Driving into Thai country with the new MINI Countryman

HUA HIN, Thailand—While all-new models are usually an inch or two longer than its immediate predecessor, the new MINI Countryman is a whopping eight inches longer than the previous model. It’s the biggest, roomiest, and most versatile model in the brand’s 57-year history. And I just spent two days and 300 kilometers behind the wheel of one in alternating wet and dry (not to mention muddy) conditions in southern Thailand. 

The new Countryman—MINI’s official SUV/crossover model—boasts the comforting traction of all-wheel drive (although the units we tested in Thailand were front-wheel drive only) as well as cutting-edge features like a touchscreen infotainment system for the trademark huge 8.8-inch circular display in the center of the dash, an electric tailgate with push-button opening and closing, and even a MINI Picnic Bench—a fold-out cushion that doubles as a comfortable seat for two on the edge of the rear cargo area.

The new Countryman is also 30mm wider and its wheelbase has been extended by 75mm. This growth makes the new Countryman a true five-seater with a significantly bigger cargo space. The luggage compartment volume is 450 liters and can be extended to a total of 1,390 liters with the back seats folded.

The Countryman, first launched in 2010, was the first MINI with four doors, a large tailgate, five seats and optional all-wheel drive and a total of more than 540,000 were sold worldwide. The latest generation goes even further in terms of versatility, agility and premium character. Its unmistakable aura is defined by an extended ground clearance and raised seating position, further emphasized by the MINI ALL4 exterior look and high roof rails.

The new Countryman features design elements that are typical of the brand, including the clear three-way structure of the side view as well as the short overhangs, large wheel arches and chunky profile.

The narrow pillars and high seating position make for terrific outward visibility—a boon especially when I was driving the right-hand drive Countryman around gridlocked Bangkok roads (not easy for someone used to driving left-hand drive cars on the right side of the road). The rear doors have been enlarged compared to the predecessor for easier ingress and egress.

And because the joy of spirited driving is further enhanced by music, MINI offers a kick-ass Harman-Kardon hi-fi sound system as an option on the new Countryman. 

The new MINI Countryman sports entirely new engines. There are two petrol and two diesel engines, each with MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology:

MINI Cooper Countryman with 1.5-liter 3-cylinder petrol engine: 136hp, 220Nm; MINI Cooper S Countryman with 2.0-liter 4-cylinder petrol engine: 192hp, 280 Nm;

MINI Cooper D Countryman with 2.0-liter 4-cylinder diesel engine: 150hp, 330 Nm;

MINI Cooper SD Countryman with 2.0-liter 4-cylinder diesel engine: 190hp, 400 Nm.

The range also includes the first-ever MINI with plug-in hybrid drive—the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 with the 136hp 1.5-liter 3-cylinder petrol engine coupled with an 88hp asynchronous electric motor for a system output of 224hp and 385Nm.

Curiously, while the Philippines gets only the diesel-powered variant, the Thai market gets only the petrol-powered models; hence these were the ones we drove there. 

As an alternative to the standard 6-speed manual transmission, a 6-speed Steptronic transmission is also offered for the new Countryman. An 8-speed Steptronic transmission is available for the new Cooper S and Cooper D Countrymen.

MINI claims that the Cooper S Countryman ALL4 with 8-speed Steptronic sprints from zero to 100 km/h in just 7.2 seconds—0.9 seconds faster than its predecessor.

The high-quality suspension of the new MINI Countryman combines the tried-and-tested principle of a single-joint spring strut axle at the front and a multilink rear axle with a design that is optimized for weight and rigidity as well as a model-specific set up.

While 16-inch alloy wheels come standard with the base Countryman, other variants are fitted with 17-inch wheels. Optional alloy wheel sizes go up to 18 or even 19 inches.

Dynamic Damper Control is optionally available for the new MINI Countryman. Two program maps can be activated for the electronically controlled dampers via the likewise optional MINI Driving Modes. A rotary switch at the base of the gear or selector lever enables the driver to select a set-up according to one of the three modes MID, SPORT and GREEN. This also influences the accelerator pedal and steering curve, the operating mode of electrically powered comfort features and the engine sound and gearshifts of the Steptronic gearbox.

The standard Collision Warning with City Braking function can be extended to include the Driving Assistant system with camera-based Active Cruise Control, Pedestrian Warning with Initial Brake function, High Beam Assistant and Road Sign Detection. Park Distance Control, Rear View Camera, Parking Assistant and Head-Up-Display are also available.

The Counrtyman’se ride on broken pavement, bumps or potholes can be a tad on the stiff side, but it’s never harsh or punishing like that in most pickup-based SUV’s. It may be smaller or shorter than most compact sedans or crossovers (despite the longer overall length compared to its predecessor), but it’s no tighter or cramped inside than most subcompact SUV’s or crossovers. Truth be told, this is the first MINI that I can consider as a fully functional vehicle for one-car families. Compared to where the brand has come from when people saw it more as a cute toy car, that is saying a lot.