What We Like
Much more fun to drive than its rivals
Agile for a crossover
Entertaining exhaust notes
Quality cabin with space for five adults and their bags
What We Dislike
The lighter, more affordable MINI JCW Clubman makes more sense to own
MINI is no stranger to oddball creations, as we've seen from cars like its John Cooper Works (JCW) Clubman and the Cooper S Paceman. This time around, it has released the hottest version of its all new Countryman, gifted with the JCW treatment.
With that, it's turned the fun crossover to a hot one, which is kind of in a class of its own - even though you can argue its rivals to be the Audi Q3 2.0 TFSI Quattro and the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class GLA250 4MATIC judging by its size, power and price.
However, unlike the latter two, which are highly accomplished but predictable to drive, the JCW Countryman promises a more dynamically focused experience. We spent two days in Auckland, New Zealand, to find out just how true that is.
Pretty punchy, and even more so grippy
The range-topping Countryman here sports a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine capable of 228bhp and 350Nm of torque, allowing the 1.6-tonne MINI to zip from 0-100 km/h in 6.5 seconds before hitting a top speed of 234km/h.
Due to that extra performance, the car's handling has been beefed up. It rides on a set of firmer sport suspension with adaptive damping and comes to an absolute halt by means of bigger four-pot Brembos, while its eight-speed steptronic automatic gearbox has been retuned for faster shifts and auto rev-matching.
As a result, there is a sense of immediacy the moment you get on the throttle although the surge isn't going to be strong enough to be neck-breaking.
What you can expect, though, is a sharp and meaty steering that's synonymous with the rest of the cars in the carmaker's lineup, which sends the car darting accurately in any direction the driver so commands.
With that, it's turned the fun crossover to a hot one, which is kind of in a class of its own - even though you can argue its rivals to be the Audi Q3 2.0 TFSI Quattro and the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class GLA250 4MATIC judging by its size, power and price.
However, unlike the latter two, which are highly accomplished but predictable to drive, the JCW Countryman promises a more dynamically focused experience. We spent two days in Auckland, New Zealand, to find out just how true that is.
Pretty punchy, and even more so grippy
The range-topping Countryman here sports a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine capable of 228bhp and 350Nm of torque, allowing the 1.6-tonne MINI to zip from 0-100 km/h in 6.5 seconds before hitting a top speed of 234km/h.
Due to that extra performance, the car's handling has been beefed up. It rides on a set of firmer sport suspension with adaptive damping and comes to an absolute halt by means of bigger four-pot Brembos, while its eight-speed steptronic automatic gearbox has been retuned for faster shifts and auto rev-matching.
As a result, there is a sense of immediacy the moment you get on the throttle although the surge isn't going to be strong enough to be neck-breaking.
What you can expect, though, is a sharp and meaty steering that's synonymous with the rest of the cars in the carmaker's lineup, which sends the car darting accurately in any direction the driver so commands.
At the same time steering wheel-mounted paddles allow full manual control, if desired.
It's also confidently grippy thanks to the ALL4 all-wheel drive system and corners flatter than you would expect of a crossover, but don't expect it to provide full-on hot hatch-esque playfulness. Still, the driving experience is definitely more engaging than its aforementioned traditionally straight-laced competitors.
To look at and to be in
In order to remind you that you're not driving a regular MINI, the car wears a more aggressive aerodynamic kit with multiple air ducts for cooling purposes and biggish 19-inch wheels. Compared to its predecessor, this new one looks as though it's been on a diet of steroids and skin-tightening vitamins.
Inside, your $221,000 gets you fancy bits that set it apart from the regular variants such as a two-tone interior with carbon black trims, a three-spoke, red-stitched steering wheel and semi-bucket sports seats.
It all comes together as a very premium package that's tough to beat especially if you're in the market for an anomalous, fun family car. But if given a choice, we'll go for the better-to-drive MINI JCW Clubman, considering it'lll fulfil the same needs for significantly lesser dough.
It's also confidently grippy thanks to the ALL4 all-wheel drive system and corners flatter than you would expect of a crossover, but don't expect it to provide full-on hot hatch-esque playfulness. Still, the driving experience is definitely more engaging than its aforementioned traditionally straight-laced competitors.
To look at and to be in
In order to remind you that you're not driving a regular MINI, the car wears a more aggressive aerodynamic kit with multiple air ducts for cooling purposes and biggish 19-inch wheels. Compared to its predecessor, this new one looks as though it's been on a diet of steroids and skin-tightening vitamins.
Inside, your $221,000 gets you fancy bits that set it apart from the regular variants such as a two-tone interior with carbon black trims, a three-spoke, red-stitched steering wheel and semi-bucket sports seats.
It all comes together as a very premium package that's tough to beat especially if you're in the market for an anomalous, fun family car. But if given a choice, we'll go for the better-to-drive MINI JCW Clubman, considering it'lll fulfil the same needs for significantly lesser dough.
