I test drove the new Mini Countryman Classic. The New Mini Countryman, a completely redesigned 3rd generation model, is a new car introduced for the first time in 7 years, and features a larger body and interior space, standardization of ALL4 four-wheel drive, and parallel sales with electric vehicles. In particular, it is attracting attention as it increases its capabilities as a family car through improved ride comfort and sense of space.
The Mini brand has consistently maintained its top sales rank in the domestic imported car market with its unique positioning. In the imported car market, where there is a strong preference for mid- to large-sized vehicles, only premium compact cars ranked in the top 10 in sales, and the volume model Mini Countryman grew 65% from January to April ahead of the full change.
Mini’s popularity was due to the fact that the formula ‘small car = cheap car’ was changed to ‘small car = pretty car’. Through its small but unique design and luxury, it has created a unique space for young consumers that cannot be compared to other companies. Additionally, the element of driving fun is something that cannot be ignored.
Pre-orders for the New Mini Countryman’s electric vehicle lineup, the New All-Electric Mini Countryman (scheduled to be 56 to 67 million won), began in May, while the internal combustion engine model New Mini Countryman (49.9 to 67 million won) began to be available in June. It was officially released. Even considering the differences in configuration, the price difference between electric vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles is small.
The model I tested was the New Mini Countryman S ALL4 Classic trim, priced at 49.9 million won. The domestic model lineup is based on the classic trim, with the New Mini Countryman S ALL4 Favored Trim priced at 57 million won and the New Mini JCW Countryman ALL4 priced at 67 million won. The ALL4 four-wheel drive system is standard on all trims.
The body of the new Countryman has grown to 4445mm (+150) in length, 1845mm (+25) in width, 1660mm (+105) in height, and 2690mm (+20) in wheelbase. This is due to the need for additional space on the floor due to sharing the chassis with an electric vehicle, design balance, and the addition of a smaller 5-door electric vehicle, the Paceman.
Looking at vehicles of similar size to the new Countryman, in Korea, the Seltos is 4390mm in length, 1800mm in width, 1605mm in height, and 2630mm in wheelbase, and the new Countryman is about 50mm larger in all aspects. In terms of interior space, the Countryman, which supports sliding second rows, feels a little wider.
The exterior design of the new Countryman is characterized by a sense of luxury through smooth surfaces, panels with small steps, and high paint quality. In addition, the external door handle was changed from a grip type to a shape integrated into the panel, and what was a past design has become a future-oriented element. I like the feel of the silver-based exterior color.
The interior is dominated by a 9.4-inch (240mm diameter) circular OLED display in collaboration with Samsung Display. With the vivid colors inherent in OLED, the Mini’s cute interface requires no other decoration. A projector is located at the rear and serves to project LED patterns on the dashboard.
The new Mini Countryman uses a combination of a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gasoline turbo engine, 7-speed Steptronic double clutch transmission, and ALL4 four-wheel drive system to produce a maximum output of 204 horsepower (5,000 rpm) and a maximum torque of 30.6 kgm (1,450-4,500 rpm). The curb weight is 1680 kg, acceleration from 100 km/h is 7.4 seconds, and the maximum speed is 228 km/h.
Noise and vibration when stopping have been reduced compared to before. Even in the gasoline model, the Mini Countryman did not emphasize quietness, but the new Countryman has improved NVH performance. There may be a focus on quietness by using the same chassis as an electric vehicle. The engine tone has also become quieter, closer to BMW than Mini.
The new Countryman’s ride comfort has improved significantly. Although the Countryman had the softest ride among the Mini lineup, it was still firmer than its competitors, but this time it was closer to soft. Of course, if you increase the speed and drive through a section with irregularities, the road surface information is still read.
As the speed increases, a smooth but solid driving feeling is confirmed. There is a difference in approach between adding softness while ensuring driving performance and trying to secure driving performance while ensuring smoothness, and Mini takes the former approach. The former approach is used by relatively premium brands.
Road holding on the road surface is good when driving at high speeds, and the basic response to the steering wheel pursues agility. Although it has become softer, there are traces of efforts to maintain the original handling feeling. Motorsports is a very important part of Mini’s brand value, so we hope it will continue.
Eight driving modes are provided, but it was difficult to get used to it in a short test drive due to the newly changed interface. It includes various changes such as display configuration, atmosphere, map screen, and music. Later, I activated voice recognition by saying ‘Hey Mini’ and ordered ‘Sports Mode’ and ‘Comfort Mode’.
In this case, the inference method is used to change to the most similar driving mode. Navigation is based on T-map, and route guidance is now common. Efforts to implement it into a circular display can be seen. Mini OS 9 supports gaming, video streaming, third-party apps, and smartphone digital keys.
The instrument panel has changed its appearance with a combine-type head-up display. It is a type that displays information inside the dashboard rather than on the front screen, effectively serving as a small instrument panel. It shows a variety of information, but visibility is not good. ADAS equipment supports only lane keeping assist in the classic trim.
The new Mini Countryman has now expanded its body and space to a level where it can be used as a family car. In addition, it is a configuration that can satisfy popular demands by increasing ride comfort. The combination of the dark-colored fabric interior lacks a sense of luxury, but it is a very attractive option as a family car for a family of 2 to 3 people.
