with double clutch. Paddle shifts are optional for the MINI Cooper S Countryman 

Bigger

Thanks to its unmistakable proportions, the new Mini Countryman is instantly recognisable as the brand’s largest model. The precisely modified design of the car's front section lends even more intense emphasis on the powerful charisma of the new Mini Countryman.

Image credit: Naresh Maharaj

The new structure of the bumper covering, now entirely in body finish, ensures a particularly clear-cut and high-quality appearance. The radiator grille of the new Countryman is characterised by a hexagonal grid pattern with a red 'S'.

Digital display

A new digital instrument display is standard for the new Mini Countryman. The display behind the steering wheel has a diameter of 5". The range of audio and navigation systems has been restructured.

The standard Connected Media and optional Connected Navigation Plus, available as an alternative to the basic configuration, each include an 8.8-inch colour screen with touchscreen function located in the central instrument that is typical of the brand.

The circular control unit in the new Mini exhibits a refined surface look, with the audio control panel and the buttons for hazard lights and driver assistance systems now integrated even more harmoniously.

High beam dip

The adaptive LED headlamps in the new version now feature an automatic selective dip function for the high beam. For this purpose, the high beam is subdivided into four segments that can be activated and deactivated independently of each other and adapted to the situation on the road at speeds of over 70km/h.

Image credit: Naresh Maharaj

As soon as the front camera detects an oncoming vehicle or a vehicle driving ahead, the space that vehicle occupies is only illuminated at low beam brightness, while the other high beam segments continue to illuminate the rest of the road in the normal way. As such, the matrix high beam is able to increase the range of vision while at the same time avoiding any dazzle effect on other road users.

Three and four-cylinder engine

Mini TwinPower Turbo Technology is used in the three-cylinder petrol engine of the new Mini Cooper Countryman and in the four-cylinder petrol engine of the new Mini Cooper S Countryman, and now includes an exhaust manifold integrated with the cylinder head along with turbocharging. Among other things, this ensures highly effective cooling of the exhaust gases and the turbocharging system.

The new version  is available in South Africa in two model variants:

• Mini Cooper Countryman: 100 kW, 0–100 km/h in 9.7 seconds, top speed: 203 km/h, fuel consumption (combined): 6.l/10km.
• Mini Cooper S Countryman: 141 kW, 0–100 km/h in 7,5 seconds, top speed: 226 km/h, fuel consumption (combined): 6.l/100km.

Verdict

The Mini Countryman now accounts for almost 30% of the brand’s new registrations worldwide. The launch of the current model generation once again sees a significant optimisation in terms of space, versatility, functionality and ride comfort. The new Mini Countryman is available with two petrol engines featuring the latest Mini TwinPower Turbo Technology.

The engines have seen extensive further development and cover output of 141kW - Cooper S. The design from the front and back is typical Mini. The LED rear lights are now in the design of the Union Jack. LED headlamps and fog lights are now standard. The digital cockpit display with a 5" colour screen was easy to use. The Harmon Kardon speaker system proved to be clear and concise even when cranked up to high decibels. A great ride in one of the worlds’ fun cars.

Prices

• Mini Cooper Countryman - R599,624
• Mini Cooper S Countryman - R631,004