2022 MINI Countryman

MINI Countryman 2021-2022 Review

There has not been a MINI model quite as polarizing as the MINI Countryman – at least one that’s still in production, as the MINI Coupe and Paceman are no longer with us. To understand why it was such a hard model to develop, produce, and market, you need to understand that the MINI brand has come a long way from its humble, ultra-compact car beginnings.

This naturally irked some of the older die-hard fans of the brand who actively reject anything new as being too large to qualify as a Mini – and to make matters worse the MINI Countryman was the first crossover SUV for the lifestyle brand. It was designed specifically to be even larger than the already “too large” MINI three-door hatchbacks, and that presented a bit of a problem.

And yet the number of people picking up the Countryman was so astounding that MINI could barely keep up with production. In addition to spawning the Paceman (a three-door version of the Countryman), there was also a World Rally Championship going car based on the first-generation model that was highly competitive.

Also something to remember is that at the time of the first-generation Countryman, MINI hadn’t yet developed the five-door hatch, and the Clubman wagon-esque form was still an odd suicide-door style affair rather than having five physical doors (or four doors and a rear hatch). That meant that if you really wanted a MINI model to carry your entire family, you would need to purchase the Countryman.

Now in its second generation, the MINI Countryman has grown even bigger and gone even further towards that lifestyle, off-the-beaten-path concept that really has no roots in traditional Mini history. Where the first generation was produced between 2010 and 2016, the second generation was first introduced back in 2017, with its most recent facelift and update introduced locally at the start of 2021-2022.

The MINI Countryman is currently offered in three different variants in its most updated form, each with its own specific powertrain and one even being a plug-in hybrid variant. There are also the pre-facelift variants of the hybrid and John Cooper Works models still on sale, though we won’t cover that here.

MINI Countryman 2021-2022 Specifications

It’s hard to determine what qualifies as the entry level variant of the MINI Countryman given that they are all distinct and close in pricing, but we can look at the MINI Cooper S Countryman first. This variant is powered by the same B48 turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine you can find in cars like the BMW 330i and BMW 135i, though in this state of tune it makes 192 PS and 280 Nm of torque from 1,350 rpm to 4,600 rpm. In this variant, drive is sent to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch type automatic transmission with manual override functionality.

Moving up to the MINI Cooper SE Countryman, which is the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) variant in the range, the engine gets downsized to the B38 which is a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that makes 136 PS and 220 Nm of torque. This is paired with an electric motor that supplements an additional 88 PS and 165 Nm of torque for a total system output of 224 PS and 385 Nm of torque. Drive is delivered to all four wheels through the ALL4 system, and the gearbox in this case is a six-speed conventional automatic.

The most potent variant of the MINI Countryman comes in the form of the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman that also uses the same B48 engine as the Cooper S variant, but in this state of tune it makes a massive 306 PS and 450 Nm of torque – nearly identical outputs to the BMW M135i. It also gets the ALL4 all-wheel drive system, and an eight-speed conventional automatic gearbox as well as a mechanically locking front differential.

Regardless of which variant you’re referring to, the dimensions between the three models are pretty much the same. All variants of the Countryman are based on the UKL2 platform from BMW, which underpins the current generation MINI Clubman, BMW X1, and BMW 1 Series. In this form it has a wheelbase of 2,670 mm, with a length of 4,313 mm, width of 1,821 mm, and height of 1,557 mm.

MINI Countryman 2021-2022 Exterior

It’s a traditional two-box design, but with all of the MINI styling cues applied fluidly and effectively to make for a proper crossover vehicle. The MINI Countryman definitely looks like it belongs within the MINI range, thanks to its large grille and distinct headlight and tail light designs. LED headlights and daytime running lights are standard across the range, as are the Union Jack 3D-design tail lights found on the most current MINI hatchback models.

With the Cooper S and PHEV variants, the ALL4 trim package is included meaning you get silver front and rear skid plates, side skirts, and front air intakes – which contrast nicely with the Piano Black exterior trim package. The wheels for both of these variants are 19 inches in diameter, albeit different in terms of design.

Naturally the John Cooper Works variant looks more aggressive and sportier with its red accents and variant specific wheels, and simple black body cladding in favour of the silver items. There is also a larger rear spoiler, and a twin exhaust pipe setup as well as a red roof and red mirrors. The wheels are 19 inches in size too.

MINI Countryman 2021-2022 Interior

First time MINI users may be confused by the interior of the MINI Countryman, but it doesn’t take long to settle in. Many of the design elements are adaptations and evolutions of the MINI design language we’ve seen over the years, with minimalist instrument cluster stacks and a large emphasis on the centre console stack where the infotainment is placed.

MINI Countryman 2021-2022 Safety Features

The most recent update to the MINI Countryman brough the Driving Assistant package, which includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection – a key function of advanced driver assistance systems. This is on top of other items like your usual electronic stability control, traction control, and so on.

MINI Countryman 2021-2022 Strengths & Weakness

If all consumers were practical, there would really be no need for manufacturers that produce more than the bare minimum, mass market, focus-group driven cars. The reality is that some owners – more than a niche – look for something different, something exciting, and perhaps even a little quirky. That is what the MINI Countryman offers, in addition to the MINI brand and the fraternity of existing owners.

The MINI Countryman is for those who want a MINI product, but need the additional space whether it’s for passengers or cargo. All the key aspects of the MINI experience, from the driving dynamics and feel to the design language and the interfaces are present, but in a larger, more mature package that doesn’t feel as difficult to justify. That being said, pricing can still make it somewhat prohibitive – though it is by no means uncompetitive.

MINI Countryman 2021-2022 Price

Pricing for the MINI Countryman variants starts at RM 237,065.76 for the MINI Cooper S Countryman. This goes up to RM 247,261.84 for the MINI Cooper Countryman Plug-In Hybrid, while the range-topping MINI John Cooper Works Countryman goes for RM 375,493.07. Prices are inclusive of the current SST exemption and everything you need to get the car on the road short of insurance. The additional extended warranty and service package will cost you RM 7,200 on top of the quoted prices.

MINI Countryman 2021-2022 Features

Features are fairly flat across the MINI Countryman range, with all models getting an 8.8-inch centrally mounted touchscreen for infotainment with navigation functionality, as well as ambient lighting, keyless entry and start, power-adjustable front seats, a heads-up display, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system, wireless phone charging, wireless Apple Car Play connectivity, and an electrically operated hands-free tailgate.

MINI Countryman 2021-2022 Fuel Consumption

For the Cooper S variant of the MINI Countryman, the manufacturer quoted fuel consumption figure is 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres, or 14.9 kilometres per litre. For the PHEV variant, this figure drops to just 2.4 litres per 100 kilometres, or 41.7 kilometres per litre. The John Cooper Works variant returns 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres, or 12.7 kilometres per litre. All of these figures can be expected to vary quite wildly depending on the way in which you drive, as they are all turbocharged engines and in the specific case of the hybrid, that extremely low fuel consumption is contingent on you keeping the battery charged as much as possible, and as frequently as possible.