Since its introduction in 2010, the MINI Countryman has gone from strength to strength as one of the British brand’s most popular models.
From launch, it’s been offered with a number of petrol and diesel options, and later in life a hot John Cooper Works version.
But with the latest Countryman, a plug-in hybrid option has been offered, which provides low running costs and uses the same technology as found in BMW’s 2 Series Active Tourer.
Here we take a look at what the Countryman S E All 4 has to offer.
What power options are there?
Unlike the standard MINI Countryman, the PHEV variant is available with just one option – a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain.
The PHEV combines a 134bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine with an 86bhp electric motor and a 6.1kWh battery pack to produce a combined 221bhp.
The effect is an excellent combination of performance and efficiency, with the PHEV able to accelerate from 0-60mph in 6.6 second (that’s quicker than the standard Cooper S) and keep going to a top speed of 123mph.
It also boasts an electric range of up to 12 miles, which is ideal for small city runs and to ensure that some of your journey is on zero emissions. It enables the Countryman S E ALL4 to offer a claimed fuel economy figure up to 97.4mpg, along with CO2 emissions of just 55g/km.
What specifications are there?
As with the standard Countryman, and the rest of the Mini range, buyers can choose between three trim levels – Classic, Sport and Exclusive.
Classic is the entry level of option, with standard equipment including air-conditioning, an on-board computer, a 6.5-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and connected services, as well as rear parking sensors, a leather steering wheel and 17-inch alloy wheels.
Choosing the Sport brings upgraded 18-inch alloy wheels, a John Cooper Works styling kit, sports seats, cruise control and the option of sports suspension.
At the top of the range is the Exclusive, which features a chrome exterior package, 18-inch ‘Exclusive’ alloy wheels, a revised steering wheel and leather sports seats.
Is there much personalisation available?
As with the rest of the Mini range, buyers have plenty of bold colour options – such as shades like Island Blue, Chestnut and Chilli Red, which add a splash of colour to the range.
But Mini also offers one of the boldest customisation programmes, with buyers having the option to specify stripes, a two-tone roof and also a chrome exterior package. A number of interior trim options and larger alloy wheels can also enable the model to truly stand out on the road.
How much is the Countryman PHEV?
Prices for the Countryman S E All4 start from £31,995 for the Classic model, while Sport and Exclusive versions cost from £33,995.
