Up front there’s more headroom than with the Countryman’s predecessor thanks to a higher roofline. The dashboard is the usual MINI fayre, with the infotainment system sitting in the middle of the dashboard aping the style of speedometers on earlier MINIs.
It’s a quirky design that’s attractive to look at, although it’s not the most practical – there’s a nod to function, but style rules the roost in here. Random buttons are dotted about all over the place, but as with most cars, once familiarised with the layout, it’s easy enough to use and the infotainment system is a more fun-looking version of BMW’s slick iDrive system, controlled via a rotary controller between the front seats.
There’s enough space up front with plenty of adjustment in the seats, however the upright windscreen might take a little getting used to compared with more regular SUVs such as the Audi Q2.
Two adults will fit with ease in the rear and a long journey won’t cause any aching backs thanks to a very generous amount of legroom. Understandably in a compact car, adults sitting three abreast in the back will find the experience snug.
Boot space and storage
Storage space for odds and ends is decent inside the cabin, with plenty of cubbies and reasonably sized door bins. The rear seats slide back and forth 13cm to increase boot capacity when required, too.
The back rests split and fold 40:20:40 as well, so you can configure it how you like depending on whether you prioritise legroom over boot space and vice versa.
Standard capacity is 450 litres for the Countryman, which can be increased to 1,390 litres by folding the rear seats flat – though it’s a little less in the hybrid.
That makes it competitive with its crossover rivals, but it can’t quite match up to the likes of the SEAT Ateca with its 510-litre loadspace.
Extra storage packs can be added, such as one that adds a variable-height boot floor and fixings to lash down items in the boot, while access is easy on higher-spec models with an optional electric tailgate that can be opened by waving your foot under the rear bumper.
You can even have a picnic bench fold out of the boot floor and perch on the rear of your Countryman for those days at the races – or if you need somewhere to sit and change into your wellies for a muddy dog walk.
Thanks to the upright design, you see much more of the Countryman’s bonnet than you can with many of its rivals, which makes it easier to park. Visibility in general is very good in all directions.
Rear parking sensors are standard across the range, but a rear-view camera is only fitted to the JCW model – otherwise it’s an expensive upgrade as part of the Comfort Plus Pack.
Safety?
Five-star Euro NCAP safety rating
Active cruise control extra cost
Makes for safe family transport
That the MINI Countryman performed well in Euro NCAP crash tests, achieving a five-star rating, is no great surprise. Based on BMW underpinnings and sharing much of the German brand’s safety technology, it would have been frankly disappointing if it scored anything less.
In addition, useful features like parking sensors and reversing cameras can make life easier, while a head-up display keeps your eyes more focused on the road. Six airbags and rear Isofix mountings are standard across the range.
Watch: MINI Countryman Euro NCAP crash test video
Basic equipment
The basic equipment list includes equipment that is standard across all versions of the MINI Countryman SUV.
3x3 point rear seat belts
ABS
Alarm
Audio remote
Cruise control
Driver`s airbag
Front electric windows
Height adjustable drivers seat
Isofix child seat anchor points
Parking sensors
PAS
Passenger`s airbag
Roof rails
Sat Nav
Side airbags
Steering wheel rake adjustment
Steering wheel reach adjustment
Equipment by trim level
To view equipment options for a specific trim level, please select from the following list:
Equipment included on some trim levels
Air conditioning
Alloy wheels
Body coloured bumpers
CD
Cloth seat trim
Electric mirrors
Front fog lights
Heated mirrors
Heated seats
Leather seat trim
Lumbar support
Metallic Paint
Partial leather seat trim
Remote locking
Service indicator
Sports seats
Traction control
Cooper equipment
Cooper standard equipment
Air conditioning
Body coloured bumpers
CD
Electric mirrors
Heated mirrors
Remote locking
Service indicator
Sports seats
Cooper optional equipment
Alloy wheels
Cloth seat trim
Front fog lights
Heated seats
Leather seat trim
Lumbar support
Metallic Paint
Partial leather seat trim
Traction control
Cooper Boardwalk Edition equipment
Cooper Boardwalk Edition standard equipment
Alloy wheels
Electric mirrors
Heated seats
Leather seat trim
Metallic Paint
Remote locking
Sports seats
Cooper Boardwalk Edition optional equipment
Air conditioning
Cooper Classic equipment
Cooper Classic standard equipment
Cloth seat trim
Cooper Classic optional equipment
Air conditioning
Heated seats
Metallic Paint
Remote locking
Cooper Exclusive equipment
Cooper Exclusive standard equipment
Alloy wheels
Leather seat trim
Sports seats
Cooper Exclusive optional equipment
Air conditioning
Heated seats
Metallic Paint
Remote locking
Cooper S equipment
Cooper S standard equipment
Air conditioning
Alloy wheels
Body coloured bumpers
CD
Electric mirrors
Heated mirrors
Remote locking
Service indicator
Sports seats
Cooper S optional equipment
Cloth seat trim
Front fog lights
Heated seats
Leather seat trim
Lumbar support
Metallic Paint
Partial leather seat trim
Traction control
Cooper S Boardwalk Edition equipment
Cooper S Boardwalk Edition standard equipment
Alloy wheels
Electric mirrors
Heated seats
Leather seat trim
Metallic Paint
Remote locking
Sports seats
Cooper S Boardwalk Edition optional equipment
Air conditioning
Cooper S Classic equipment
Cooper S Classic standard equipment
Alloy wheels
Cloth seat trim
Sports seats
Cooper S Classic optional equipment
Air conditioning
Heated seats
Metallic Paint
Remote locking
Cooper S E equipment
Cooper S E standard equipment
Air conditioning
Alloy wheels
Body coloured bumpers
CD
Electric mirrors
Heated mirrors
Remote locking
Service indicator
Sports seats
Cooper S E optional equipment
Cloth seat trim
Front fog lights
Heated seats
Leather seat trim
Lumbar support
Metallic Paint
Partial leather seat trim
Traction control
Cooper S E Classic equipment
Cooper S E Classic standard equipment
Alloy wheels
Cloth seat trim
Cooper S E Classic optional equipment
Air conditioning
Heated seats
Metallic Paint
Remote locking
Cooper S E Exclusive equipment
Cooper S E Exclusive standard equipment
Alloy wheels
Leather seat trim
Sports seats
Cooper S E Exclusive optional equipment
Air conditioning
Heated seats
Metallic Paint
Remote locking
Cooper S E Shadow Edition equipment
Cooper S E Shadow Edition standard equipment
Alloy wheels
Cloth seat trim
Metallic Paint
Partial leather seat trim
Sports seats
Cooper S E Shadow Edition optional equipment
Air conditioning
Heated seats
Remote locking
Cooper S E Sport equipment
Cooper S E Sport standard equipment
Alloy wheels
Cloth seat trim
Sports seats
Cooper S E Sport optional equipment
Air conditioning
Heated seats
Metallic Paint
Partial leather seat trim
Remote locking
Cooper S E Untamed Edition equipment
Cooper S E Untamed Edition standard equipment
Leather seat trim
Metallic Paint
Sports seats
Cooper S E Untamed Edition optional equipment
Air conditioning
Alloy wheels
Cloth seat trim
Heated seats
Remote locking
Cooper S Exclusive equipment
Cooper S Exclusive standard equipment
Alloy wheels
Leather seat trim
Sports seats
Cooper S Exclusive optional equipment
Air conditioning
Heated seats
Metallic Paint
Remote locking
Cooper S Shadow Edition equipment
Cooper S Shadow Edition standard equipment
Alloy wheels
Cloth seat trim
Metallic Paint
Partial leather seat trim
Sports seats
Cooper S Shadow Edition optional equipment
Air conditioning
Heated seats
Remote locking
Cooper S Sport equipment
Cooper S Sport standard equipment
Alloy wheels
Cloth seat trim
Sports seats
Cooper S Sport optional equipment
Air conditioning
Heated seats
Metallic Paint
Partial leather seat trim
Remote locking
Cooper S Untamed Edition equipment
Cooper S Untamed Edition standard equipment
Leather seat trim
Metallic Paint
Sports seats
Cooper S Untamed Edition optional equipment
Air conditioning
Alloy wheels
Cloth seat trim
Heated seats
Remote locking
Cooper Shadow Edition equipment
Cooper Shadow Edition standard equipment
Alloy wheels
Cloth seat trim
Metallic Paint
Partial leather seat trim
Sports seats
Cooper Shadow Edition optional equipment
Air conditioning
Heated seats
Remote locking
Cooper Sport equipment
Cooper Sport standard equipment
Alloy wheels
Cloth seat trim
Sports seats
Cooper Sport optional equipment
Air conditioning
Heated seats
Metallic Paint
Partial leather seat trim
Remote locking
John Cooper Works equipment
John Cooper Works standard equipment
Alloy wheels
Electric mirrors
Remote locking
Sports seats
John Cooper Works optional equipment
Air conditioning
Body coloured bumpers
CD
Cloth seat trim
Front fog lights
Heated mirrors
Heated seats
Leather seat trim
Lumbar support
Metallic Paint
Partial leather seat trim
Service indicator
Traction control
Untamed Edition equipment
Untamed Edition standard equipment
Leather seat trim
Metallic Paint
Sports seats
Untamed Edition optional equipment
Air conditioning
Cloth seat trim
Heated seats
Remote locking
Euro NCAP Rating – 5 stars
The MINI Countryman SUV was tested by Euro NCAP in 2017 and was awarded a 5 star overall rating.
This overall rating is calculated from the following individual ratings:
Euro NCAP provides motoring consumers with a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe.
The safety ratings are determined from a series of vehicle tests, designed and carried out by Euro NCAP.
These tests represent, in a simplified way, important real life accident scenarios that could result in injured or killed car occupants or other road users.