Giant Countryman defies Mini roots. Otherwise its great!
Sometimes the mind boggles. If I say Mini, what do you imagine? OK, beyond the skirt, I mean. We’re talking cars here, after all. Well, I immediately conjure the old, original true-blue Alec Issigonis Mini. The little car that revolutionised the world. You could put four big people inside and still fit it into impossible parking spaces, nip around town, use no fuel at all. It was zippy little critter.
Zippy enough to beat the world at the Mote Carlo Rally in spite of the French globe filament resistance, dominate rallying and racing. A Rhodesian called John Love even won one of its several British Touring Car titles. The Mini really did reinvent legends the like of Giant Killer and David and Goliath. So when someone said there’s a new Mini in the driveway, it’s still exciting enough to get up and go see.
Why do they call this monster a Mini?
So imagine the disappointment when I was faced with this bus? Why call this car a Mini? That’s a lie! Count the paces next time you walk by one of these down the street. Check the shadow it casts. Compare that to the legend. Trust you understand what I mean? Surely BMW has another brand to pluck on this thing?
Anyway, I digress. Getting back to the point, Munich promises fun on any terrain from this versatile, powerful and spacious Mini Countryman S All4. It goes on to remind us that its largest Mini of the lot. Ya don’t say!
Mini calls its edgy new design language ‘tense’. Its squared off LED headlamps and soft bronze rimmed octagonal front grille certainly are different and a fresh step away from some of the garish styles now influenced by the East.
Major Countryman S maintains Mini traits
Even if its gargantuan, this bus still retains some typical Mini traits like short overhangs, a wide and upright stance and what they say is a slim outline. And while it may look boxy, its sleek 0.26 drag coefficient is best in class Well, at least they got the silhouette right!
One place where most of us felt the new Countryman S stars, is inside. Well the less conservative among us, anyway. The two-tone textile dashboard certainly sets it apart, while a classy selection of high-quality materials, innovative technology presented in novel, clear shapes and individually adjustably ambient lit by night.
Our only concern with all that is how it may deal with good old Msanzi UV over time, but for now, it’s really cool. Countryman S’ high-quality seats are grippy enough, secure and comfy and of course, being so big, plenty space inside this ‘Mini’ is a given. The 450 litre boot gobbles up most daily loads, the 40-20-40 split bench folds to up volume to 1,450 litres too.
A 160 kW 360 Nm turbo two-litre four-pot
Mini’s neat Experience Modes on the 240 mm diameter high-quality high-resolution round central OLED 9 display Interaction Unit, and beyond, are a hoot. It all sits conveniently closer to the driver and passenger, but we were frustrated to reset it to our preferred Mode we every time we fired up. Or did we miss something?
Finger the 160 kW 360 Nm turbo two-litre four-pot to life and you’re greeted by a reasonably edgy cacophony without it being too intrusive. 7-speed double clutch automatic gearbox transfers drive to Mini’s enhanced quick and electronic All4, which precisely shunts drive between the axles and wheels.
Wider track and longer wheelbase single-joint McPherson strut front and multi-link rear axles make it even more dynamically planted on the road. Especially with the optional adaptive chassis, 15 mm ride lowering and frequency-selective dampers.
Countryman S is a BMW underneath
Kart-like? Nah, this ain’t no Minoi. But it’s very good for what it is. It’s a BMW underneath, after all. It has easy to extinguish automated Level 2 driving. Not sure if its entertaining or just plain scary to watch it identify gaps in the traffic, change lanes and maintain optimal speed in its situation. Still we prefer driving a car. That’s what it’s all about, no?
This latest Countryman lives up to its S credentials well enough as the data confirms below. It’s fun to drive and quick enough without ever endangering the reverse cap lot. Even fatter and flabbier than the previous one, it’s also slower. But Mini promises best yet Countryman S fuel economy at around six and a half litres per hundred.
Slick and stylish, the Countryman S does its job very well indeed, in a hugely competitive market niche. But is it really a Mini? Hell no! By the way, did you know that BMW owns both the Rover and Triumph brands? Now think of this car dressed up like that. Wouldn’t that be bloody well marvellous! – Michele Lupini
ROAD TESTED: MINI Countryman S All4
Engine: 160 kW 360 Nm 2-litre turbo petrol I4
Drive: 7-speed Double Clutch Automatic AWD
TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 3.50 sec
0-100 km/h: 7.51 sec
0-120 km/h: 10.09 sec
0-160 km/h: 18.15 sec
400m: 15.4 sec @ 148 km/h
80-120 km/h: 4.91 sec
120-160 km/h: 8.06 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 200 km/h
Fuel: 6.5 l/100 km
CO2: 155 g/km
Range: 830 km
Warranty/Service: 2y unl./5y 100K km
LIST PRICE: R810K
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