MINI's vehicles continue to grow year after year. The 2019 MINI Countryman is the brand's largest vehicle, straddling the line between being a large hatchback and a compact crossover. With its spacious interior, impressive ground clearance, and available all-wheel-drive system, the Countryman lets MINI fans go places its smaller offerings can't. Don't think the vehicle has ditched its MINI roots, though, as its exterior styling continues to have classic and quirky cues.
What's New for 2019
While the MINI Cooper gets a lot of changes for the new model year, the Countryman soldiers on unchanged.
Choosing Your MINI Countryman
With six different Countryman trims to choose from, there's a MINI model out there for everyone. The trims range from being a daily driver to a sporty, fun-to-drive crossover. The base Countryman Cooper is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine that makes 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. The engine can be paired to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. Power is routed to the front wheels. An all-wheel-drive variant of the base Cooper is available and is aptly called the Cooper All4. The all-wheel-drive system adds $2,000 more to the price tag.
The Countryman Cooper S trims get a more powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder motor. The engine is rated to produce 189 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque. The front-wheel-drive S comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard. The Cooper S All4 is $500 more and comes with a six-speed manual transmission as standard. Despite its size, the Cooper S All4 has a respectable zero-to-60 mph time of 7.0 seconds.
For drivers looking for a really sporty ride, the John Cooper Works (JCW) All4 is the way to go. The trim is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that generates 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The JCW All4 has the same transmission options as the Cooper S All4, but going with the eight-speed automatic brings shift paddles for drivers to utilize. It's the quickest Countryman, with a zero-to-60 time of 6.2 seconds.
The range-topping Cooper S E All 4 Countryman is the brand's plug-in hybrid and brings good fuel economy numbers to the large MINI. The model utilizes a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-three engine that's paired to an electric motor. Combined output for the system is 221 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission are standard. It may not be the most powerful Countryman, but the Cooper S E All4 can get to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds. The trim has a combined rating of 65 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) and 27 mpg when running on gasoline, according to the EPA.
MINI has redesigned the way consumers can build their perfect model. The Countryman is available in six different models, but each of those can be customized further into three configurations: Classic, Signature, and Iconic. While they're called trims, it's easier to think of the three trims as available packages, as they add more features and increase the vehicle's price.
While its size may upset some purists, the 2019 MINI Countryman is a versatile and fun-to-drive crossover. For consumers looking to get into a MINI who don't want to compromise on size, the Countryman hits all of the right notes. Naturally, we gravitate toward the JCW All4, because it's the quickest and sportiest offering. If sportiness isn't high on your priority list, the Cooper S is reasonably priced and comes with a good list of features. The Cooper S Signature trim is the ideal blend of usability, performance, and comfort.