2022 MINI Countryman

Mini fans are famously loyal, but eventually, most of them need more space than the regular Mini Hardtop can provide. For those who can’t pack their lifestyle (or kids) into the hardtop, the British brand offers two alternatives, the Clubman wagon, and the Countryman crossover. The Countryman has less of the smaller Minis’ personality than the Clubman, but it has the most interior room of any Mini product and offers a number of other extras, including the brand’s only plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model.

The current Countryman dates back to 2017 and like the other Minis is showing its age, particularly on the tech front, but it’s still Mini’s second-most popular model and has plenty to recommend it. After a minor refresh in 2021, changes are minimal this year and the Countryman continues with its quartet of familiar powertrains. There are 1.5 and 2.0-liter regular turbocharged engines, a 1.5-liter PHEV, and the manic high-performance 2.0-liter John Cooper Works (JCW). 

A subcompact 169.7 inches long, the Countryman is big for a Mini but primarily competes with small crossovers that are generally a little larger, like the Mazda CX-30, Mercedes-Benz GLA, and BMW’s X2, which shares the Countryman’s platform. Hyundai’s Kona, now sporting a high-performance N model, is slightly smaller but also cheaper and more fuel-efficient. The Mini offers a bigger back seat than most of these alternatives (one on par with the larger Volvo XC40) and the rare option of PHEV power, but it’s also lacking in the driver-assist gear and connectivity department.

While the plug-in Cooper SE Countryman and JCW are fast and manic, respectively, the Countryman is a less exciting performer than the smaller Minis. It’s optimized more for comfort than go-kart handling, but it’s still a crisp and capable handler by smaller crossover standards, and compares well to the Mazda CX-30. The base 1.5-liter three-cylinder is underpowered in this bigger, heavier vehicle, which makes the 189-horsepower Cooper S the default choice. The SE and JCW offer real turns of speed and more fun, but the price goes up, with both models starting at over $42,000.

Of course, it’s space that most Countryman buyers are after and here it does not disappoint. For so small a footprint, the back seat is sized similarly to many compact SUVs and has good cargo room for its size. There are almost 18 cubic-feet of space behind the rear seats and 47.6 with them folded. It sadly only drinks premium, but it also gets good gas mileage for a fun-to-drive car, with the PHEV returning plenty of speed, 29 mpg combined around town, and 18 miles of EV range. Safety scores are only so-so, and unfortunately, there’s less active-safety gear than in most competitors.

Like the other Minis, personalization options abound too, but Mini’s plethora of trims and options can quickly inflate the price and some items which are nearly universally standard, like Apple CarPlay, cost extra while Android Auto is absent altogether. Despite those shortcomings the Countryman offers a premium crossover experience at not too high a price, and for Mini fans with growing families, it’s the biggest variation on the menu. It also makes a refreshing, colorful alternative to other pint-sized premium crossovers like the Lexus UX or Mecedes GLA.

Performance: 12/15

The Countryman offers four different turbocharged powertrains starting with a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine. With 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, this engine is sedate in the regular Minis and distinctly underpowered in the bigger, heavier Countryman. The Cooper S Countryman uses the larger 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine from the Mini Cooper S, with 189 hp and 206 lb-ft for a much more energetic experience, cutting the Countryman’s zero-to-60 time from 9.6 seconds to 7.2. Front-wheel-drive models get a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) while AWD All4s get an eight-speed automatic.

Next up is the Cooper SE Countryman, Mini’s only hybrid and a plug-in at that. This powertrain bundles the 1.5-liter triple with an 87-hp electric motor for a combined total of 221 horsepower. The SE is AWD-only and driven through a six-speed automatic transmission. The SE is the fastest non-JCW model (zero-to-60 in 6.4 seconds) and gets the best mileage (29 mpg combined and 18 miles of electric range), but it’s also pricey at more than $42,000 to start. 

The JCW is much faster than any other Countrymen, with 301 hp and 331 lb-ft on tap from a modified version of the Cooper S’ 2.0, different drive modes, standard AWD, and a sport-tuned suspension to help put all that power down. It’ll sprint to 60 mph in just under 5 seconds. Be prepared for a harsh ride, however.

It’s a Mini in look and feel, but the Countryman isn’t as engaging to drive as the smaller Minis. It’s a good handler for a small crossover, but there’s a little less of the trademark Mini personality here. Its visual ruggedness also equates to only modest off-road talent. There are only 6.5 inches of ground clearance, all-season tires and no hill descent control, and on dirt roads the ride is very harsh. That said, the All4 system is still good for improved control in the rain and snow on regular roads.

Fuel Economy: 13/15

Front-wheel drive 1.5-liter Coopers return 26 mpg city, 33 highway, and 29 mpg combined while front-drive 2.0-liter Cooper S models get 24, 33 and 28, respectively. AWD drops mileage by 2 to 3 mpg in each measure. This is actually slightly above average for the class, but the Kona is way out in front of all of these alternatives, and the X2 does a little better with AWD than the Countryman. The Mini only drinks premium.

The SE PHEV offers a great combo of punch and efficiency, with 29 mpg in combined driving and up to 18 miles of pure electric range. There aren’t currently any other PHEV SUVs this small, though the Kona offers a full EV version. The JCW is predictably the least-efficient Countryman, but considering its energetic performance, figures of 23 mpg city, 30 highway and 26 combined are actually pretty good, and superior to the Mazda CX-30 Turbo or Mercedes-AMG GLA and equal to the BMW X2 M35i.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 7/15

The 2022 Mini Countryman gets mostly “Good” marks in testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but does not earn “Top Safety Pick” status. It has not been evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which detracts marginally from its overall score. Like the other Minis, however, the Countryman loses a bunch of points for its lack of active-safety technology. 

Lane departure warnings, forward collision warnings and automatic emergency braking are standard (the former added this year) but few other driver-assist features are standard and a relatively small number are optional. Adaptive cruise control and parking assist require adding a $1,250 driver assist package and blind spot monitoring isn’t available at all. Most competitors, like Hyundai, Mazda and Mercedes-Benz, offer more standard or available active-safety gear.

Comfort & Room: 13/15

The Countryman’s forward cabin has plenty of room even for tall drivers and comfortable, supportive seats. The real difference from the other Minis, and even the Clubman, is in back. There’s fractionally more headroom than the Clubman, but much more legroom, up to 37.6 inches to be exact. This is also more than the crossover’s closest competitors, the Kona (35.2), CX-30 (36.3), and X2 (36.7) but a little less than the Mercedes-Benz GLA (38.4).

All of these vehicles are small fries, but the Countryman and GLA boast decent rear seat space even by the standards of SUVs one size larger, like the Volvo XC40. The Countryman’s large-ish rear doors also make it easier to get kids in and out than some other alternatives, including the four-door Mini Hardtop.

Infotainment: 10/15

An 8.8-inch infotainment screen is now standard (equipped on all Countrymen built after March of 2021) and there’s also a pretty digital instrument display. As in previous Minis, ambient lighting accompanies the infotainment inputs in the higher trims and the gauges and screens look bright and crisp. The trademark toggle switches, well-labeled and easy-to-use, remain a staple of the Mini experience. 

Like the other Minis, the Countryman uses a Mini-ized version of parent-company BMW’s iDrive infotainment system. It isn’t difficult to operate, but some displays and settings are a little too buried in menus. Apple CarPlay is standard on models equipped with Navigation, but that adds $1,000 to the price on lower trims, which seems excessive when this feature is standard on almost all new vehicles. Android Auto is absent altogether, and won’t be found here until the next-generation Countryman arrives for model year 2024.

Cargo Space & Storage: 12/15

With 17.6 cubic-feet of space behind the rear seats and 47.6 with them folded, the Countryman has more cargo room than any other Mini, but only fractionally. The Clubman wagon is just 0.1 cubic-feet behind in both dimensions. Both compare well on cargo volume to similarly-sized crossovers like the Kona (19.2 and 45.8 cubic-feet), CX-30 (20.1 and 45.2) and Mercedes GLA (15.4 and 50.5) but offers a little less than its cousin the BMW X2 (21.6 and 50.1). SUVs only a little larger, like the Volvo XC40, start to offer much more cargo volume.

There isn’t a ton of small-item storage space in the Countryman, but most of its competitors aren’t much better. Chunky roof rails are included for mounting cargo boxes and other carrying accessories, which makes this the handiest Mini in this regard.

Style & Design: 7/10

The Countryman takes the basic Mini look and pumps it up into a vaguely more aggressive crossover format. It has the same cheeky vibe, but looks a little more serious and suggests more go-anywhere capability (though this is no off-roader). It’s not quite as harmonious a design as the other Minis, and looks bigger than it actually is thanks to those tall-and-round proportions. It doesn’t look bad though, and Mini offers a huge variety of bright colors and personalization options to turn on the charm. The only downside is that you have to pay extra for almost all of them.

Like the other Minis, the Countryman’s interior is a retro-cool array of round dials and toggle switches, with clever ambient lighting. It looks and feels premium in all but the basest of base model specs.

Is the 2022 Mini Countryman Worth it? Which Countryman is the Best Value?

The base model Cooper Countryman Cooper starts at an attractive $29,950 (all prices include an $850 destination fee), but its underpowered engine makes the $2,800 upgrade to the front-drive Cooper S Countryman ($32,750) an easy choice. That’s the model we’d pick as the best value, but we’d also want to add the $1,250 driver assist package, at a minimum. From there the sky is the limit on options, and the bill easily swells to more than $42,000 if you’re not careful. The $3,600 Signature trim adds navigation, CarPlay, and adjustable suspension dampers and is worth the add.

For the best combo of performance and efficiency, it’s hard to beat the SE Countryman PHEV, but it also starts at a towering $42,350, at which point other larger PHEV options are available. Happily, it at least includes desirable features like CarPlay, Navigation, premium audio, and a power liftgate. Still, that is in genuine premium territory, and could easily buy a larger vehicle.

The JCW also starts at $42,350 and offers exhilarating performance at a lower price tag than the Mercedes-AMG GLA35 or GLA45 and slightly less than the X2 M35i. The Kona N, however, severely undercuts all of these vehicles and offers a delightful driving experience of its own. It also comes with more standard features.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the Mini Countryman?

The Mini Countryman is generally less expensive to insure than its competitors. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $1,896 for a Countryman Cooper S, though this averages all 50 states. JCW buyers can expect an annual premium of around $180 more. That compares to $2,078 for the Mercedes-Benz GLA, $2,242 for BMW’s X2 M35i and $1,821 for the Hyundai Kona Limited, but only $1,685 for the Mazda CX-30. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.