The “Biggest” MINI: The Cooper S Countryman

When it comes to MINIs, there is a formula that is tightly followed, and that mostly revolves around the go-kart-like handling, the peepy engine, and the quirky styling that is unique to the brand and the brand alone. 

The MINI, however, hasn’t stayed MINI going into the 21st century. MINIs and cars in general have ballooned in size to accommodate large individuals, more features, and also structural safety elements that help survive a crash. The Cooper S is still rather compact, but the Cooper S Countryman is perhaps the furthest thing from a MINI, but is it? Even if it has a more crossover-like stance, after trying one out, it’s still an on-brand MINI, it just doesn’t look like it. 

The biggest MINI isn’t too shy about its size, though the model is still rather compact, being no larger than your average subcompact crossover in the market today. With about the same length, width, and height as the average subcompact to compact crossover out there, the Cooper S Countryman is about on par with other crossovers out there, but doubly stylish in our opinion. There is no getting over the signature MINI styling with the rounded headlights, the large grille, and the rounded squares for the taillights. 

We got a chance to drive several MINIs in the past for video and for a written review, but the Countryman could very well be the best-looking MINI for certain buyers who are of a more adventurous mindset. The added ground clearance meant that we wouldn’t have to tip-toe around potholes and humps in the city, and it also meant that we wouldn’t struggle too much when it came to parking areas that weren’t paved. 

Just think of it as a MINI with a sense of adventure. A little more outgoing and outdoorsy if you will. What we also like are the functional elements that go into the model’s kit from the dealership, which includes roof rails, small yet functional mudguards, and also faux skid plates that emphasize the car’s appeal as a weekend getaway vehicle. 

We were worried that the added heft and height would cause this car to handle poorly, and boy were we wrong. We expected the suspension and the chassis to wallow a little bit when we first got it, and it didn’t whatsoever. We’d even say that the ride was sporty to an extent, in keeping with the overall character of a MINI Cooper. It still has the “Cooper” in its name and it’s also an “S” model which means that it’s a bit sportier than the regular MINIs. The chassis is undoubtedly stiff, and steering was sharp and precise, and the body roll was barely there. If you closed your eyes, got into the car, sat in it, and just drove, you might be hard-pressed to determine what MINI it is—it was just that good when we had it. 

MINI has dialed in their drive. The brand’s signature steering and driving feel was carried over from the five and three-door Coopers all the way to the Countryman, and that’s worth shouting about. The character of the MINI Cooper shines throughout every model in the lineup, and not even added ground clearance and heft got in the way of us enjoying the car’s drive and handling.

Don’t even get us started on the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline motor that we thoroughly enjoyed wringing out. Pro tip: Put it in sport mode, accelerate, and hear pops and bangs for days. Think about it this way, even if you were a more mature fellow, judging by the car’s exterior styling, you’d still want to cut loose sometimes and feel the power and torque take you up to highway speeds. On top of that, we feel that this crossover is one of the best-handling ones out there, so if you were tasked to drive on a twisty road and asked to choose any compact crossover, the Countryman would definitely be one of our picks. The 2.0-liter delivers torque early, allowing you to power out of corners, and to overcome gravity and weight with ease. Paired with the snappy shifts of the transmission, you have yourself a formula for a very enjoyable drive. 

The five-door MINI Cooper and Cooper S models served as the basis for the Countryman, but the added ground clearance adds a little more accessibility to the car for taller individuals and it also allows for a more commanding view of the road when you drive. 

On top of that, bring the whole family on your journey. The Cooper S Countryman doesn’t make any excuses. Five doors means easy access to the rear seats, and if you open up the rear you will find a nice surprise in the form of actually usable cargo space for overnight to weekend bags. 

While we won’t get into quantitative details, let’s just say that you can fit a few bags at the back,  just enough for you and your passengers’ day-trip essentials if you are five, but if it’s just you and another person, you can fold the rear seats down to really get all the space you need, and trust us, you can probably fit a bicycle at the back of this car, with the front wheel removed. The tall roofline helps out, but you can probably have a bike rack or just a cargo rack installed on the roof rails of this car which are functional by the way. 

A lot of buyers find that buying a MINI is rather selfish, especially if that person is the matriarch or the patriarch of the family. The 3-Door Cooper is one of the most common models in the lineup, and definitely one of the most iconic, but buying one may cause concerns, especially with regard to usability. 

It’s not surprising to see people going to the MINI dealership and picking up a Countryman with little to no complaints or apprehensions since it’s basically a family car in disguise. On top of that, you’ll also get a modern infotainment system so your maps, your music, messages, and voice commands will all be handled by the car’s tech system. 

If you’re on the fence about a MINI, and you’re eyeing the Cooper three or five-door versions, then perhaps the Countryman is the curveball that you need in your garage. While we won’t say that it is the best MINI out there, there is a bit of compromise in terms of speed, acceleration, and a little on the handling side moving into the biggest model of the bunch, but to be honest, you might not be able to tell. 

Still, there is a bit of compromise going from the small MINIs to this big MINI. We’re all subject to the laws of physics, but the engineers in MINI HQ have done an excellent job of recreating the MINI driving experience with less compromise with regard to space, convenience, and an overall family-friendly package. Practical? Definitely just enough, fun to drive? Absolutely.