Ever since its reincarnation under BMW ownership and subsequent arrival on local soil, the “new” Mini has proved the most lucrative “retro” car in South Africa. Long after art deco circular vents, mini flower vases and upright chrome grilles became passé, Mini has remained popular, not least because of its premium positioning…
However, all the “new” Mini derivates to date have been spin-offs of the initial three-door light car that debuted almost a decade ago and regretfully, there’s been limited improvement in the little car’s basic packaging – just think of the middling Clubman. All that marketing spin about “From an original, to an original” has been wearing thin, despite teasers about upcoming coupe and roadster models. What’s been needed is a product that could take Mini out of the DINKY and “single yuppie with sunglasses-adorned forehead” market into the mainstream… Yes, Golf country!
So here’s the Countryman – a four-seater, four-door and, should you specify it as such, four-wheel drive, crossover model. It is undoubtedly the most significant newcomer from the um, British brand, and I am happy to report that there is not a single wood panel in sight on either its exterior or interior. Built on a lengthened wheelbase that measures in excess of four metres in length, the newcomer possesses a kind of substance that’s been lacking from its three siblings, it’s a perception that hits home from first sight in the lot and from behind the wheel.
Before I delve into the Countryman’s driving dynamics, allow me to pause and consider the little All4’s visual impact. Yes, the extended sides and glasshouse do contribute to the “breadvan look”, but the nose, front fenders and rear sport some tasty detailing. From straight on, the ovoid headlamps (with star-burst LEDs) give the Countryman a bullshark-like appearance, and the stretched halfmoon grille is bolt upright, with the bonnet lip protruding ever so slightly. The A-pillars descend into chromed sashes that house integral side indicators (still unsure whether I like that particular design detail), but the rear is particularly chunky, thanks to a broad vertical tailgate and scalloped black panels on the C-pillars that square off the rear end. Models equipped with the sportier bodykits (as international launch fleet models tend to be) feature enlarged – and chromed – air inlet apertures.
Strangely enough, the standard-looking Cooper S model (okay, with just the odd racing stripe and white roof for decoration) appeared more tasteful from an aesthetic point of view. And it needs to be. Countrymen could be tarted – or blinged up ad nauseum, but the range’s target audience will probably be far more aware of what the in-laws or neighbours would say than would be the case for conventional Cooper and Cooper S clients… After all, the new Countryman is for three-up families.
The biggest talking point of the newcomer’s interior is the metallic centre rail that stretches from the base of the facia and bisects the two rear seats. Many will question why Mini would go to all the trouble to build a four-door model and then give it a less than practical 2+2 seat configuration. It is true that the centre rail offers adjustable positions for drinkholders, storage boxes and auxiliary line-in points for MP3 players and other audio devices, but fortunately Mini South Africa have seen the light and will offer local models with full backrests that can be tilted for angle either individually or in a 40:20:40 (three-seat bench) arrangement.
Apart from that, the usual Mini interior layout and switchgear design is carried over for the Countryman, although the driving position is notably elevated. The backs of the front seats are scalloped to allow for extra kneeroom, and I managed to sit behind myself quite comfortably with oodles of headroom to spare. By C-segment hatchback and crossover standards, the Mini feels substantial, definitely more so than its siblings, but the interior doesn’t lose any of its funkiness. Some of the highlights include a high-end audio and navigation system as well as the option to completely integrate an Apple iPhone and other Smartphones in the car. I really like the soft-touch materials employed on the upper half of the cabin and the switchgear feels chunkier than on earlier “new” Mini models, but the armrest tended to get in the way when operating the parking brake, I found.
Its increased dimensions and added weight haven’t turned the Countryman into a bit of a doddler, Mini enthusiasts will be happy to hear. The only clue to the Mini’s “maximization” is a slightly larger turning circle, which is not helped by the 18-inch rubber fitted to the model I drove. There’s no significant ride height to speak of, so the ALL4 permanent all-wheel drive system, which apportions drive between the front and rear wheels is ideally suited to gravel roads or slippery conditions off the beaten track. It also incorporates an electronic limited-slip function for the front axle differential, which does a good job of limited understeer under hard cornering.
Yes, the Countryman allows spirited drivers every opportunity to exploit its 135 kW and 260 N.m of torque (on overboost) through its snickety-snap six-speed manual transmission. It’s certainly not as lively, rorty or vocal as a Cooper S JCW, but that characteristic Mini wieldiness and sheer chuckability remain. In fact, the overall ride refinement has improved with the arrival of the fourth member of the family, only the odd cobblestoned street in downtown Hamburg seemed to unsettle it.
Naturally there is a wide range of options and special equipment available to customise the Countryman to owners’ tastes. Whether the extra-cost ALL4 option will see a major take-up on local soil remains to be seen, but with an indicative starting price of about R300 000, it’s fair to predict that the top end of the compact car and middle of the compact SUV markets will feel the impact of the Countryman’s arrival on our shores (around the fourth quarter of 2010). Competitors be warned: This is a Mini that appeals to the heart and head… It’s a tantalising proposition.
* A full driving impression of the Mini Countryman appeared in CAR magazine’s September 2010 issue.