Mini Countryman review
Mini Countryman Review
Has A Classic Concept Been Diluted?
Vehicle enthusiasts were not disappointed when BMW launched its crossover SUV, the MINI Countryman, early in 2011. There was a lot of anticipation to see and experience this vehicle and not a lot of the buzz surrounding the MINI Countryman launch was positive. This 5 door model certainly has a lot of advantages to offer buyers but purists have been very vocal in their criticism of it. Their arguments focus mainly on the fact that this vehicle can hardly be called a Mini considering that it has been built for off-road driving, albeit in minimal levels since it is not as rugged as many other SUVs available today.
In its various communications to the public, BMW states that this crossover vehicle has been designed to offer the same level of fun and excitement that the standard MINI offers with a greater number of enhanced features such as greater space as well as motoring comfort. MINI Cooper forums have been abuzz with speculation whether the designers have been able to deliver what they promised without messing up the concept of the hugely popular car.
mini countryman
Mini Countryman
The MINI Countryman crossover certainly resembles a standard MINI at a superficial level. For instance, it has many design similarities, especially when it comes to the windshield, hood and headlights. In fact, this SUV has retained the distinctive look that all other cars of this series have. The main difference with regards to appearance is that the Countryman is substantially larger and more muscular than the other vehicles in the MINI range. At the same time it is slightly smaller than a BMW X3. The length of this SUV increases by almost 16 inches and this is not something that is easy to ignore. It now has a length of 161.3 inches and also offers increased ground clearance since it has a height of 61.5 inches. This impressive vehicle also has a wheelbase of 102.2 inches.
This vehicle certainly exceeds a lot of expectations when it comes to the important indicators of performance and price. It has to be admitted that vehicle buyers these days are looking for many more features that will help them get the best possible performance from their vehicles.
To begin with, this vehicle has been provided with a powerful engine that showcases the best of BMW design. It is available in the United States in three versions. These are the Cooper Countryman, the Cooper S Countryman and finally the Cooper S Countryman ALL4.
The MINI Cooper Countryman has a 1.6 liter four cylinder engine. This engine is considered quite satisfactory since it delivers 120 horsepower at 6000 rpm. This car can travel at a top speed of 118 mph and is quite powerful since it manages 118 pound-feet of torque. The MINI Cooper S Countryman has a more powerful engine since its designers have provided it with a turbocharger as well as direct fuel injection. This car is certainly the preferable one if a person wants more speed and power. It has a top speed of 128 mph and can deliver 180 hp at 5500 rpm. This powerful vehicle offers 177 pound-feet of torque at 1600 rpm. This engine can help the car hit a speed of 62 mph within a fairly rapid 7.6 seconds which is significantly faster when compared to the basic option which can do it in 10.5 seconds.
This vehicle comes with a six speed manual transmission although buyers can exercise the option of going in for a six speed automatic transmission. There is no doubt that the MINI Cooper S Countryman is more popular than the entry level model because it has a permanent all wheel drive system. Whether a person chooses a front drive or all wheel drive version, the vehicle will have a MacPherson strut front suspension. This is sport tuned and has forged lower control arms as a result of which the vehicle is a dream to drive. The other advantage of buying this car is that it has an electromechanical power steering system called EPS. It also comes with a Dynamic Stability Control system. People who are looking for added features in their Mini Cooper Countryman can opt for a Dynamic Traction Control or an electronic locking function for the front axle differential. These features are standard on the other models of the car.
This new vehicle has been designed to comfortably seat four people. It is also offered with a three seat bench and owners can avail of this option at no extra cost. This vehicle is far more comfortable than the other MINI vehicles and it is particularly suitable for long drives since there is sufficient headroom as well as legroom in it. The seats can easily be adjusted in order to accommodate the needs of the people travelling in it and also so that luggage capacity can be increased on demand.
Mini Countryman Design
The designers from BMW have taken great pains to ensure that the interior of the MINI Countryman SUV is recognizable to fans of the MINI series while ensuring that it has plenty of added features in keeping with changed requirements of present day car users. The style of the interiors is definitely familiar since they have retained certain elements that have a retro look. The features and facilities are however very definitely modern, which makes this vehicle very popular with potential buyers.
This vehicle has been provided with slightly raised seating. This enables people to enter it easily even if they are taller than average. Drivers enjoy the fact that they have an excellent view of the road thanks to the elevated seating. There is a centre rail that runs lengthwise through the middle of the front and rear seats. Apart from providing a very clever visual connection between the front and the rear or the car it also can be used as an arm rest. A clever thing that the designers have done is to provide this rail with clips so that the people in the car can use it to hang a variety of their belongings such as cell phones or purses and also those they can customize how they use them. The interiors of the car are made very attractive thanks to the choice of colors as well as upholstery materials. The other factor that is well appreciated is that it also has special ambient lighting. It is also equipped with an air conditioning and audio system of very high quality. It also has integration capability for smart phones in keeping with the growing popularity of these devices.
The newly launched MINI Countryman is a very safe vehicle to drive. We have already discussed about how well it handles on the road. However, it has also been given a body structure that is crash-optimized. It has been provided with safety features that include airbags for the front and rear seats as well as side curtain airbags for these seats. The seat belts that this vehicle is equipped with are also of the best quality.
There have been murmurs of discontent that it is very cramped for people who are very tall or overweight. However, you will find the same complaint against almost all crossover SUVs and it is hardly unexpected in this one considering that it is called ‘MINI’. It is difficult to come up with any other drawbacks of this efficient and attractive vehicle from BMW.
mini-countryman-interior
This car has clearly been designed to appeal to a wider range of vehicle buyers and is a welcome addition to the MINI lineup. There is a very obvious increase in demand for a compact SUV and this vehicle seems poised to give the others in this segment a run for their money. Market research indicates that many MINI Cooper owners are very happy with their vehicles but are looking to trade them in for ones that are slightly larger because of changing needs such as an increase in their family size.
It will be very surprising if this newly launched vehicle does not become a success in the marketplace. Customers these days are very knowledgeable about what they want from a car and this one seems to be able to satisfy all their needs. Of course, it is more expensive than the other MINIs but there is no denying the fact that it offers great value for money.
There are certainly many ways in which the original concept of the MINI have been changed but most people who have done a MINI Countryman test drive attest to the fact that it is a fantastic vehicle that has all the right components to make it a success on the roads. They are also very emphatic in saying that the vehicle has plenty of features that justify it being called a MINI since it has managed to preserve the character of the compact cars in a very efficient manner. If you have any lingering doubts you should just put them to rest once and for all by taking the car out for a test drive.
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We believe the Mini Countryman is one of the best cars of 2011 and the Mini/BMW family have done well.