The Countryman arrived 16 years ago to a chorus of skeptics, the brand’s first five-door crossover and, to a certain kind of purist, evidence that Mini had started losing the plot. Plenty of people figured it would flop and take some of the brand’s credibility with it, but It didn’t. Three generations later, the Countryman is still here, now sold with either a combustion engine or a fully electric powertrain.
I’ve long been curious about what the Countryman is like to drive and live with, so when I was asked to test the flagship all-electric SE ALL4, I jumped at the opportunity. In a world where most new crossovers and SUVs are increasingly similar, the Countryman represents something different.
Read: Mini Countryman Embraces Value For 2027
The fun is still in there, the quality that made old Minis worth driving even when they made no rational sense. Few offerings on the market bottle it the way Mini does. None of which means the Countryman gets a free pass, because it asks you to live with a few compromises in exchange.
QUICK FACTS
SWIPE
Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Four different versions of the Countryman are available in Australia. The base model is known as the Countryman C, fitted with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and priced from AU$56,700 ($39,700). Those seeking emissions-free driving can alternatively order the Countryman in E configuration, with a single motor EV starting at AU$75,526 ($52,900). The next most expensive model is the JCW Countryman ALL4 with a 2.0-liter turbo and priced from AU$78,652 ($55,100).
We didn’t test either of these models and instead spent time behind the wheel of the flagship Countryman SE ALL4, a dual-motor electric model starting from AU$80,737 ($56,600), and priced at AU$83,862 ($60,600) in the Favored trim like our tester. While it’s not quite fitting of a John Cooper Works badge, the SE ALL4 still offers plenty of performance.
Powering the model is a 64.6 kWh battery pack and a pair of electric motors, combining to produce 230 kW (308 hp) and 494 Nm (365 lb-ft) of torque. Mini says that’s enough to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.6 seconds, while boasting a claimed driving range of 432 km (268 miles).
A Fun-Filled Cabin
Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Regardless of how much money you have or what segment of the industry you’re looking to buy a new car in, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one with a cabin that stands out. The Countryman and other current Mini models are different.
Whereas most other car manufacturers have completely disregarded their histories of interior design, Mini hasn’t. Instead, it’s managed to assemble a cabin that not only feels premium but, more importantly, has a sense of theater and fun to it that few others can match.
The star of the show is the circular OLED infotainment display in the center of the dashboard, just like Mini models of old – albeit now fully digitized. The screen is beautifully crisp with excellent color reproduction, but even more importantly, it has interactive software that’s simply joyful to use.
Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Toggle between the different drive modes, or ‘Experience Modes’ as Mini calls them, and the display’s colors will change, and unique graphics will play. All of the climate control settings are housed on the screen, but they’re easy enough to use on the move and include shortcut buttons for the temperature, heated seats, and heated steering wheel. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also featured, although they only occupy a large box in the center of the screen.
The playful cabin elements continue across the dashboard, which is adorned with an interesting blue fabric and vertical air vents. Perhaps my favorite feature is the tactile toggles below the screen, including one to turn the vehicle on or off, which mimic the look and feel of turning a key and serve as a modern interpretation of the toggles used by the previous generation of Mini cars.
Other interesting aspects of the interior include the taught piece of fabric serving as the bottom spoke on the steering wheel, vertical door handles, and an intriguing cubby behind the cup holders. Multi-colored blue and orange fabric on the door cards added to the playfulness of the cabin.
As mentioned, our tester was the Favoured spec, which included a panoramic glass roof, an interior camera, a massaging driver’s seat, and a 12-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system. One particularly fascinating feature is the ambient lighting. Unlike most other cars that use simply LED strips, the Countryman uses tiny projectors in the door panels and behind the central screen to display different patterns, further adding to the sense of occasion.
Overall comfort in the Countryman SE ALL4 is good, with the seats offering plenty of support, even though they are on the firmer side. However, given that the Countryman is considered a small SUV, it is no surprise that head and legroom in the second row are limited for occupants over 6 feet tall. For shorter folk, it’s just fine. Cargo capacity in the rear is a solid 460 liters (16.2 cubic feet).
It Looks Tame But Is Packing A Punch
While the Countryman SE ALL4 may not have a JCW badge, it is quicker than some other Mini John Cooper Works models. The power, combined with a surprising amount of poise, makes this SUV very enjoyable to drive, even though it is all-electric.
Mini says the model can reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.6 seconds. Using our Dragy GPS timer, we weren’t just able to easily match that time, but on multiple runs, hit 100 km/h in just 5.3 seconds. What’s particularly impressive is that the Countryman accelerates so effortlessly that it doesn’t necessarily feel as quick as it is, so passengers shouldn’t worry about feeling sick whenever the driver mashes the throttle.
Rolling acceleration is also strong. Running from 60-120 km/h (37-75 mph) took 4.79 seconds during our testing, which is just a couple of tenths behind some smaller and lighter hot hatches. For overtaking duties, the electric Countryman offers up more than enough grunt.
Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops
As you’d expect from an EV, the Countryman SE ALL4 is equipped with a configurable regenerative braking system. Annoyingly, adjustments are buried deep within the infotainment screen, and after tweaking with them once, I quickly forgot how to change the settings. On the plus side, drivers can simply switch in B mode with the gear selection toggle, engaging one-pedal driving mode.
I spent most of the week in one-pedal mode and averaged 17.2 kWh/100 km. That’s respectable, given the Countryman isn’t the slipperiest SUV on the market and given the power on offer. However, because the battery pack is smaller than most competitors’, owners will struggle to get 400 km (248 miles) from a charge in the real world. That’s fine if you can charge at home, but if you can’t, you’ll be making at least weekly trips to the nearest charging station.
Charging speeds are also sub-par. The Countryman SE ALL4 supports peak DC charging speeds of just 130 kW, meaning it takes 29 minutes to top up the battery from 10-80 percent.
On poorly paved roads, the Countryman does bounce around a bit and is a touch firmer than we’d like, but that’s not unusual for electric SUVs. On the flip side, the suspension setup, paired with the Pirelli P Zero tires, gives the Mini tremendous grip, and it’s a hoot to drive along a mountain road.
The experience can be ramped up in ‘Go Kart Mode,’ which is the sportiest of the available driving modes. In addition, it sharpens throttle response, adds some heft to the steering, triggers a spaceship-inspired soundscape to envelop the cabin, and displays live power and torque outputs.
The Countryman’s overall lighthearted nature helps it stand out from the competition, even though it’s objectively behind some rivals on the technology front. In terms of safety, it has all the features you’d expect, including autonomous emergency braking and active cruise control with lane-centering. It also has a self-parking feature that works astonishingly well, particularly when parallel parking.
Verdict
Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops
There’s no denying that the Mini Countryman SE ALL4 is fun. However, the limited driving range and slow charging speeds are major hurdles that prospective buyers will need to weigh before placing an order. As with Mini models of yesteryear, the electric Countryman remains a niche product and isn’t the type of SUV you buy if you’re simply after practicality.
For me, the Countryman’s cabin is the highlight and should definitely help it appeal to a younger demographic, perfectly meshing modern technologies and conveniences with the classic tactility that’s sadly missing from most other new cars. If you buy the Countryman, you’ll be doing it with your heart, not your head.
Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops
