Mini decided to change quite a lot of things about the Countryman crossover for its third generation. The manufacturer has given it quite a radical exterior makeover, it has added fully electric powertrain options for the first time; and it has made the interior more premium and cavernous than before.
The all-new Mini Countryman, which will enter production in November 2023 and go on sale sometime in 2024, is mechanically related to the BMW X1. It therefore shares motors and batteries with that model and offers very similar specifications, yet it is aimed at buyers with quite different aesthetic tastes.
Let’s look at what’s changed with this third-generation Mini Countryman and how these changes improve the vehicle.
1. Two Fully Electric Variants
Even though Mini will offer the all-new Countryman with internal combustion engines, the manufacturer has chosen to only announce the two electric powertrains, a first for the nameplate. They are called the Countryman E and Countryman SE, and they stand for the base single-motor version or the more expensive dual-motor drive variant.
The former has a single electric motor driving the front wheels, which makes 201 horsepower and 184.4 pound-feet (250 Nm) of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 8.6 seconds, and it tops out at 106 mph (170 km/h).
The dual-motor SE model has 308 horsepower and 364.4 pound-feet (494 Nm) of torque, so it is considerably quicker to accelerate, but it’s still not amongthe quickest EVs. With a sprint time to 62 mph of 5.6 seconds, it will quickly turn the single-motor model into a spec in the rearview mirror, and with the higher 112 mph (180 km/h) top speed, it will manage to stay ahead too.
Both versions will draw from the same 64.7 kWh battery pack, which provides a WLTP range of 287 miles for the front-wheel drive model and 269 miles for the all-wheel drive model. DC fast-charging is capped at 130 kW for both models; they are quite far from earning a spot on thelist of the quickest-charging EVs.
2. Bigger Body, Roomier Interior
The Countryman has grown in all directions compared to the previous model. It is 5 inches longer, with a total length of 174.4 inches, 2.4 inches taller, and marginally wider too.
The entire vehicle has moved up a size class, and this is reflected in its choice of wheels, which now go all the way up to 20 inches.
Inside, the third-gen Countryman takes full advantage of the bigger body (especially the extra width) and offers 1.2 inches more shoulder room in the front and 1 inch more in the rear. The trunk is slightly bigger than before too, and thanks to a sliding rear bench, the vehicle can be configured for more cargo room or more legroom for rear occupants.
The interior also looks more upmarket than before, and it adopts an even more minimalist approach. There is just one 9.4-inch screen located in the center of the dashboard, which has a circular shape to harken back to Minis of old, including classic models from the pre-BMW takeover era.
3. More Technology
Mini will offer the Countryman with advanced Level 2 driver assistance systems. Aside from maintaining a certain speed or distance from the vehicle in front, the car will also be able to make autonomous lane changes if a highway exit that you have to take is approaching.
It is even capable of providing hands-free driving on certain roads at speeds of up to 37 mph (60 km/h). Automatic parking was available before, but Mini says it has improved the system for the new Countryman.
The mood lighting is a highlight of Mini interiors, just like it is inthe new Cooper hatchback, with its LED-backlit panels and wide range of colors, but it has been taken to new heights with the Countryman, where it’s an even more prominent feature.
You can optionally equip the car with frequency-selective adaptive dampers that also come with a 0.6-inch (15-millimeter) lower ride height to give a more controlled ride.
The Mini Countryman Needs to Be Great
With so many talented rivals, the Mini Countryman has its work cut out for it, especially in fully electric guise. It’s also going to go up in price given that it has grown in size and is being repositioned as a model one size class above the older model.
In becoming bigger, the electric Countryman SE will also stray into the Tesla Model Y’s territory, and it is one of the hardest rivals to go up against in the modern automotive industry, in any segment and at any price point.
