New details
The crossover Mini Countryman it is the largest (430 cm long) and spacious of the Mini. Four years after its launch, it is updated in appearance, in mechanics, but not in safety equipment: important devices such as lane maintenance and monitoring the blind spot of the rear-view mirrors continue to be missing. The lines with a strong personality change very little: the new model is distinguished by the more massive front bumpers, with thin vertical openings on the sides and the redesigned central area, in addition to the different grille for the grille. Also revised are the lights, which reproduce the Union Jack of the British flag. There are also new combinations of exterior colors, including the Piano Black Exterior package (310 euros) with all the details (from the grilles, to the mirrors to the frames) in glossy black rather than with a chrome effect.
It pollutes less
The engines of the Mini Countryman they have all been renovated. The petrol and diesel versions available for now have powers between 116 and 190 HP; to comply with the most recent Euro 6d anti-pollution regulations, the former are equipped with a particulate filter and the diesel-fueled ones with an SCR catalyst with injection of AdBlue liquid. Then there is theibrida plug-in of the test, with 220 hp combined (four less than before) and 385 Nm of torque. The 1.5 three-cylinder turbo petrol engine that moves the front wheels sees its power drop from 136 to 125 HP, while the electric unit, which transmits the motion to the rear wheels, increases from 88 to 95 HP. The lithium-ion battery of the hybrid system (mounted under the sofa) remains unchanged, the capacity of which had already been increased at the end of 2019, going from 7.6 kWh to 10 kWh. Change that, according to the manufacturer, has increased the autonomy by traveling only on electricity from 42 km to 61. By connecting the external connection on the left side (behind the door depicting the stylized electrical outlet) to a 3.6 kW wall box , the battery recharges in two and a half hours. Using a normal household socket, it takes about three and a quarter hours.
At the dealership
The renewed Mini Countryman it is already on sale, with prices that are not low in relation to the endowment which, however, has been enriched. Full LED headlights and an 8.8 ”screen for the updated multimedia system are now also standard. They range from 29,500 euros for the petrol-powered Cooper with 136 hp to 44,600 euros for the plug-in hybrid Cooper SE ALL4 Business automatic test. The latter is the only one with automatic emergency braking as standard: for the others it costs 620 euros (in the Driving Assistant package). Without this device and without cruise control, and with manual air conditioning instead of automatic, the cheapest of the hybrids costs 40,600 euros (it has, however, the standard navigator).
Virtual dashboard
Refined in style and materials, and with many customization possibilities, the interior of the Mini Countryman remains essentially unchanged. The most obvious novelty is the small 5 ”digital dashboard (on request, in packages of 500 euros; the analogue one remains standard). Quite clear, in the case of the hybrid version of the test it also provides information on the management of the electrical part. The multimedia system has been revised, with a large 8.8 ”monitor inserted in the circular instrument in the center of the dashboard. It integrates a sim card to communicate with the web and Apple CarPlay, but it does not have Android Auto.
For a crossover, the driving position of the Mini Countryman she is not very tall. Indeed, with the wraparound seat, the extendable seat and the rather vertical steering wheel it can be defined almost sporty, as well as comfortable. Those in the back find a sofa with a comfortable flat seat, plenty of air over their heads and, for people of medium height, enough legroom. The trunk is easily accessible from the large electric hatch and with the threshold not far from the ground. The compartment is made with care, but not very developed in height: the electric motor under the bottom has stolen some cubature. Compared to the other Mini Countrymans, the sofa capacity in use of the hybrid drops from 450-566 liters to 405 (there is no sliding sofa). A value, however, quite satisfactory.
Always fun
Even if the hybrid system weighs down the Mini Countryman of the 200 kg test compared to the petrol-only variant, the car remains agile and responsive. This is also due to the rigid structure, which requires some concessions to effectively absorb holes. The steering maintains the quickness typical of the Mini, and is direct as the sportsmen like it. But it is so sensitive that it requires some correction on the straights. The combined thrust of the two engines is decided at any speed and with four-wheel drive traction is remarkable. The automatic gearbox is also good, fluid and quick in inserting the six gears.
Three more modes
During the test of the Mini Countryman SE started with the battery at 100% efficiency (the on-board computer indicated an autonomy only at current of 54 km) we experimented with the lever in the console the three specific driving modes for this version: Auto eDrive (you can touch the 80 km / h before the thermal engine starts), Max eDrive (135 km / h the peak reachable without consuming gasoline) and Save Battery (the battery charge is not affected to be able to use it later, perhaps in a LTZ ). In the first 70 km of the test, half of which was carried out in the city, alternating the operation only in electric with that also with the 1.5 (the starting of the engines and their deactivation is almost imperceptible), the on-board computer indicated a consumption around 24 km / l. Once the battery was exhausted, when driving on suburban roads practically only with the internal combustion engine, consumption increased to about 17 km / l.
In our opinion
Benefits
> Guide. Although weighed down by the electric part, this hybrid version is also agile and brilliant.
> Originality. The car has a strong personality.
> Hybrid system. With 220 HP it guarantees good performance, and the ride is always smooth.
Defects
> Android Auto. This widespread functionality is missing to connect mobile phones to the car’s multimedia system.
> Practicality. The hybrid system eliminates the sliding sofa and makes the trunk smaller.
> Safety. Automatic emergency braking is only optional for almost all versions. And devices such as lane keeping are not even provided.
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