In 2024, it will be 60 years since Mini's victory in the Monte Carlo Rally. A true example of tenacity, humility and ingenuity by the small utility vehicle designed by Sir Alec Issigonis, evoking the legend of David against Goliath in the competitive world of competition. Today, six decades after that feat, the essence of the original Mini from the late fifties is still alive - in some way - in the brand's smallest models, which retain their iconic round headlights, part of their friendly silhouette of soft shapes and an endearing charisma that continues to arouse the admiration of followers of the British brand.
However, those responsible for Mini seem to have taken a very different path for the larger models. The current Countryman already broke that trend with respect to the R60, the successful first Countryman, which still retained part of the classic inspiration in its aesthetics and volumes. Now, the arrival of the third generation definitively breaks with the “friendly” design of its predecessors and opts for a much more robust and assertive presence, based on more angular and stylized shapes and without resorting to typically Mini resources.
Neither the front lights, nor the side profile nor the rear rear allow the new Countryman to be associated with the Mini family from a stylistic point of view, as it lacks the brand's own visual identity elements that made this dynasty easily recognizable even by those people outside the sector and without a special interest in cars.
There is nothing left of Mini in the new Countryman, neither the aesthetics, nor the dimensions, nor the lightness and not even the origin, since the new SUV from the historic Oxford manufacturer could wear the emblem of any other manufacturer without clashing, it is much larger (4.44 m) and heavier (1,700 kg) than before and, for the first time, it is manufactured in Germany.
The market rules, and the weight of sales in countries like the United States or other powerful emerging Asian players has required “growing” the Countryman to be able to offer an average alternative below it; the new Aceman, which will replace the defunct Clubman family so that the brand has two representatives in the thriving C-SUV and B-SUV segments.
After this “growth treatment” to which the largest Mini model has been subjected, its external measurements have increased by 13 cm in length and 6 in height, to reach levels of 4,433 mm in length, 1,843 mm in width and 1,656 mm high with a wheelbase now extended to 2,692 mm, further increasing comfort and interior versatility. The trunk offers a capacity of 460 liters, expandable to 1,530 liters and the rear bench can slide longitudinally up to 13 cm to maximize the space available for passengers or cargo.
The new generation of the Countryman adopts what the brand's designers have defined as “expressive minimalism”, an aesthetic philosophy that advocates charismatic simplicity, a more urban image, and a vertical orientation of the design language to achieve a more powerful presence. and an adventurous appearance. Furthermore, with these changes, its aerodynamics have been improved in order to achieve more sustainable consumption figures, leaving its Cx value at only 0.26.
The interior also loses many (or almost all) of the elaborate and original typically Mini controls and buttons in favor of elements with rather conventional shapes. One of the few components that maintains the “Mini soul” is the circular screen, which in the unstoppable and consistent path towards the digitalization of the brand, exhibits innovative technology. It is the first circular display with OLED technology applied to the automotive industry.
This particular configuration has forced the company's technicians to develop a new operating system adapted to this format in which the information and parameters are organized in a spherical shape. The menus and data - with a strong inspiration from smartphones - are displayed in a very intuitive way and with a clear and well-structured layout.
The excellent clarity and resolution of the fine central OLED touch screen contributes to giving the Countryman's interior a marked personality, modern and technological, while the 8 configuration modes that can be chosen are, more than driving programs themselves, experiences or settings that play with lighting and graphics to adapt to different “personalities” or profiles according to the mood or preferences of the users.
These acronyms, traditionally linked to sportiness and performance, continue to be reserved for the most exciting option in the range, equipped in this case with a four-cylinder, two-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that produces 300 HP of power and torque. 400 Nm motor.
Equipped with ALL4 all-wheel drive as standard and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox – sequentially managed through large paddles (behind a steering wheel, which is of excessive thickness) – the Contryman JCW accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and reaches a top speed limited to 250 km/h.
The mechanical response is not overwhelming but it is forceful, and the engine appears reactive although an aspect that could be improved is its sound, which is greatly attenuated by environmental restrictions. The sound of the Mini John Cooper Works, deeper at idle, and pointed and aggressive under acceleration, was one of the emotional factors that distinguished these versions. Now, to compensate for its low acoustic notoriety, Mini offers the possibility of complementing the mechanical sound through the sound system inside the cabin with an “artificial” program that simulates the exhaust noise, emulating even the “pops”.
