Price: From R290 236
This new MINI crossover doesn’t just look as good as Ryk Neethling’s six-pack; it’s also a wise buy -“ this funky and utterly fabulous car has just earned the very best rating in the Euro NCAP crash test. The Countryman is particularly interesting car within the MINI world: it’s the first vehicle within the company’s range that boasts four doors and a large tailgate. So, while it’s heaps of fun to drive, it’s practical too. This MINI was also designed bearing pedestrian protection in mind -“ so it’s good news for fellow road users too.
Mini has added a fourth model to its line up in the shape of its eagerly-awaited Countryman crossover.
As befitting a model with an off-roady/lifestyle within the BMW product camp, the company’s press release has made use of the term “Sports Activity Vehicle” again, and has pegged the first genuine four-door (latter day) Mini as a stylish model that serves up the marque’s entertaining driving dynamics with a hint of added space.
The Countryman’s design builds upon the brand’s well-established style and quality by adding larger body dimensions, greater ground clearance and four conventional doors (not the suicide effort on the Clubman) at the side. Short overhangs, a high window line, a purposeful stance, and glasshouse graphics wrapping around the entire car are typically Mini traits to which the Countryman adds its own take on the roofline, hexagon radiator grille, the large headlights integrated in the engine lid, the surrounds on the side direction indicators, the prominent wheelarches and those upright rear light clusters.
The interior boasts a slightly elevated seating position bisected by a unique centre rail integrating storage boxes, cupholders and auxiliary line-in points for MP3 players and other audio devices. The central display and air vents in this model are surrounded by coloured rings further hinting at the customizable nature of this particular model.
The Countryman features four seats as standard, while a three-seat bench is available as a no-cost option. The rear seats move fore-and-aft either individually or in a 60:40 (three-seat bench) split, the backrests may be tilted for angle either individually or in a 40:20:40 (three-seat bench) arrangement, increasing capacity in the luggage compartment from 350 to 1,170 cm³.
The Countryman will enter the market with a choice of three petrol and two diesel engines. The power range extends from 66 kW in the Mini One D Countryman all the way to 135 kW in the Mini Cooper S Countryman. The range-topping turbocharged 1,6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine now features fully-variable valve management, optimizing engine power and fuel consumption.
The Countryman comes as standard, and in appropriate combinations on each model, with a wide range of features serving to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, among them Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start Stop, a gearshift point indicator, and on-demand management of the engine’s ancillary units. And as an alternative to the six-speed manual gearbox featured as standard, the petrol engine models are also available with six-speed automatic complete with Steptronic.
The Cooper S and Cooper D Countryman models are available with the Mini ALL4 permanent all-wheel drive system. This system features an electrohydraulic differential positioned directly on the final drive apportioning drive between the front and rear wheels. Under normal driving conditions up to 50 per cent of the engine’s power goes to the rear wheels, under extreme conditions up to 100 per cent. This system works in conjunction with an uprated suspension setup comprising McPherson spring struts and forged track control arms up front, and a multi-arm rear axle. The Electric Power Steering system features the company’s Servotronic system, whil driver aids include Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Traction Control (optional on some models or as a standard feature on the Mini Cooper S Countryman and the Mini Cooper D Countryman with ALL4) as well as an electronic limited-slip function for the front axle differential.
Safety features include front and side airbags, as well as curtain airbags at the side both front and rear passengers, three-point inertia-reel seat belts on all seats, belt latch tensioners and belt force limiters at the front, as well as Isofix child seat anchorages at the rear. Yet another standard safety feature is the Tyre Defect Indicator, which can be specified with runflat tyres coming as an option (or standard on the MINI Cooper S Countryman with ALL4).
The wide range of interior and exterior customisation options exclusive to the Countryman. New combinations in the range of interior colours, trim strips and upholstery enable owners to personalise their cars. The wide range of standard features boasted by the Mini Countryman includes highlights such as air conditioning, the MINI Center Rail, and an audio system complete with a CD player.
The equally wide range of options and special equipment tailored to each model comes with features such as high-end audio and navigation systems as well as mobile telephone interfaces including the option to completely integrate an Apple iPhone and other Smartphones in the car. Further options are the extra-large Panorama roof, Adaptive Headlights in combination with xenon headlight units, a heated windscreen, a towbar, light-alloy wheels ranging in size from 16 to 19 inches, sports suspension lowering the entire car by 10 mm or, as well as the wide range of John Cooper Works Performance Components.
