The Countryman comes home

Last January, I had the privilege of driving the all-new MINI Countryman in its birthplace in Oxford, England. Not only did I get to drive the only all-wheel drive MINI on the scenic country roads of Oxford, I also got to try it on a very muddy and slippery off-road path meandering around a beautiful estate in Great Tew, Oxfordshire. The Countryman, true to its name, is the only MINI designed not just to survive in this terrain, but to thrive in it.

And now that all-new second-gen MINI Countryman is here. A full eight inches longer than its predecessor, the new Countryman is the biggest, roomiest, and most versatile MINI’s in its 57-year history.

The new Countryman is also more than an inch wider while its wheelbase has grown by three inches. This growth makes the new Countryman a true five-seater with a significantly bigger cargo space. The luggage compartment capacity is 450 liters and can be tripled that with the back seats folded.

The Countryman offered new ways of enjoying the brand’s trademark driving fun when it debuted in 2010. It was the first MINI with four doors, a large tailgate, five seats and all-wheel drive. More than 540,000 were sold worldwide. And the latest generation goes even further. Its off-roading ability is underscored by higher ground clearance, raised seating position, and MINI’s ALL4 exterior look and high roof rails.

The new Countryman features design elements typical of the brand like short overhangs, large wheel arches and a downward increase in width. Numerous MINI design elements such as the helmet roof, upright rear lights, hexagonal grille and large headlamps have undergone evolutionary changes. The side turn indicator surrounds exhibit a new arrow-like shape.             

The distinctive asymmetrical headlamps deviate from MINI’s traditional circular shape. The park lights in the air inlets are used for the LED daytime driving lights running entirely around each headlamp.

The narrow pillars and high seating position make for terrific outward visibility. The rear doors have been enlarged for easier ingress and egress. This is the first MINI I consider practical enough for one-car families.

And because the joy of driving is further enhanced by music, MINI offers a stunning Harman-Kardon sound system as an option. The spacious cabin is swathed in rich materials and eye-catching details, foremost of which is the huge signature round multi-info display—now a touchscreen—taking center stage on the dashboard. 

Petrol, diesel or hybrid—we get the diesel

The new MINI Countryman sports entirely new engines. There are two petrol and two diesel engines, each with MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology:

MINI Cooper Countryman with 1.5-liter 3-cylinder petrol engine: 136hp, 220Nm; MINI Cooper S Countryman with 2.0-liter 4-cylinder petrol engine: 192hp, 280Nm;

MINI Cooper D Countryman with 2.0-liter 4-cylinder diesel engine: 150hp, 330Nm;

MINI Cooper SD Countryman with 2.0-liter 4-cylinder diesel engine: 190hp, 400Nm

While the two petrols may be ordered via indent, we get the two diesel options—torquey and fuel-efficient diesels are the way to go for just about 99 percent of local driving needs, especially if you have 400Nm to play with. The Countryman D retails for P2,900,000 while the flagship Countryman SD goes for P3,400,000. The diesel Countrymen we get come with 6-speed or 8-speed Steptronic transmissions.

The new Countryman range also includes the first-ever MINI plug-in hybrid—the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 with the 136hp 1.5-liter 3-cylinder petrol engine coupled with an 88hp electric motor for a total output of 224hp and 385Nm. No word, though, if it will be available on indent.

The range-topping SD Countryman ALL4 diesel sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds. That’s genuine sports car performance. Couple that with city fuel economy of more than 10 km/L and you’ve certainly got the best of both worlds.  

The new version of the all-wheel drive system not only reacts quickly and precisely to changing situations, it is also compact and offers a high level of internal efficiency. It consists of a power take-off unit integrated in the front axle differential, a propeller shaft leading to the rear axle and a hang-on clutch that ensures precisely measured transmission of the drive torque to the rear wheels. The system‘s electronic control is interconnected with the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), so it detects any need to adapt power distribution early on. ALL4 optimizes both traction and stability in adverse weather and road surface conditions, as well as ensuring improved agility when taking bends at speed.

The high-quality suspension of the new MINI Countryman combines the tried-and-tested principle of a single-joint spring strut axle at the front and a multilink rear axle optimized for weight and rigidity. On the smooth, winding country roads of London and the gridlocked and potholed streets of Metro Manila, it exhibited exemplary characteristics of a comfortable ride and MINI’s vaunted razor-sharp handling—especially on Go-Kart Mode.  

16-inch light alloy wheels come as standard while other variants are fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels. Wheels sizes go up to 19 inches. Dynamic Damper Control is likewise optional. A rotary switch at the base of the gear selector lever enables the driver to select between MID, SPORT, and GREEN driving modes. The modes influence the accelerator pedal and steering curve, the operating mode of electrically powered comfort features, the shifts of the Steptronic gearbox, and even the engine sound.

The standard Collision Warning with City Braking function can be extended to include the Driving Assistant system with camera-based Active Cruise Control, Pedestrian Warning with Initial Brake function, High Beam Assistant and Road Sign Detection. Park Distance Control, Rear View Camera, Parking Assistant and Head-Up-Display are also optionally available.