MINI JCW Countryman ALL4 and JCW Paceman ALL4 2013 Review

MINI JCW Countryman ALL4 and MINI JCW Paceman ALL4

What we liked:
>> Added performance
>> Ride/handling compromise
>> Entertaining exhaust note

Not so much:
>> NVH levels when cruising
>> Paceman’s high driving position
>> Some options should be standard

MINI's Mr Niche Guy, the hotter John Cooper Works model, has long been admired by hot hatch enthusiasts. It's an appealing and sporty take on a much-loved -- and let's face it, fast enough -- recipe, and one that is now applied across the entirety of MINI’s seven-strong model range.

The newcomers to the go-fast fold are the JCW Countryman ALL4 (from $56,800 plus on-road costs) and the JCW Paceman ALL4 (from $58,600 plus on-road costs). The models arrive late in the series' life cycle with an all-new MINI set to debut at the LA auto show in November (2013).

But just because they're the last in line it doesn't mean they're any less important. The uptake of JCW-enhanced variants is strong in Australia (we take more JCW models as part of our MINI mix than any other country, including Germany), and as with most other variants, the new all-wheel drive additions will find their own in a market that is, to be blunt, a niche within a niche.

The JCW Countryman ALL4 and JCW Paceman ALL4 are powered by the same high-output version of the 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder found under the bonnet of the strong in Australia. In all-wheel drive Countryman and Paceman models, the engine develops 160kW and 280Nm (300Nm in overboost).

Both variants are offered as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox which returns a combined-cycle fuel-consumption figure of 8.0L/100km. With the optional six-speed automatic, this jumps to 8.3L/100km. On test we averaged mid 10s.

Performance for the pair is similar, with the JCW Countryman ALL4 accelerating to 100km/h in 7.0 seconds (in either transmission guise) and the JCW Paceman ALL4 6.9 seconds (again with either transmission option).

Compared to their smaller brethren the high-riding JCW Countryman ALL4 and JCW Paceman ALL4 variants do feel noticeably larger, though the performance increase does come as a welcome addition. The petrol engine of the derivative variants can suffer under the weight of the vehicle’s mass, and all-wheel drivetrain, even in Cooper S format. This change improves the models’ appeal, giving it the oomph it deserves, and has arguably always needed.

Suspension changes have helped the cause too. The Paceman feels especially high-riding, and from the driver’s viewpoint this fact can detract from the feel of ‘sportiness’. The seating position hasn’t changed, but with a tighter, slightly lower (-10mm) ride, the JCW Paceman ALL4 at least feels as though it’s better tied-down.

Both models haven’t entirely lost their compliance, either. And in a vehicle that is more likely to be utilised for practical purposes, this is a welcomed trait. Larger holes will send a jolt through the cabin, but with low profile 18-inch tyres this is to be expected, and realistically, is not particularly different from any high-grade SUV competitor in this class.

Steering feel is on-par with JCW’s small hatch variants, which bolsters the perception of sportiness, and adds zest to the vehicles’ abilities, especially in tighter turns. It’s also good to feel that the steering hasn’t dulled with the all-paw-pull.

The primary controls offer a similar level of communication, and have a weight that suits the models’ pretensions. That said, the metal pedals are notoriously slippery when wet which does little to balance the late, narrow and tautly-sprung uptake of the clutch.

As we touched upon earlier, the JCW Countryman ALL4 and JCW Paceman ALL4 are more likely to attract a pragmatic buyer, and therefore are less likely to be judged as critically for their athletic finesse. Legacy issues such as compact rear seat room (especially in Paceman) remain, and there are some rearward visibility concerns. However, the vehicles’ practical shortcomings are nothing compared to its NVH levels.

Sure, we expect a hard-riding, sporty, SUV-esque model sporting low-profile tyres to be loud. But the pair from JCW are in a league of their own -- even when sampled back-to-back with others from the line-up.

Tyre, road, wind noise and even medium-frequency vibrations from tight-fitting cabin plastics culminate to a maddening mélange that the audio system -- and even MINI’s crackling exhaust system -- are powerless to overcome. It’s a trait you can forgive in ‘hot hatch’ models, but in family-oriented models such as the Countryman and Paceman, are likely to be critiqued more harshly by potential buyers.

We also anticipate a little resistance where option pricing is concerned. MINI’s extensive list of personalised parts can add a hefty percentage to the overall outcome should you get a little “tick happy”. Highlights of the optional equipment list include lightweight 19-inch alloy wheels ($2340), Recaro sports seats ($3510), sat-nav ($1495) and MINI ‘Yours’ metallic paint ($1690).

Some of the options available on the variants listed should come as standard. Digital radio, for example, is a $500 option, and a luggage net is $325.

But if you can move past these issues, the JCW-enhanced Countryman and Paceman provide a lot of visual impact and a quantitative performance increase certain to lure those looking for ‘something different’. As the automotive landscape flattens into conservative homogeny, the John Cooper Works Countryman and Paceman ALL4 models provide a package that not only moves the body, but give the soul something to smile about too.

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