Latest iteration of this family SUV is larger than ever and available in electric form for the first time On sale May Price from £42,080
Lawrence Cheung lawrence.cheung@haymarket.com
FIRST DRIVE
THE COUNTRYMAN SUV may be the most practical and grown-up model in the Mini line-up, but given that it has existed only since 2010, technically it’s still a teenager in the historical context of the brand. And like most adolescents around this age, it has just experienced a growth spurt.
This new, third iteration is 13cm longer and 6cm taller than its predecessor, promising more space for occupants and their luggage. Indeed, it’s slightly longer than a Hyundai Kona Electric but shorter than a Skoda Enyaq.
The Countryman’s cutesy styling remains, with its prominent headlights, large front grille and short overhangs being instantly recognisable. Meanwhile, the tail-lights introduce a modern touch, allowing buyers to switch from the Union Flag light signature to two alternative ones if they fancy a change.
Perhaps the biggest break with tradition – other than the removal of chrome exterior trim altogether – is the addition of electric versions. With these, there’s a choice of power outputs: 201bhp in the Countryman E and 308bhp in the SE ALL4. The latter has a motor on each axle to give it four-wheel drive.
With a 0-62mph time of 5.6sec, the SE has plenty of punch to get up to motorway speed swiftly or easily overtake a slower-moving car on a country road. Even so, the E (with a single motor driving the front wheels) will provide enough performance for most buyers, taking 8.6sec to get from 0-62mph.
Both versions draw power from a 64.7kWh (usable capacity) battery. In the Countryman E, that’s good for an official range of up to 286 miles, while the SE dips to 266 miles. Both fall short of what the Volvo XC40 Recharge can achieve (294-332 miles) and are well down on the 348 miles you can potentially cover in a Skoda Enyaq 85.
With a maximum charging rate of 130kW, a 10-80% charge will take around half an hour – on a par with the rivals we’ve just mentioned.
Regenerative braking is standard to recover some energy while helping to slow the car down when you lift off the accelerator pedal. You can adjust the level of the braking effect, with the highest setting b
