A small crossover with big ambitions, the Countryman has been redesigned from the ground up for the 2025 model year. The biggest change from its predecessor comes in the form of two electric powertrain options, dubbed Countryman E and Countryman SE ALL4.
But first, let's take a moment to look at MINI's redesigned bestseller. Charismatic Simplicity is what the British automaker calls the design language of the all-new Countryman. From the distinctive lights to the recognizable proportions and sculptural hood, everything comes together into a cohesive whole.
Capable of towing up to 1,200 kilograms (2,646 pounds), the Countryman is more aerodynamic than its predecessor as well, sporting a drag coefficient of 0.26 as opposed to 0.31 for the 2024 model. Gifted with the short overhangs everyone and their dog expects from a MINI, the compact utility vehicle is longer, wider, and taller to boot. You can easily tell the Countryman has grown from the wheelbase, now measuring 2,692 mm (105.98 in) as opposed to 2,670 mm (105.11 in).
The wheelbase is longer because the Countryman aims to be more comfortable than its predecessor. BMW-owned MINI also wanted to create enough room in the floor to accommodate the lithium-ion batteries of the Countryman E and Countryman SE ALL4. The internal combustion-engined variants are dubbed C, S ALL4, and JCW ALL4. Later on, a turbo diesel will be added to the lineup. Its name isn't known, and we also don't know if it's front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
Designed for wheels measuring anything from 17 to 20 inches, the Countryman promises to offer that go-kart feeling that MINI promises with every single line it makes. At launch, the Countryman will be available in four distinct trims: Essential, Classic, Favoured, and JCW. The latter stands for John Cooper Works, the company founded by John Cooper's son in 2002. Six years later, BMW purchased the company outright.
Beautifully minimalist, the Countryman's interior is dominated by the round touchscreen of the infotainment system. There is no instrument cluster to speak of. Similar to the Tesla Model Y, the big screen in the middle shows all the driving information you need.
Photo: MINI
The high-resolution OLED touchscreen is officially called the MINI Interaction Unit, and the software that makes interaction with it possible is called MINI Operating System 9. Based on Android Open Source Project, this operating system was designed for high-speed connectivity (via optional 5G), digital services, and cloud-based navigation. The MINI Connected Store provides access to useful and entertainment apps, including the likes of video streaming and games.
To be detailed later on, the 2025 MINI Countryman issues turbocharged gasoline engines in conjunction with front-wheel drive (Countryman C) or all-wheel drive (Countryman S ALL4 and Countryman JCW). The all-electric variants also come in front-wheel drive (Countryman E) and all-wheel drive (Countryman SE ALL4). They develop 150 kW (201 hp/204 ps) and 230 kW (308 hp/313 ps), respectively, at full chatter.
The less powerful Countryman E needs 8.6 seconds to reach 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) and tops 170 kilometers per hour (106 miles per hour). Level up to the Countryman SE ALL4, and the numbers are 5.6 seconds and 180 kilometers per hour (112 miles per hour). Closely related to the BMW iX1, the zero-emission Countryman produces 250 Nm (184 pound-feet) of torque in front-wheel-drive form and 494 Nm (364 pound-feet) with two electric drive units.
Last but certainly not least, MINI quotes 462 and 433 kilometers (287 and 269 miles) of driving range under the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure. EPA numbers aren't available at press time. Even so, look forward to slightly lower ratings because WLTP is more generous than the EPA's estimates.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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