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2017 Mini Countryman: The Big Mini Gets Bigger

There was shock among some Mini fans when the brand launched a maxi-size vehicle called the Countryman six years ago. While the "big Mini" looked relatively enormous in European traffic, it managed to maintain an aura of cuteness in the United States, where the roads are dominated by massive pickup trucks and SUVs. Now a market success in the U.S. and elsewhere, the Countryman’s sales volumes are worth preserving, so here's the second iteration of the model. It’s bigger still.

Adding Inches

The new Countryman’s wheelbase is larger by 2.9 inches, its overall length is up by 7.7 inches, and its width has increased by 1.3 inches. It needed to grow if only to stay ahead of the second generation of the Clubman, which eclipsed the first-gen Countryman in size. At 169.8 inches long, 71.7 inches wide, and 61.3 inches tall, the Countryman now is the undisputed king of the Mini lineup—longer than the Clubman by 1.5 inches, wider by 0.8 inch, and 4.6 inches taller, although both models ride on the same 105.1-inch wheelbase.

In the U.S. market, Mini will launch the new Countryman in Cooper and Cooper S forms, offering both with front-wheel drive or Mini’s ALL4 all-wheel drive. On top of that, Mini will introduce an available plug-in-hybrid version called the Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4.

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The Cooper and Cooper S powertrains are familiar from elsewhere in the Mini lineup. The Cooper has a 134-hp 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder that’s mated to a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The Cooper S comes with a 189-hp 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder, but here the available automatic has eight forward speeds.

The plug-in hybrid is the top-of-the-line Countryman. It combines the three-cylinder engine, the six-speed automatic, and an electric motor that operates on the rear axle. Total system output is 221 horsepower and 284 lb-ft of torque. Under ideal conditions, the hybrid can travel a maximum of 24 miles solely on electric power. Those ideal conditions don’t include high-speed runs—it can reach a respectable 77 mph on electricity only, but range will be significantly compromised by traveling at those velocities. Recharging the lithium-ion batteries at a 3.6-kilowatt wall box takes just over two hours. Charging it using a standard 110-volt household outlet will take a lot longer.

The plug-in hybrid offers several driving modes. Auto eDrive makes most sense from an efficiency standpoint, because it takes advantage of both the combustion engine and the electric motor. Max eDrive lets the driver reach 77 mph on electricity, while reaching the accelerator’s kickdown detent will trigger the gasoline engine. And there’s Save Battery mode, which works to maintain battery charge at 90 percent, often using the gasoline engine to (inefficiently) raise it to that level. The downsides of electrified mobility in this case include a raised rear seat (under which lives the battery pack) with decreased rear headroom, as well as reduced luggage space and a smaller gas tank.

From “Street Cruiser” to “Cliff Champ”

The Mini Countryman is based on the same front-wheel-drive platform that underpins the BMW X1. Visually, the Countryman doesn't stray too far from its predecessor. It keeps all the visual cues of the outgoing model, adding a slight dose of angularity. The increased length is evident in the longer side windows. There is a conventional liftgate, but Mini also offers an optional Picnic Bench with a cushion that folds out from the hatch area, allowing two people to sit back there while the vehicle is parked.

Inside, Mini once again has some fun with the usual array of paddle and toggle switches; for the first time, the rectangular central TFT screen positioned in the round central element can be ordered as a touchscreen. Similar to the Mini Convertible’s Open Timer, the Countryman offers a Country Timer, a software function that monitors the duration and intensity of driving on slippery, tilted, and unpaved surfaces. Do enough of it, and the status of your car is promoted from Street Cruiser to Cliff Champ—achievement unlocked!—although we doubt that will be considered an upgrade when trade-in time comes.

Standard equipment on all models includes an oversize sunroof, keyless entry, a backup camera, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, Sensatec synthetic-leather upholstery, and 17-inch wheels (Cooper). Cooper S models get 18-inch wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights, and sport seats. Heated seats are standard with four-wheel drive.

The Cooper and Cooper S variants reach dealers in March 2017, with the plug-in hybrid following in June. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, and if it follows Mini convention, the new Countryman won’t be cheap. But even though it has grown, it’s likely to remain a fun and cutesy alternative to your average compact crossover and may pack enough BMW DNA to give it a performance edge over some competitors.