Mini makes some of the most distinctive cars on the road today. Small. Muscular (for its size). Some even call it cute. After years of staying mini, Mini is branching out and making a car that is merely small. That car is the 2011 Mini Countryman. It’s Mini’s first four-door vehicle and fits four people in four bucket seats. Throw in all-wheel drive on the All4 model and you have a Mini like no other.
Four doors. Four seats. All-wheel drive. It’s Mini sacrilege.
According to Jim McDowell, Chief Motorer and President of Mini, the Countryman is the fourth model in Mini’s lineup. “It’s one size bigger than today’s existing Minis. We’ve gone from extra small to small.”
Video: Watch the Mini Countryman Preview
The Mini lineup now includes the Mini Cooper, the Cooper S, the Mini Clubman with its longer wheelbase and trademark rear doors, and the new Countryman. Compared side by side, the Countryman is clearly taller than the Clubman and sports a new grille and headlights. The difference between old and new is most striking when you compare an original Mini to the Countryman. The original Mini from the 1960s is so small, in fact, it looks like the Countryman could eat one of those little guys as a snack.
Mini’s first crossover looks and feels right at home in the country. It has trademark Mini design elements. But you can take this one off road; just don’t take it to any Jeep rallies.
Pricing, Trims and Options
The Countryman is available in three flavors: Countryman, Countryman S and the all-wheel drive All4. The base Countryman generates only 121 horsepower. With three riders in our test car, it felt sluggish and slow. Fuel economy is decent, however. Expect 27 mpg in the city and 35 on the open road.
Much more impressive is the Countryman S. This model includes a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine that makes 181 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. That’s a palpable improvement and allows this Countryman to zoom in and out of traffic. It is much more fun to drive than the base model. Way more fun. We wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes the Countryman of choice for most drivers.
The compact crossover market is exploding as cars like the Nissan Juke, redesigned Subaru Forester and the BMW X3 find fans who want versatility without having to drive a huge vehicle. The All4 Countryman throws its Windsor cap into the mix. Will it work? It will for Mini fans who want the security of all-wheel-drive in snowy climes or wet, dreary winter days.
Mini president, Jim McDowell, is quick to point out that “The Countryman should get 31 to 32 on the highway. Amazing for a crossover with all-wheel drive.” If you’re seriously considering parking this new Mini in your garage, expect between 25 and 27 mpg in the city and 31 to 35 mpg on the highway for any of the three flavors of Countryman (or is that Countrymen?). All at a starting price of $22,350.
Price is an important consideration because even the fully loaded Countryman All4 costs less than $30k. That should persuade some drivers to upgrade to the biggest and most expensive Mini.
So let’s talk dimensions. The 2011 Countryman is 161.3 inches long. To put that in perspective, it’s actually shorter than a five-door Volkswagen Golf. One-inch shorter. We’ve spent time in the five-door Golf and trust us, the Mini feels bigger.
Comparing Mini to Mini, the Countryman is 15-inches longer than the hardtop Mini Cooper. So yes, the Countryman wears the big shoes in the Mini family.
We placed a six-foot-five-inch driver behind the wheel to see how the Countryman accommodates a big fella. This guy is a police officer and drives a Crown Victoria as a Texas highway patrolman. He said “This car is much more spacious to drive than my Crown Vic. I have more headroom than my patrol car and legroom is comfortable. I would seriously consider buying this car.”
Big drivers, take that endorsement for what it’s worth.