They say that everything is bigger in Texas, and that’s just where we went to get behind the wheel of the latest (and largest) addition to the Mini family, the new 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman and Countryman ALL4. For two days of driving fun, we saddled up and put the Countryman through its paces on urban streets, twisty hills and even dirt cattle roads.
This biggest Mini to date measures 161.3 inches from bumper to bumper—that’s 15.7 in. longer than a standard Cooper hardtop, with a wheelbase that has been increased by 5.1 in. to 102.2. It’s significantly taller too, with a height of 61.5 in. versus the standard Mini’s 55.4. And while this longer, taller, wider version is substantial in Mini terms (and is positioned as a crossover by the company), we are happy to report that the Countryman has retained the sport styling and driving performance we expect of all Coopers.
The biggest news? The Countryman is the first Mini to offer all-wheel-drive—called “ALL4” in Mini speak. This option adds 254 lb. to the vehicle, for a curb weight of 3208 lb. As for cost, Mini assures us that a well-optioned Countryman with ALL4 will come in under $30K. Base versions will start at $22,350, while pricing of the more powerful S has not yet been announced. All versions of the Mini Countryman are expected to hit dealerships in January, offered in a palette of 11 exterior color choices and with a wealth of customization options.
Under the hood of the Cooper Countryman is a 1.6 liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 121 bhp at 6000 rpm and has 114 lb.-ft. of torque at 4250 rpm, good for a claimed 0-60 time of 9.8 seconds. The Cooper S Countryman comes with the turbocharged 1.6-liter direct-injected engine that produces 181 bhp at 5500 rpm and 177 lb.-ft. of torque from 1600-5000 rpm. The claimed 0-60 time of the S is almost three seconds quicker than the standard Countryman, at 7.0 sec. And in full-throttle overboost conditions, this engine delivers 192 lb.-ft. of torque at 1700-4500 rpm.
For the record, all Mini Cooper S ALL4 Countryman models will have a 50/50 torque split. What’s more, although all Countryman models have a stiffer suspension than the standard Mini, a sport suspension will be offered as an option for added performance. Buyers will have a choice between an automatic or a manual transmission.
On the road, the Countryman proved quiet and capable, with minimal body roll in turns. And on the dirt, it had the traction and power to fling rocks and romp like a pro. Bottom line, this larger Mini is not much different than the rest of the model line. With its tight steering, responsive manners and abundance of power, the Countryman is genuinely fun to drive.
All versions of the Countryman deliver excellent fuel economy. The base model has an EPA rating of 27 mpg city/35 mpg hwy, whereas the sportier S version gets a respectable 25/32 rating. The ALL4 model does nearly as well, at 25/31.
Another first for Mini are the Countryman’s four (true) side doors, along with a rear hatch that uses the Mini logo to engage the tailgate release lever. You’ll also note that across the entire 2011 Mini product line, new taillight clusters that incorporate LED light strips create a distinct look during night driving. And as in all Minis, you’ll find twin exhausts on the S versions, plus vents in the rear wheel arches and a roof spoiler.
Inside, the Countryman is roomy on all fronts for driver and passengers—your legs, head and shoulders will have plenty of space. Four fully adjustable bucket seats (a first for Mini), are on duty inside the car, and the rear seats can fold flat to increase the cargo area to an impressive 41.3 cu. ft. With both seats up, there’s still a decent 16.5 cu. ft. of space in the rear.
Need extra cup holders? A cell phone dock? An ever-ready sunglasses case? Mini has added a new center rail system that runs between the front and back seats. This system, which offers snap-in accessories that can slide the length of the rail, is illuminated during night driving for improved visibility and access. Also lit are the door panels and door handles, along with the speedometer and tachometer. While in most cases, we found the Mini rail system to be highly functional and an attractive feature, the parking brake tends to interfere when tall items are placed in the rail (i.e. an iPhone4 in the rail charger with a tangled power cord). And the parking brake itself is a bit of a bother—its large size and method of operation obstructs the center rail when it’s engaged. Moreover, larger individuals had difficulty using the brake because of the limited space between the handle and the front console. That’s something we hope Mini will change in the future.
Up front, the new entertainment and navigation systems are integrated into the Countryman’s speedometer, which we found intuitive and easy to use via the joystick on the console. The fuel gauge is also housed here, giving the driver a great deal of information in one place with just a glance.
Mini has also incorporated its new iPhone/iPod Touch app called Mini Connected with the in-car entertainment/infotainment system. It’s simple to use—just download the app on your iPhone or iPod Touch, start it up, and plug your Apple device into the vehicle. It automatically syncs with the car and delivers options to the driver such as listening to streaming radio (we picked a station from New York City that played beautifully on the back roads of Texas.) Mini Connected can also supply driver-determined RSS feeds that can be read aloud. Additionally, it can access Google local, and it even hosts a Twitter client with canned ‘Tweets’ for those inclined to social networking—plus much more.
What’s important to understand is that the integration of this app with the vehicle allows Mini to make upgrades and additions to the app and offer additional feature sets that work in-car, at any time, for Mini drivers in a plug-and-play environment via a simple app upgrade. It’s the first time this has ever been done in the automotive world and we expect this app and its users to continually evolve—and for other manufacturers to follow suit.
Due to market demands, we would not be surprised to see the addition of an Android or other various smart phone versions of the Mini Connected app in the future. For now, look for the Mini Connected app in the Apple store beginning mid-December, just in time for the Countryman’s debut in dealerships in mid-January 2011.
