Mini Countryman

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With a dose of style and strong engines, the Mini Countryman injects some welcome fun into an SUV.

Driving

All Mini Countryman versions on the Motability Scheme have a gutsy 168bhp 1.5–litre petrol engine that drives the front wheels and delivers all the performance most buyers will need.

It’s effortless to drive at low speeds and has plenty of mid–range muscle when you ask for a burst of acceleration. An automatic gearbox is the only option available. Switching to the sportiest of the three driving modes – called Go Kart – sharpens up the accelerator pedal's response and the snappiness of the gearbox. Unlike its smaller cousins, the Mini Countryman has a comfortable ride and it handles well for a family SUV with plenty of grip.

Interior

There’s nothing else on the market quite like the playful interior of the Countryman, which is colourful with interesting textures. The circular 9.6in infotainment screen is a tribute act to the original Mini’s speedometer and operates most functions. The menu is intuitive to tech-minded people, but those who are less so might find it confusing. Even the air conditioning is controlled via the screen.

There’s no driver instrument display behind the steering wheel on any version available on the Motability Scheme as standard, but the Level 1 Pack option gets you a head-up display that projects your speed and other information onto a piece of Perspex on the dashboard.

On a more positive note, the raised driving position and low dashboard make it easy to see over the bonnet, while the narrow windscreen pillars mean you can see around them easily at junctions. The chunky side and rear pillars can make over-the-shoulder visibility a little more tricky, but every Countryman has rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, and there are big wing mirrors, too.

Space and practicality

The new Countryman is one of the easiest SUVs to get in and out of and there’s plenty of room for passengers. The boxy dimensions mean its high roof combined with the height adjustable seat gives even tall drivers plenty of headroom, plus there’s lots of legroom and elbow room.

The rear seats are spacious and flexible with generous headroom. Consider adding the Level 1 Pack option to the Countryman C, as that adds a sliding function for the rear seats, allowing you to choose between more knee room or more boot space.

With the rear seats fully back, the Countryman has a 460-litre boot. However, it isn’t particularly well shaped, and the load bay isn’t long. To get our TGA Whill R scooter in the boot we had to drop one of the rear seatbacks. Fortunately, its 40/20/40 configuration does give you lots of permutations to fit in a scooter or wheelchair. While there is some underfloor storage, you can’t lower the height of the floor and there’s a highish load lip.

Equipment

Even the entry-level C Classic trim is well-equipped with 17in alloy wheels, two-zone climate control, keyless start and cruise control. We recommend adding the Level 1 Pack option to the C trim because it includes a 54-litre petrol tank (instead of a 45-litre one), keyless entry, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and heated front seats. The C Exclusive trim gets you 18in alloys, more upmarket interior finishes and a heated steering wheel. The C Sport trim offers a blend of sporty aesthetics and enhanced features.

Photos: Mark Fagelson/BMW, David Shepherd/Nissan, Volvo, Dan Lawrence