Running Down the New Countryman S ALL4, MINI's $39,000 Fun Machine

For all intents and purposes, MINI has blossomed like never before under BMW's guidance. It grew from being a marginal (niche is too big of a word for it) name in the industry to becoming one of the engines that power the British automotive industry, but also BMW's continuous rise.

Key to that increase in reach was a rapid diversification of the offering. From a single main model the brand grew so that it now offers no less than ten different models (electric ones included), ranging from the legacy-style model to a compact SUV.

It's this kind of vehicle, a compact SUV, that some probably thought MINI would never make. Yet, BMW rolled the dice in 2010 and decided to make the largest MINI ever, at a time when the world was going crazy for everything that was slightly higher and more aggressive than a regular sedan or hatch.

The model has been alive and kicking ever since, burning through three generations already. The third is a brand new one, introduced this year, and it promises more excitement than ever. Especially in a version called Countryman S ALL4.

With the configurator for the range now up and running in the U.S. as well, the British carmaker decided to spell out everything that makes this version of the new-generation Countryman special. And just a quick look at the thing will reveal that this is, indeed, a proper fun machine.

By trade, this type of Countryman is a mild hybrid, as it pairs BMW's 48V system with the range's 2.0-liter four-cylinder, twin-power gasoline engine. On its own, the combustion powerplant has enough punch to deliver 218 horsepower and 360 Nm of torque. From time to time, though, an extra 19 hp are available thanks to the mild hybrid tech fitted in there.

Just like the other siblings in the Countryman range, the SUV comes with Level 2 automated driving. What that means is that, in certain conditions (meaning multi-lane roads), the driver's hands on the steering wheel are no longer required, as long as the speed does not exceed 60 kph (37 mph).

The ALL4 in the model's name is there to make it clear to anyone looking that this is an all-wheel drive machine, that can spin its choice of alloy wheels (with sizes ranging from 17 to 12 inches) as required by road and weather conditions.

The key aspect of the new Countryman S ALL4 is, just like with the previous versions, the amount of interior space it offers. That has always been an issue with MINIs, and a key aspect that kept the larger public away from the model.

Well, in the Countryman interior space is not that big of an issue, and neither is cargo capacity. Thanks to the way the rear seats can fold (40:20:40), cargo volume grows from 450 liters to 1,450 liters.

It's the fun stuff the Countryman offers that makes it such a suitable proposition for people in the market for a new ride. From the glass roof fitted on top to the ambient lighting modes offered, MINI seems to have taken all the required steps to make the S ALL4 a solid proposition for buyers in the new year.

A thing I've always appreciated about MINI is that it sticks with tradition. And nowhere is that more visible than in the way the car's display has retained the round shape of its predecessors, while at the same time going as modern as they come: a 240 mm OLED display shielded by a glass surface. Oh, and it's run by a new interpretation of the MINI Operating System, meaning version 9.

MINI will offer the 2025 Countryman S ALL4 in four trim levels, namely Essential, Classic, Favoured, and John Cooper Works. The lowest you can pay for one is $38,900, which so happens to also be the lowest sum you can pay for any other Countryman.

Granted, it's also about $6,000 more than before, but who's counting, considering the many new things it brings to the table, including the following:

• 5 inches more in length and 4 inches more in height
• a drag coefficient of 0.26, a record in the segment
• new semi-automated driving on multi-lane routes
• new design cues, including the octagonal front grille
• new MINI Driving Sounds
• new MINI Operating System 9

The 2025 MINI Countryman S ALL4 can be pre-ordered in the U.S. in exchange for a $250 deposit. Customers going for one should not hope to receive their brand-new MINI SUV before April of next year.