Photo: MINI.de
MINIs are getting bigger by the day, but they sure as hell aren't getting cheaper. In fact, even if you like this generation of the Countryman, the chances are pretty slim that you can afford one.
While the folks over in Los Angeles are enjoying the first motor show sightings of the crossover, the 2017 Countryman has already begun selling in Germany and the configurator is online.
Even the base Cooper model with a 1.5-liter turbo making only 136 horsepower is relatively expensive at €26,500. But that one isn't much of a luxury car or a crossover, since it's front-wheel-drive and equipped with a plebeian 6-speed manual.
Adding ALL4 increases the price by another €2,000. But we think the one 90% of Germans will buy (the same in Britain, probably) is the Cooper D, as it's equipped with a 2.0-liter diesel making 150 hp.
By the time you add ALL4, that Cooper D will cost €31,500. But then it gets really frightening, as the cheapest optional wheel is €960, while the most expensive costs €2,350.
There is also a trim level called John Cooper Works Chilli that makes even a BMW 5 Series seem affordable, as it stickers for €6,940.
Of course, we're not German, so we'd buy the Cooper S with AWD for €31,900. That one gets from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.2 seconds, so at least you get some idea of why you're paying premium car money.
Sure, the new Countryman has a more spacious compact car interior and a larger trunk. But most of the features promoted by the company are optional. There's no getting away that the least mini of the MINIs is the most expensive. About €4,000 more so than the equivalent 5-door hatchback and €2,600 more so than the Clubman.
The upside is that it's a bit cheaper than the BMW X1, which now shares the UKL1 platform with every MINI. An sDrive18d with the same 150 horsepower diesel as the Cooper D stickers for €33,200. But we bet any Bimmer is going to hold onto more value come resale time.
Even the base Cooper model with a 1.5-liter turbo making only 136 horsepower is relatively expensive at €26,500. But that one isn't much of a luxury car or a crossover, since it's front-wheel-drive and equipped with a plebeian 6-speed manual.
Adding ALL4 increases the price by another €2,000. But we think the one 90% of Germans will buy (the same in Britain, probably) is the Cooper D, as it's equipped with a 2.0-liter diesel making 150 hp.
By the time you add ALL4, that Cooper D will cost €31,500. But then it gets really frightening, as the cheapest optional wheel is €960, while the most expensive costs €2,350.
There is also a trim level called John Cooper Works Chilli that makes even a BMW 5 Series seem affordable, as it stickers for €6,940.
Of course, we're not German, so we'd buy the Cooper S with AWD for €31,900. That one gets from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.2 seconds, so at least you get some idea of why you're paying premium car money.
Sure, the new Countryman has a more spacious compact car interior and a larger trunk. But most of the features promoted by the company are optional. There's no getting away that the least mini of the MINIs is the most expensive. About €4,000 more so than the equivalent 5-door hatchback and €2,600 more so than the Clubman.
The upside is that it's a bit cheaper than the BMW X1, which now shares the UKL1 platform with every MINI. An sDrive18d with the same 150 horsepower diesel as the Cooper D stickers for €33,200. But we bet any Bimmer is going to hold onto more value come resale time.
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