2024 Mini Countryman Petrol Review, Road Test

03/07/2024

Mini brands needs no introduction, but the Countryman does a bit. It has been a class definition worldwide as an SUV in the Mini Portfolio. Second generation came in 2016 and then it got an LCI update in 2020. We are a bit late to review but we have seen how the Countryman has changed. The Mini is going futuristic and maintaining its root at the same time. How good is it this time? There are subtle updates over the previous version. Read on, as we Mini calls the Countryman as their all-rounder adventure machine. Something we put to to test in petrol guise.

On the outside, the grille size is following the minimalist size with badging for the S variant. The car measures under 4.3 meters. This does give it even more stance than the Cooper variant while maintaining some of the silhouette. The grey color on our test car with black strips is sporty with the 18-inch alloy wheels adding more bling and subtly to the package. The JCW edition grabs serious attention on the road and is one of the few Mini’s seen on the road in maximum numbers. The build quality on the outside seems and sounds great and it scores high on crash tests like any other Mini. The elements of the car, such as the grille, LED lights at rear with union flag stands out, the sizeable wheelbase, make the Mini Countryman a proper attention magnet in the right color.

On the inside, the build and quality are good. The feature has the basics a bit more and that is it. We expect a bit more which should follow in the next update. The dashboard gets a good-looking textured element below the main screen. The A/C controls are also inspired by the original Mini. You get automatic lights and wipers to reversing cameras, front and rear parking sensors, and LED projector lamps, the car has a dual pane sunroof, Apple car play, And Android Auto are now here, but wired.

Ambient lighting, gesture control, and remote parking key are features borrowed from the 7-Series to speak of the top few features. The LCD screen in the instrument cluster area has navigation and all fuel economy indicators and other bits can be seen with a touch of the toggle button on the left indicator stalk. A fantastic sound system by Harmon and Kardon makes the experience top-class.

Space in terms of leg, knee, head and shoulder room is just about adequate by segment standards. The boot space is large at 450 litres and that is what aids in its practicality quotient. Road noise inside the cabin is also just about ok by luxury standards given it runs very noisy and low profile tyres. Wind and traffic noise is very well controlled. Like any other Mini, it is still a pleasant place to be. Safety kit continues to be high with electronic stability control and eight airbags, Hill Hold Assist, ABS and EBD, and more come as standard.

All BMW engines are smooth, free-revving, and low on NVH and the one here borrowed from the parent brand is no different in the Mini. Be it in any part of the rev range. Low range torque is good on the petrol that makes 180 PS and 280 Nm of torque going through the fantastic 8-speed automatic. The engine is even peaky in Comfort mode showing how flexible and powerful this engine is. Eco mode and then sports mode is what we found ourselves using while driving in the city. Still, 0-100 km/hr under 8 seconds is mighty quick, and an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/hr is on offer. Top-end is downright brilliant. This makes it good enough for city and highway duties and makes driving comfortable enough thanks to the precision in every driving mode. 10 km/l for in the city and 15 km/l on the highway is what we got in our run.

The ride quality is best in the entire Mini portfolio. High-speed stability is spot on thanks to the stiffness and a bit compliance. However, ride can get a bit bouncy on roads in our country’s expressways. Body roll barely exists while changing lanes, even at high speeds. Clearly a confidence-inspiring car to drive at any given speed. Steering is heavy at times, precise in the city, and has just about enough feedback on offer. Driving in the city is easy as speeds climb and the steering becomes lighter. All of this makes the car fun and 100% confidence-inspiring to push harder in the twisties. The brakes are good with good pedal bite and more than enough stopping power. Overall, easy-to-drive car with comfort, performance and dynamics balance that is at its peak.

2024 Mini Countryman Petrol Review, Verdict

Mini Countryman continues to impress the Indian audience like never before. The highest selling Mini and now we know why! The Countryman aces all its siblings to be at the top because of practicality, comfort, style and most importantly, a badge that delivers what it promises regardless of its shape and offering. Mini India is set to strength the brand even more in the future with exciting launches seen in the international market set to come to India soon.