Item: 2016 MINI Countryman
Author: James Flammang

Overview

For MINI lovers who think big, the Countryman offers four-door convenience, a rear seat for adults, and three times the cargo capacity of the MINI hatchback on which it's based. Although the Countryman doesn’t quite measure up to small crossovers, its sprightly handling and charming looks make it a standout.

What's New for 2016

The Countryman receives minor equipment revisions only.

Choosing Your MINI Countryman

The Countryman offers outstanding rear passenger room for a car with such a tiny footprint. Two full-size adults fit comfortably, and the seat slides and reclines to make maximum use of the space. With the seat folded, you're looking at 42.2 cubic feet of cargo space, which is competitive with the smallest crossovers on the market.

All models make use of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces 121 horsepower in standard form and 181 horsepower with the optional turbocharger. There’s also a special version of the turbo that puts out 211 horsepower. With all variants, you can stick with the standard six-speed manual transmission or opt for a six-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is available, even with the manual, a combo that's almost unheard of these days. Selectable driving modes are standard across the board.

The amount of power you get depends on the trim level:

Base: Comes with the non-turbo engine and a high level of equipment for this class, including automatic headlamps and wipers, a chilled glove box, keyless ignition, leatherette upholstery, and a six-speaker sound system with HD radio.
S: Adds the 181-horsepower turbocharged engine along with adjustable traction control, sport seats, and specific exterior trim. All-wheel drive is optional.
John Cooper Works: Receives a bundle of performance upgrades, including the 211-horsepower turbo, standard all-wheel drive, a sport-tuned suspension, and 18-inch wheels. You also get more aggressive styling touches and grippy cloth upholstery.

Major options for all models include a panoramic sunroof, navigation, leather seating, rear bucket seats, and a full-feature Harman Kardon sound system. The JCW's upgraded suspension is available on the other models as a standalone option. It’s easy to give any Countryman a custom look with the huge array of available body graphics, color schemes, wheels, and interior trim.

CarsDirect Tip

With its ample power and available all-wheel drive, the midrange S is the best choice for everyday driving. The base model is simply underpowered, and the JCW rides too firmly for most people's tastes.

Get your price on a MINI Countryman »

Read our review on the MINI Countryman »

John Diether

Automotive Editor - April 06, 2016

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Expert Review

Expert Rating

Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

James Flammang

Contributing Editor - April 05, 2016

After starting with the basic retro-styled two-door hatchback in 2002, BMW’s MINI organization developed a series of offshoots. Introduced for 2011, the four-door Countryman is the only one that’s available with all-wheel drive (ALL4). Otherwise, the Countryman—like other MINIs—comes with a choice of three engines. Back in the Sixties, the original MINI also came in a few variant body styles.

Pricing and Equipment

Starting at $22,750 (plus $850 destination charge), the Countryman comes in four levels: base-model, Countryman S, Countryman S ALL4 with all-wheel drive, and John Cooper Works ALL4. Other MINIs have switched to BMW-derived TwinTurbo engines, but the Countryman retains its original powertrains.

The base model holds a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 121 horsepower, with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission. Countryman S and S ALL4 get a turbocharged 1.6-liter that develops 181 horsepower, while the high-performance John Cooper Works model contains a 208-horsepower rendition of the 1.6-liter turbo four.

Standard Cooper Countryman S ALL4 equipment includes:

All-wheel drive
Cooper S 181-horsepower engine
Getrag six-speed manual transmission
Electric power steering
Tilt/telescope steering column
Leatherette seat upholstery
Mesh grille and hood scoop
315-watt, six-speaker audio with HE radio
Cornering brake control
Bluetooth hands-free phone
Roof rails
Heated power mirrors and washer jets
Seventeen-inch alloy wheels

An automatic transmission is optional ($1,250). Also optional are a moonroof, premium Harman/Kardon sound system, Sport Package, Park Lane Edition, Mini Connect infotainment, and a navigation system.

Performance Pros

All-wheel drive availability. AWD is a sensible option for anyone living in areas where inclement weather is an issue, though it's a bit unexpected for a MINI. Then again, with its tall wagon profile, the Countryman isn't quite an ordinary MINI.
Crash-test scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety are Good in every category, though the federal government has not tested the Countryman.
Steering and handling aren't on par with other MINI models, including the basic Cooper hatchback, but the Countryman behaves better than any rivals on the road.

Performance Cons

Acceleration with the base model is on the sluggish side, especially with all-wheel drive.
Active-safety features are mostly absent, even as options.
Electric power steering feels somewhat numb, though maneuverability is a strong point, as on all MINI models.

Interior Pros

Comfortable front seats aid the driving experience.
Unlike Cooper hardtops, the Countryman retains a variant of the center-mounted speedometer that long served as a hallmark of the brand--though many buyers favor the more modern layout, with both the tachometer and speedometer ahead of the driver.
Available MINI Connected infotainment system can integrate smartphones and provide internet-based services.

The Most Pleasant Surprise

Despite its different body shape, the delightful nature that defines the MINI brand hasn’t disappeared. It’s overshadowed somewhat, but the driving pleasure from other members of the group can still be observed and enjoyed—with almost enough room in back for a pair of actual adults.

The Least Pleasant Surprise

Considering that regular Cooper hatchbacks and convertibles have adopted new TwinPower turbo engines, including a three-cylinder base engine, continuing with the previous 1.6-liter four-cylinders in the Countryman seems a little odd and behind the times.

The Bottom Line

As much as we enjoy and admire various members of the MINI lineup, the Countryman seems more like a distant cousin—maybe even an outsider. With so many small wagons and compact or smaller crossover models available these days, many with available all-wheel drive, it’s hard to see the Countryman as a viable competitor.

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Specs & Features

Highlights

Overall Crash Safety Rating

Not Available

Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque

1.6L I-4 / 121 HP / 118 ft.lbs.

Transmission

Standard: 6-spd man w/OD

Available: 6-spd sequential shift control auto w/OD

Drive Type

Front-wheel

Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined

27 / 32 / 29 Mpg

Passenger Capacity

Bumper to Bumper Warranty

48 Months / 50,000 Miles

Mechanical Specs

Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque	1.6L I-4 / 121 HP / 118 ft.lbs.
Drive Type	Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined	27 / 32 / 29 Mpg
Brakes	4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension	Strut
Rear Suspension	Independent Multi-link
Spare Tire And Wheel
Fuel Tank	12.4 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type	Premium Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank	$47

Dimensions & Capabilities

Maximum Cargo Volume	41.3 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume
Exterior Length	161.7 "
Exterior Width	70.4 "
Exterior Height	61.5 "
Front Headroom	39.9 "
Rear Headroom	37.5 "
Front Legroom	40.4 "
Rear Legroom	33.8 "
Front Shoulder Room	52.8 "
Rear Shoulder Room	52.1 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight	2,954 Lbs. / 3,020 Lbs.
Wheel Base	102 "
Turning Radius	19.0 '

Exterior Features

Door Count	4 Doors
Wheels	17.0 " Silver Aluminum / 17.0 " Painted Aluminum / 18.0 " Machined W/painted Accents Aluminum / 17.0 " Black Aluminum / 19.0 " Black Aluminum / 18.0 " Painted Aluminum / 18.0 " Silver Aluminum / 18.0 " Black Aluminum / 19.0 " Silver Aluminum
Paint	Clearcoat Monotone / Clearcoat Monotone With Stripe / Clearcoat Two-tone / Metallic Monotone
Exterior Mirrors	Dual Power Remote Heated
Bumpers	Body-colored / Body-colored With Chrome Insert
Grille Moldings	Chrome
Rear Spoiler	Lip
Exhaust	Stainless Steel With Chrome Tailpipe Finish

Interior Features

Seating

Passenger Capacity	5
Seat Trim	Leatherette / Cloth/leather / Leather
Front Seat Type	Bucket / Sport Bucket
Heated Front Seats	Driver And Front Passenger Heated-cushion, Heated-seatback
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls	6-way
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls	6-way
Front Armrests	6-way
Rear Armrests
Rear Seats	40-20-40 Split-bench

Radio & Infotainment

Radio	Am/fm/hd, Seek-scan / Siriusxm Am/fm/hd/satellite, Seek-scan
Speakers	6 / 10 Harman/kardon
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity

Convenience Features

Steering Wheel Type	Telescopic Tilt Style
Climate Control	Automatic Air Conditioning
Cruise Control	With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof	Power
Rearview Mirror	Day-night / Auto-dimming Day-night
One Touch Open Window	Front And Rear
Tinted Windows	Light
Vanity Mirrors	Dual Illuminated
Remote Keyless Entry	Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets	3

Safety Features

Overall Crash Safety Rating	Not Yet Available
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating	Not Yet Available
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating	Not Yet Available
Rollover Crash Safety Rating	Not Yet Available
Front Impact Airbags	Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags	Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag	Passenger
Passenger Side Impact Airbag	Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners	Front
Anti-Lock Brakes	4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Blind Spot Sensor
Lane Departure Warning
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection
Driver Attention Alert
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Adaptive Headlights	Directionally Adaptive
Parking Sensors	Rear
Security Systems	Security System
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable	Immobilizer

Warranty

Bumper To Bumper Months Miles	48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Major Components Months	48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months	36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Roadside Assistance Months	48 Months / Unlimited Miles
Corrosion Perforation	144 Months / Unlimited Miles
Accessories Months

Used 2016 MINI Countryman for Sale