MINI Countryman. Not so ‘mini’
MINI Countryman is a 5-door 5-seater mini-crossover, which has been produced since 2010 under the MINI brand, owned by the German BMW group. It is available in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions. The second generation of the crossover is available in the market of Isreal after the 2020 restyling (as of 2021).
Countryman is the first crossover and the first MINI with a 5-door body, launched under the auspices of BMW.
The Mini trademark, first registered in the UK in 1958, has been owned by the German BMW group since 1994. To distinguish it from the ‘classic’ Mini, a small car brand developed by the British Motor Corporation, BMW’s current MINI brand name is written in capital letters. The design of modern MINIs is stylistically based on the lineup of the cult-favorite car of the second half of the 20th century. And the chief designer of the company, Frank Stevenson, considers his work not a retro design, but an evolution of the original.
First generation
The first generation was produced from 2010 to 2014. The appearance of the first Countryman combined an ageless look and modern trends. Such a car would not get lost in the city traffic. Its ‘puffy’ body was decorated with powerful bumpers, an unusual expression of ‘wide-eyed’ headlights, an aggressive mouth of a radiator grille, catchy horizontal lights, a long shoulder line, and drooping roof contours.
The first generation of MINI Countryman is based on the stretched body of the Clubman estate. In front of the crossover, there is an independent suspension of the MacPherson type, in the back, there is a double wishbone system. The steering had a rack-and-gear design with an electric booster. All wheels have disc brakes (ventilated ones at the front) of 294 mm at the front (in the top versions they were 307 mm) and 280 mm at the rear.
MINI Countryman of the first generation has become the most popular MINI model. About 540K cars have been sold since 2010.
The first Countryman was offered in versions with front and all-wheel drive, with 1.6-L gasoline engines, as well as a 2-L turbocharged diesel engine. Trim versions from the least powerful power unit to the most are One, Cooper, Cooper S. Despite its compact size, the interior of the first Countryman could accommodate five adults, providing them with a sufficient amount of space.
In 2010, MINI Countryman received 84% for the safety of an adult passenger and 83% for a child according to the results of independent safety tests according to the methodology of the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP). MINI Countryman of the first generation has become the most popular MINI model. About 540K cars have been sold since 2010.
Second generation
The second generation has been produced from 2016 to the present. It was restyled in 2020 (data for 2021). The second Countryman received the title of the largest Mini car (previously, the Clubman estate was considered as such). Even the word ‘mini’ for a second-generation crossover sounds as an absurdity because, in comparison with its predecessor, the second Countryman has added 20 cm in length. And as a result, the 4.3-meter crossover has become only slightly smaller than its competitors: BMW X1, Audi Q3, and Mercedes GLA. And the wheelbase increased by 7.5 cm, to about 2660 mm, gave a noticeable increase in space inside the cabin, especially for the rear passengers, who have at their disposal longitudinal seat adjustment and variable backrest tilt. The trunk volume has grown immediately by 220 liters. Now it is up to 450 liters minimum, and with the rear seats folded down, it is up to 1309 liters. The opening of the fifth door has also been increased, which is now equipped with a contactless opening sensor for a surcharge. A folding bench appeared on the threshold of the trunk, which could support two adults.
If the changes in appearance are evolutionary, then inside they are almost revolutionary. Inside the new Countryman, there is a multimedia touchscreen and a real feature, the Country Timer recorder, which records the duration and intensity of off-road trips of the SUV based on the stabilization system signals.
Cooper SE Countryman All4 plug-in hybrid introduced for the first time in MINI history
The UKL platform brought the crossover a new all-wheel drive system. The fifth generation Haldex electro-hydraulic clutch is used to connect the rear axle. MINI’s All4 all-wheel drive is available in combination with all engines: a 1.5-L 136-hp. “turbo-triple” for the Cooper version, a 4-cylinder 2-L gasoline engine with 192 hp. for Cooper S, as well as a 2-liter turbodiesel with 150 hp for Cooper D and 190 hp for Cooper SD. All versions, except for the most powerful diesel engine, are supplemented with a 6-speed manual transmission, and crossovers with the letters S, D, and SD are available with 8-speed automatic transmission. The first-ever rechargeable hybrid MINI Cooper SE Countryman All4 appeared, equipped with a 1.5-L 136-hp."turbo-three’, a 6-speed automatic transmission, and a synchronous electric motor with an output of 88 hp. in the rear axle drive. The top power of the engine is 224 hp.
Restyling 2020
Restyling gave the MINI Countryman new bumpers, retouched headlights, and Union Jack-styled taillights. The main changes in the cabin are virtual instruments instead of an analog combination and a modified media system with an 8.8-inch touch screen and a modified control unit. Also, the traditionally wide range of personalization options has been revised. Only a hybrid modification of the 2020/2021 crossover is supplied to Israel - 1.5 AT Cooper SE Countryman ALL4, which is an all-wheel drive, equipped with a 1.5-L 3-cylinder turbo engine, the total power of the engine is 125 hp. It is supplemented by a 6-speed automatic transmission.
