2019 MINI Countryman Review
Car Tested: 2019 MINI Countryman SD; Road Test No. 1082; Test Location: Mumbai
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 41.76 – 49.48 lakhs
The Countryman is practical and spacious, yet retains the MINI fun-factor
Luxury SUVs are fast getting popular. BMW pioneered the segment with the X1 in India and soon Audi and Mercedes followed. The Germans had a good run and even today their premium SUVs account for good sales figures. But that is precisely why some people don’t want to buy them. They may appear to be too common and all over the place. For those seeking to be a bit different, MINI, a brand known for its youth-centric cars has launched the second generation of its Countryman in India. It is based on the same platform as the BMW X1 and promises to be just as capable. But should the MINI badge, a funky attire and a capable diesel motor lure you away from the Germans? Let’s find out.
Motor Quest: MINI launched the Countryman in India in 2012 as an alternative to the BMW X1 and the Audi Q3. MINI decided to locally assemble the Countryman which made it far more realistically priced than the hatch which was imported from Oxford. The Countryman took no time in finding buyers and people appreciated its unique approach to luxury and driving dynamics. Come 2019, the automaker has thoroughly upgraded the Countryman with a promise of better dynamics, more comfort, more space and greater efficiency.
This XL sized MINI hides its SUV size dimensions pretty well
Exteriors – The first thing that you notice about this MINI is that it isn’t all that mini. The Countryman is big and while it does not have the imposing road presence of a traditional SUV, the Countryman does look like an XL-sized hatch. Don’t get us wrong though, the design of the Countryman has plenty of character. The oval-ish headlights, the large foglights and those bold stripes on the body all make it feel unmistakably MINI.
The Countryman’s design has a lot of character
Despite being large, the Countryman retains all of MINI’s design elements
From the side the length is obvious. The Countryman SD is long but MINI has done a good job of making it feel small. The large wheel arches with black surrounds are reminiscent to the Cooper hatch. The wheels are small but look smart and the kink in the rear quarter glass is a nice touch. We also love those traditional chrome door handles. Other elements like the circular wing mirrors and the contrast colour roof also add to the car’s funkiness. The rear part is not as well executed as the rest of the design. It looks a bit stubby and compressed and is not the prettiest angle of the car. Still, the design is very different from other luxury SUVs and should you choose to go for bold colours, it’ll surely get you noticed.
Unlike other MINIs you cannot customise the interior of the Countryman
Interiors – Because the Countryman SD is more hatch than SUV, getting in is an easy affair. Once inside you are greeted by familiar MINI touches like the circular housing for the touch screen infotainment screen, toggle switches and that chunky steering wheel. The diesel version, however, is assembled in India and comes with just one, all black interior colour option. You cannot choose the trims or any personalisation options for this diesel version. That is a big let down considering that customisation is a big part of any MINI’s appeal.
The rear seat is spacious but is best suited for two passengers
The circular instrument panel and the aircraft like toggle switches give the cabin of the Countryman a retro and fun vibe
You get a smaller 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment screen whose rotary controller makes do without the trackpad. There are no paddle shifters and no rear parking camera. The lack of equipment is a bit disappointing considering how expensive the car is. That said the interiors of the MINI Countryman SD still feel premium. The quality of materials all-round is excellent and there is enough space for the driver and passenger to be comfortable. The seats are fairly supportive and you also get electric adjustment for both the seats with memory function for the driver’s seat. MINI has also offered a two-part panoramic sunroof that lets sufficient natural light on the inside.
The boot is adequately spacious and there is also a massive sunroof
The backseat is very comfortable with more than ample room to stretch out. The window area is large resulting in good outside visibility. We just wish the back seat had more thigh support. The middle passenger is unlikely to be very comfortable thanks to the narrow seat and intruding centre tunnel. The backseat, as a result, is best suited for two passengers. The boot is quite large and has good holding capacity. The cabin of the Countryman SD may lack the sense of occasion of its petrol counterpart but still remains a sophisticated, refined and well-finished place that most luxury car owners will find compelling enough.
The Countryman SD uses the same engine as the BMW X1
Performance – The MINI Countryman SD is powered by a bigger diesel engine compared to the other MINI Cooper models which employ a 3-cylinder unit. This one borrows its oil burner from the BMW X1 and thus the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder mill produces 190 HP and 400 Nm which is considerable for a front-wheel-drive car (no ALL4 options for MINIs in India). Performance is brisk, there is good punch throughout the rev range and the mid-range is very strong, the engine redlining till 5000 RPM with a sporty snarl in the top-end.
The diesel engine has a good mid-range and screams in the top end
The diesel engine is so punchy that this MINI wheelspins & even has launch control for that added flare
The motor is refined but at idle, you can feel it’s a diesel, typical of most BMW engines due to the use of aluminium. The 8-speed automatic gearbox is fast with shifts but could do with quicker downshifts when you prod the accelerator in urgency. The big gripe though is the lack of paddle shifters and although there is the tiptronic function on the gear lever to manually take control of things, the gearbox will not hold onto a gear and will upshift. There are 3 driving modes – Green, Mid and Sport which alter the engine, gearbox and the steering.
The gearbox could do with faster downshifts and even lacks paddle shifters
There is just too much thrust on offer for the front wheels to handle and traction control can be turned off in 2 steps, first still keeps it on but less intrusive but keep the traction control button pressed for long and it turns off completely. There is launch control on offer and when you do launch it, the wheels spin hard, even slipping on upshift. Fuel economy is good at 12 km/l and being a diesel, the Countryman SD is a frugal car.
The steering offerss good feedback and there is minimal body roll
Driving Dynamics – The second generation MINI Countryman is underpinned by the UKL2 platform which is also used by the BMW X1. The vehicle feels light on its feet, the steering is easy to twirl at low speeds and the suspension is on the stiffer side. Naturally, handling being the USP of MINI cars is absolutely phenomenal on the Countryman as well, in spite of this crossover not really being small by any means. The steering is very accurate, offers great feel and feedback and body roll is well contained too.
The Countryman feels light and fun to drive
The Countryman offers superb handling, but the ride quality is on the stiffer side
However, the ride is quite stiff, you can feel a lot inside the cabin on bad roads although the ride becomes better as the speeds increase, high-speed stability being excellent. The tyres offer decent grip, they could have been more grippy though considering the torque on offer. The brakes on the MINI Countryman offer surefooted stopping power with good feedback on the brake pedal.
The Countryman is loaded with safety tech
Safety – The Countryman SD gets all the safety equipment one expects from a car of this class. There are multiple airbags along with a host of electrically assisted features to keep you safe and sound. The Countryman has also scored top honours at Euro NCAP.
The Countryman is a good alternative to the common SUVs
Verdict – View the Mini Countryman SD as an SUV and you are likely to be disappointed. The Countryman does not have the ground clearance, the looks or even the four-wheel-drive system to justify the SUV status. Moreover, the India-spec SD version feels paired down with lower equipment and no customisation on the inside. It does not ride very well either. But the Countryman SD is an incredibly engaging car with a strong engine and sharp handling. This is a truly practical MINI with a big boot, loads of interior space and an efficient diesel engine. The local assembly has resulted in a price that is not very high (Rs. 37.40 lakhs ex-showroom, Mumbai) meaning that it will be on the radars of many people shopping for a luxury SUV. If you are one of them who prioritize driving fun without compromising on practicality and want to be different, the Countryman SD is an ideal urban crossover.
The semi-digital instrument cluster looks cool
What’s Cool
* Attractive looks and instantly recognizable
* Practical interiors with plenty of space
* Punchy performing diesel engine along with sensational handling
What’s Not So Cool
* Lacks of a lot of equipment
* Ride quality on bad roads suffers a lot
Alternatives: – Audi Q3, BMW X1, Volvo XC40, Mercedes GLA
The classic round headlights instantly identify this as a MINI
2019 MINI Countryman SD Specifications
* Engine: 1995cc, 4-Cyl, Diesel
* Power: 190 HP @ 4000 RPM
* Torque: 400 Nm @ 1750 RPM
* Transmission: 8-Speed AT
* Fuel Consumption: 12 km/l
* Fuel Type: Diesel
* Tyre Size: 205/55/17 (Front & Rear)
* Suspension: Single-Link Spring-Strut (Front), Multiple-Control-Arm (Rear)
* Brakes: Ventilated Disc (Front), Drum (Rear)
* Safety: 6 Airbags, ABS, EBD, ESP, Traction Control
2019 MINI Countryman SD Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 4299 mm X 1822 mm X 1557 mm
* Wheelbase: 2595 mm
* Turning Radius: 6-metres
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 51-litres
* Kerb Weight: 1540 kgs
Will you choose the Countryman over the German SUVs?
Testers’ Note:
[wp-review id=”233011″]