Design: Trying Too Hard in Places

The new Countryman is the largest Mini ever made and it shows. It's grown significantly over the previous generation — longer, taller, wider — and now sits in the same size bracket as a Volvo XC40. The exterior is cleaner than older Minis, though it's shed most of the charm in the process. Less cute, more anonymous. That's fine. It just means it no longer really looks like a Mini.

What doesn't work is the interior design language. Mini has decided that quirky equals premium and it very much does not. The steering wheel features a strange fabric strap yoke that looks like a prop from a concept car that should have stayed a concept. The materials in general feel a generation behind — there's a plasticky quality to the tactile surfaces that you don't expect at this price point. It tries hard to be different and ends up feeling cheap in the places it matters most.

The screen compounds the problem. Too small, oddly positioned, and not intuitive to use. It's genuinely one of the weaker infotainment setups in this class right now. The saving grace is a decent HUD that handles the essentials so you can largely ignore the screen — but you shouldn't have to work around your own infotainment system.

Space: The Countryman Finally Earns Its Name

The rear bench can slide back and forth by 13cm, prioritising either legroom or boot space — a practical touch borrowed from the BMW X1 platform it shares. Rear legroom comes in at 955mm (37.6 inches), which is genuinely usable for adults. Boot space ranges between 460 and 1,450 litres, with an extra under-floor compartment — solid numbers for the class and more practical than the exterior dimensions suggest. J.D. PowerJ.D. Power

As a family compact SUV the space works. No complaints there.

The Drive & Range

Here's the thing. It drives well. The Countryman E produces 201hp from its front-mounted single motor, which is enough to feel brisk without being dramatic. The chassis is settled and comfortable, the suspension absorbs bumps without fuss, and there's a pleasantness to the way it moves around town and on faster roads that I genuinely didn't expect.

It's not exciting. But it's competent in a way that matters for daily use — smooth power delivery, decent body control, nothing that catches you out. For a company car or daily commuter it makes a quiet, unfussy case for itself.

WLTP range comes in at up to 462km on the single motor E variant. Real-world Belgian and Dutch usage will put you closer to 340-380km depending on temperature and driving style. DC fast charging maxes out at 130kW — noticeably behind the CLA and iX3 Neue Klasse — meaning longer stops on road trips. For urban and suburban daily use it's sufficient. For longer distances you'll feel the charging speed limitation.

Who's this for?

Would I but it? No. But I understand who would. As a company car it makes real sense — reasonable running costs, enough space for family duties, and an electric range that covers most working weeks without thinking about it. The Mini badge still carries social currency in certain circles and the Countryman is now large enough to be genuinely practical.

It's just that every time you reach for the screen, grip the strange yoke, or touch a piece of interior plastic, you'll be reminded that this car costs more than it feels.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Surprisingly good to drive — settled, comfortable, competent
• Rear space and sliding bench genuinely practical
• 460–1,450L boot with under-floor storage
• Works well as a company car proposition
• Cleaner exterior design than previous Minis

Cons:

• Infotainment screen is too small and poorly positioned
• Interior materials feel below the asking price
• 130kW max DC charging is behind the competition
• Lost Mini's charm without replacing it with anything better
• Real-world range conservative

Verdict

The Countryman E is a better car than I expected from Mini. That's faint praise and I'm aware of it. It drives well, has grown into proper family SUV proportions, and makes a rational company car argument. The interior is where it falls down — a screen that frustrates, materials that underwhelm, and design quirks that prioritise looking different over being good. If you're considering it as a company car and spending most of your time on familiar routes, you'll forgive its weaknesses quickly. If you're spending your own money, there are better options at this price.