New MINI Countryman from $40K

Just as it said it would when we drove it in the UK earlier this month, MINI Australia has announced a starting price of just short of $40,000 for its second-generation Countryman.

Completing the BMW Group's third-generation MINI model rollout, the bigger and better-equipped new British SUV arrives in Australia in March and will open at $39,900 plus on-road costs for the Countryman Cooper.

While that undercuts Audi's new baby SUV, the upcoming Q2 (from $41,100), the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class (from $43,600) and the second-generation BMW X1 on which it's based (from $49,500), the new Countryman will cost $5750 more than before at base level.

Apart from being 200mm longer and growing its boot space by 100 litres to 450 litres, the MkII Countryman brings more standard equipment across the range, including autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, active cruise control, speed limit info, auto high-beam, front/rear parking sensors, keyless entry/start, auto tailgate, navigation, dual-zone climate-control, reversing camera, digital ratio and 18-inch wheels.

Other standard features include cloth/leather-trimmed sports seats and a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat with 75mm more legroom and 130mm slide function.

Four all-automatic variants (there will be no manual option) will be offered from launch — including front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, and petrol and diesel — with the new Countryman JCW performance leader to follow in the second half of this year.

The entry-level Cooper drives its front wheel with a 100kW/220Nm 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and six-speed automatic. Combined fuel consumption is rated at 6.0L/100km, and 0-100km/h acceleration at 9.6 seconds.

Priced $4000 higher at $43,900 plus ORCs is the MINI Countryman Cooper D, powered by a 110kW/330Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine matched with an eight-speed auto, consuming just 4.8L/100km and hitting 100km/h in 8.8sec.

Then comes the Cooper S with a $46,500-plus price tag and a 141kW/280Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four that consumes 6/5L/100km and hits 100km/h in a claimed 7.4sec. Extra features include MINI Driving Modes, LED headlights and a rear armrest.

The $51,500 Cooper SD tops the launch range with a higher-output 140kW/400Nm diesel driving all four wheels via MINI's ALL4 system. It consumes 5.2L/100km and hits 100km/h in 7.4sec.

Options will include a Chili package for the Cooper and Cooper D ($1500, including LED headlights, foglights and daytime running lights, adaptive cornering lights and driving modes).

A JCW Chili Package costs $4900 for the Cooper and Cooper D, and $3600 for Cooper S and Cooper SD ALL4. It adds beefier bumpers and rear spoiler, roof rails and side sills in Piano Black or Satin Silver, JCW 'Thrill Spoke’ alloys, the choice of Dynamic Damper Control or Sports Suspension, Leather Cross Punch upholstery in Carbon Black and JCW steering wheel, door sills and shift lever.

There's also a Road Trip package ($750 for Cooper and Cooper D, $500 for Cooper S and Cooper SD) including a padded picnic bench for the boot opening, rear armrest, luggage net and tyre pressure monitoring.

A Multimedia Pro package ($2400) adds Professional navigation with 8.8-inch touch-screen, voice recognition and 3D mapping, 12-speaker harman/kardon Hi-Fi system and Head Up Display, a Convenience package ($2150) with electric front seats with memory, alarm, interior/exterior mirror package, and a Climate package ($2400).

2017 MINI Countryman pricing (plus ORCs):
Cooper — $39,900
Cooper D — $43,900
Cooper S — $46,500
Cooper SD — $51,500