MINI Countryman SE 2026 Review

You can have a battery-powered MINI Countryman for $68,990 but if you want the higher-powered SE version, you’ll need at least $73,990 plus on-road costs (all prices are before on-road costs) for the Classic ALL4.

The car you see here, the Favoured, sits in the middle at $76,990, while at the top is the sporty-looking JCW Sport at $79,990.

If you have around $80 grand to spend then the world is your electrified oyster, with vehicles of all shapes and sizes to choose from. However, we’re going to assume if you’re reading this you want something premium, something with a bit of performance and something a bit different to stand out from the crowd.

Even so, there is plenty of choice on offer. There’s the closely related BMW iX1 xDrive 30 ($77,900), though other Europeans are the Cupra Tavascan ($74,490), Polestar 2 Long Range AWD ($71,400) and Smart #3 Brabus. From Korea there’s the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N-Line ($83,700), while the US-of-A offers the Cadillac Optiq ($80,000), just to name a few.

The 2026 MINI Countryman SE has a relatively elevated price tag, but the standard specification list is quite substantial, with even the Classic coming with 18-inch wheels, LED lighting, powered tailgate, panoramic glass roof, auto lights and wipers, dual-zone climate control, a six-speaker stereo and heated sports front seats.

The Favoured adds 19s, a 12-speaker Harmon/Kardon stereo, John Cooper Works front seats with electric adjustment and memory and tinted windows. Stepping up to the JCW Sport just makes the car look snazzier, aside from the addition of larger brakes.

What MINI does offer is extensive personalisation and the best thing about it is that it adds no further cost. None of the nine colours, the three wheel designs (including the 20s you see on our test car), the body-coloured roof, three different mirror cap colours or seven interior trim combinations attract an additional charge.

If you’ll forgive a quick subjective tangent, I personally love the way the MINI Countryman looks. Given the design constraints of a relatively boxy SUV, its proportions and detailing seem to work regardless of the colour and wheels fitted. It’s a rare feat.

MINI offers a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years complimentary roadside assistance, while prepaid servicing packages are available for four ($1575) or six years ($2630) with condition-based intervals. Basically, the car will tell you when it needs a check-up.

The 2026 MINI Countryman SE wears a five-star ANCAP rating from 2024 with scores of 83 per cent for adult occupant protection, 86 per cent child occupant protection, 81 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 83 per cent for safety assist.

In addition to nine airbags, there is the usual array of active driver assist systems including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring and more, while parking is assisted by sensors, cameras and self-park capabilities.

The circular infotainment display in the 2026 MINI Countryman SE is a cool design feature, but sadly there’s an element of style over substance. Wireless smartphone mirroring is a standard feature but putting a square layout on a circular screen results in lots of wasted space, though some native information is still included around the periphery.

What’s more, the screen is quite clunky and slow. Too many functions are buried in sub-menus and difficult to find, while a lot of it feels like it’s trying a bit too hard.

For instance, there are ‘experiences’ instead of modes. Go-Kart is a bit cheesy but fair enough as a sports mode, Green makes sense as an eco mode to extend range, but Vivid, Balance and Timeless just appear to change the colour on the screen. They don’t, as is claimed, “transform the atmosphere inside your MINI”.

Along with Spike the AI assistant – which allows you to say “Hey MINI” to adjust various functions – it feels like a lot of effort went into this UX for questionable benefit. It would be better if it was quicker and easier to navigate.

Likewise the head-up display. Rather than being reflected onto the windscreen, it’s on a separate screen and can be awkward to see, from my driving position at least. Once more, rather than having a genuine useability benefit, it feels like a way to save money on a traditional instrument binnacle.

Wireless charging is also standard and the MINI app allows smartphone access to vehicle status and functions, journey planning and the ability to book services and more. With Digital Key Plus, your smartphone or smartwatch can also function as the vehicle key.

A 140kW/247Nm electric motor at each end gives the 2026 MINI Countryman SE all-wheel drive capability and total outputs of 230kW/494Nm. The claimed 0-100km/h sprint is 5.6sec and top speed is 180km/h.

For 2026 the MINI Countryman SE has received a new Silicon Carbide inverter to improve efficiency, which has increased its claimed maximum WLTP range from 433km to 467km.

Charging the 64.6kWh lithium-ion battery takes 10 hours from zero to 100 per cent at 7.4kW (maximum AC rate is 11kW), while a 10-80 per cent fill at its 130kW DC charge rate takes 29min.

Also relevant to the Countryman’s efficiency is its sustainability. The car – in fact all MINIs – is 100 per cent leather and chrome free in favour of sustainable materials like recycled polyester and the alloy wheels are manufactured with up to 70 per cent recycled aluminium. Alu-Mini-um, ha!

Just as a Range Rover must be able to go off-road, a MINI has to be fun to drive, regardless of its size, body shape or what’s powering it. Happily, the 2026 MINI Countryman SE lives up to this expectation, even if it does weigh 2000kg. Yes, really.

In day-to-day use it’s quiet with punchy performance and a well-judged ride, not something that could always be said of previous MINIs. It’s easy to drive, isn’t particularly big and does a fine job of being urban transport.

Activate Go-Kart mode, however, and there is also fun to be had. It’s quite quick, though acceleration does tail off substantially as you approach triple figures; there’s excellent traction from the all-wheel drive system and the brakes hold up well given the weight.

Its biggest shortcoming are its eco-spec tyres; necessary to increase range, they limit the Countryman’s grip levels and it can exhibit roll oversteer at speeds you might expect it to handle. This is exacerbated by quite a rearward bias to the power delivery when you re-apply the throttle, though on the plus side it makes this electric MINI very entertaining on a loose surface.

This might all sound a bit irrelevant to how you drive, but it’s reassuring to know there is some character and personality to the Countryman, even as an electric car. Be aware that heavy throttle usage does drain the battery quite quickly, though – cut that 400km or so of range in half.

At 4445mm long, 1843mm wide and 1635mm high with a 2692mm wheelbase, the 2026 MINI Countryman SE is almost a segment unto itself, sitting neatly between most small and mid-size SUVs.

However, it’s well packaged and provides an impressive amount of space within its (relatively) modest dimensions. In the rear there is ample head, knee and foot room, even for adults, and the back seat reclines for extra comfort.

In the boot you’ll find 460 litres of space, which expands to 1450 litres with the 40/20/40-split rear seat folded. Under the floor is another sizeable area that can house the charging cables or anything else if they’re at home.

This is a more practical car that most would assume and could easily accommodate a small family.

The unusual interior also impresses. It might be contentious, but a car like this should be a bit different and the design and materials are a constant reminder you’re not just driving another white box.

Helpful storage solutions abound, including bottle holders in the doors and a little box between the front seats, which is great for holding on-the-go snacks.

The 2026 MINI Countryman SE is a heart car, not a head car.

If you’ve $80,000 to spend on an electric SUV you can certainly find ones that are bigger, better equipped and more powerful with a longer range. Therefore, the question is whether there’s anything that would cause your head to take priority over your heart – and the answer is no.

Your heart is probably interested in the Countryman SE for its design, its badge and perhaps its performance, but the head can be appeased with its refined driving manners, impressive standard equipment list and family-friendly practicality.

2026 MINI Countryman SE at a glance:
Price: $76,990 plus on-road costs
Available: Now
Powertrain: dual electric motors
Output: 230kW/494Nm
Transmission: Direct-drive
Battery: 64.6kWh lithium-ion
Range: 467km (WLTP claim)
Energy consumption: 18.5kWh/100km (WLTP claim)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2024)

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