MINI Countryman 2017 Review

Approaching MINI's new Countryman is a puzzling affair. Is it a small SUV, or is it a select range of sporty, retro-styled hatches that are 'hot' in varying degrees? Can it go off-road... and should it?

MINI is claiming that whereas the previous Countryman was too small to take on the duties of the principal car for the whole family, the new F60-series car can step into that role. So... what? It's a family car that's sporty and off-road capable for modern-day fans of Carnaby Street kitsch?

My head is spinning just putting all this out there.

But it's actually not too hard to fathom. Yes, the Countryman is sticking to its MINI retro look roots, and there's just one variant in the range that comes with all-wheel drive traction, so forget about the off-road question. All the variants driven during MINI's local launch drive program were still sporty and dynamically capable cars – just with a higher hip point.

So maybe this is the MINI for the bowling club set – pining for their younger days, of mini skirts, paisley shirts and corduroy duds.

For the local drive program motoring.com.au tested three variants, two of which were front-wheel drive only. The three models were the entry-level three-cylinder Countryman Cooper, the four-cylinder Cooper S and the diesel ALL4 Countryman Cooper SD.

Curiously, despite different driving conditions for the three cars tested, they all returned the same fuel consumption figure, as posted by the trip computer 7.6L/100km/h. Maybe the three-cylinder model and the diesel were getting flogged harder than the Cooper S...

The three cars drove much like lower-riding MINIs, all of which are now built on the modular UKL platform, as is the new Countryman. On a brief section of unsealed road there was a bit of torque steer from the base model, but the Countryman is generally quite adept at getting its power to the ground, even in FWD form. Although the front-wheel drive models are theoretically less capable off-road, the base model offered poised handling on the dirt section, stepping out progressively on a trailing throttle – but swiftly brought back into line by the stability control system.

Although the three-cylinder engine in the base model has a charm all its own, it does run out of puff higher in the rev range – up around 6000rpm when overtaking, for instance. There's enough torque available in the mid-range for the driver to let the six-speed automatic shift a little short of the redline for the same acceleration. MINI claims that the new engine – new to Countryman, at least – is two seconds faster to 100km/h (9.6sec) than the 1.6-litre four-cylinder of the previous model.

The four-cylinder petrol engine in the Countryman Cooper S is more of what MINI traditionalists want, however. MINI claims the Cooper S is over two seconds faster to 100km/h than the three-cylinder model. It's also a sportier engine in the traditional mould and delivers strong performance throughout the rev range.

As ballsy as it is at full cry, however, it's no match for the high-performance diesel in the Countryman Cooper SD – currently the flagship of the range based on price alone. MINI claims that the 0-100km/h time for the high-performance diesel is the same 7.4sec figure, but in-gear acceleration is where the Cooper SD whallops the Cooper S. If there's one concern with the diesel, it's the clatter from outside the car. At least it's sufficiently isolated from the cabin and is more refined inside the car.

There was some wind and tyre noise present at open-road speeds; the Cooper S in sport mode issues a little exhaust noise with the engine revving above 2000rpm at 100km/h – but in normal and Eco modes it shifts into a higher gear for reduced engine revs.

All three variants steered very nicely, with turn-in that was typically quick and the Countryman could be placed precisely on the road, thanks to the meaty steering feel. Ride comfort was firm overall, whether on the standard 18 or optional 19-inch wheels, but the original-equipment Pirellis ironed out the smaller bumps very effectively. Cars fitted with optional Dynamic Damper Control (Cooper S and SD) were less compliant in sport mode. However, the Countryman provided a good balance of secondary-level comfort and body control over better sealed roads.

Inside the Countryman, seat comfort was generally very good. I personally found the side bolstering around the base of the seats was not quite sufficient to hold the occupant in place properly, once the MINI was being thrown around.

Overall the driving position was good, although I've observed in the past that the sci-fi fuel gauge is not to my liking, and some of the MINI's other control design conventions and placement remain quirky, to say the least. As one example, there's the engine start toggle in the centre fascia. And recline adjustment for the seat is by means of a hard-to-find looped lever down by the side of the seat base, and the lumbar adjust knob is on the inboard side of the squab.

But for MINI fans, all that's a known quantity and in point of fact there's little in the Countryman's interior layout and design that's going to perplex even new owners for any length of time.

Rear-seat accommodation is a big improvement. With scalloped front-seat squabs and the longer wheelbase there's plenty of knee and head-room, considering the Countryman is still a relatively small package. There are adjustable vents back there for the kids too, and big bottle holders in the doors.

The boot has a shallow receptacle under the floor to enhance its practicality, and this is the place from whence the optional picnic seat unfolds.

There's a plethora of new driver-assist technology and convenience features in the new Countryman – some standard, some optional. Autonomous emergency braking is standard across the range, with pedestrian recognition thrown in. Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function is another standard feature. The reversing camera that wasn't even available as an option in the previous Countryman is now standard for all variants. So is camera-based speed limit info display, which we checked at intervals and found it didn't put a foot wrong during the drive program.

A little has been said about the Countryman's price and market position in this latest model. There is a school of thought that the base model Countryman with no options – priced just below $40,000 – is the best package in the range, where value is concerned.

I don't subscribe to that view. Is the purchase price ultimately less important to prospective Countryman buyers than specification? I suspect so.

It all depends on whether the brio of the Cooper S or the traction of the Cooper SD is worth thousands more to the buyer – or whether the buyer can crunch the salesperson for a keen price...

2017 MINI Countryman Cooper pricing and specifications:
Price: $44,100 (as tested, plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 100kW/220Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 138g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: TBA

2017 MINI Countryman Cooper S pricing and specifications:
Price: $51,750 (as tested, plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 141kW/280Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 149g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: TBA

2017 MINI Countryman Cooper SD pricing and specifications:
Price: $60,650 (as tested, plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 140kW/400Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 5.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 138g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: TBA

Related reading:
>> MINI Countryman 2017 Review
>> MINI Countryman Video Review
>> New MINI Countryman from $40K