Nothing says quick MINI like a John Cooper Works version. Right? But how about mixing it up a little – add in the Countryman model, soup it up with the John Cooper Works touches and hey presto, you have a speedy eye-catching car – but is it any good, and would a VW Golf R be a wiser choice? Performance 4/5 Out of the blocks, the MINI Countryman is quick, and given its size, it shouldn’t be this fast, should it? Begin from a standing start and you can reach the benchmark sprint in 7.0 seconds while it goes on to a top speed of 140mph, making it a tasty bit of kit. However, one of its main rivals, Volkwagen’s Golf R, can complete the benchmark sprint in 5.1 seconds and has a top speed of 155mph so the MINI is not the quickest in its class, although it is very different from a design point of view. The 280Nm of torque on the MINI means the engine is responsive right the way through the gearbox and this version of the Countryman will certainly put a smile on your face. Ride and handling 4/5 The standard Countryman is fairly decent to drive, offering good levels of grip. This John Cooper Works version is a different beast, giving more grip, a firmer ride and more vitesse while still offering four-wheel drive. Tweaks for the JCW when compared to the standard car include a drop in ride height by around 10mm, stiffer anti-roll bars and tweaked dampers. The Countryman was the car used for MINI’s participation in the World Rally Championship and this road car is the closest version you can get to the vehicle that Kris Meeke and Dani Sordo drove in anger. It’s good too; toggle the button to Sport, feather the throttle and you get a lovely roarty burble as the turbo ignites and you’re off. Push the Countryman JCW and you will be surprised at the insane grip levels, but that ride is firm and hit a pothole at speed and your back will know about it. The Golf R is a smidgen better through the twisty stuff but the MINI has the better exhaust note. It will be a tough call for some - for me, the Golf R gets the nod here. Equipment 4.5/5 The JCW version of the Countryman is top of the range and with that comes plenty of kit. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, electronic stability control, aerodynamic kit, 18-inch light-alloy wheels, a sports exhaust system with chrome tailpipes, and door sills bearing the John Cooper Works logo. Our car had over £4k of options, including 19-inch alloys, glass sunroof, Harmon Kardon stereo, Media pack which includes full Bluetooth preparation including voice control, MINI Connected and MINI navigation system and more. Running costs 3.5/5 The MINI Countryman JCW costs from £28,605 which is over £1,000 cheaper than its biggest rival, the Golf R. When it comes to fuel economy, the Countryman JCW returns 38.2mpg and emits 172g/km of CO2. In comparison the Golf R has an average of 40.9mpg and emits 165g/km of CO2 making the R better on costs as well as performance times. Verdict 4/5 The MINI Countryman JCW is a brilliant bit of kit, as chuckable as any of the JCW variants through the bends. Is it as good the VW Golf R? No. The R beats the MINI in almost every section apart from starting price. with better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions, making the MINI a purchase from the heart rather than one from the head. The MINI will have its fans but for us just falls short of the R’s all-roundedness.