Styling cues and design features from yesteryear’s icons live on. But one thing is certain – the third generation Mini Countryman is not ‘mini’ anymore. This is a super-potent small SUV for enthusiastic drivers who love ‘performance’. Sharp and engaging just like a ‘Works’ Mini Cooper S of yore, whose legend BMW has so brilliantly kept alive, today’s car is a delightful driving machine for entertainment and frolics in complete safety….plus practicality for modern living. Through its seats, helm, brakes and tyres. It’s right up there with the best of them.
In today’s closed ranks of obstructive traffic, this Countryman is spirited enough to rocket free from the scrummage – and in the right hands it can achieve great ends. If there was ever any doubt that one could aspire to heights of motoring pleasure without buying an inordinately expensive and impractical supercar – that doubt is now dismissed by the Mini Countryman John Cooper Works (JCW).
So, I took it where twisty bends come thick and fast: to Snowdonia – a stern test for any car with claims to performance. The Countryman threw off its cloak of ‘country gentleman’ gentility. At full throttle I was encouraged by the fruity, artificial, ‘brmm brmm’ soundtrack of the exhaust: piped into the cabin to inspire me and remind me of those four exhaust pipes at the rear. Press the boost button for full release of the 296 bhp and your demonic tendencies are satisfied. The JCW erupted like an F15 on full afterburner. (one of which had just skimmed overhead into The Mach Loop – the Welsh low flying area). The 2.0 litre engine is a gem and combined with the sport version of the dct gearbox, performed to a level that would blitz supercars of the seventies and eighties. Pull the trigger on this one and you will enjoy performance and handling enough for all but the deranged. 155mph, 4wd security, huge disc brakes and safety systems galore to mask your bungling efforts to be Larry Lightning. Fast, safe and secure through the bends and storming urge between them, you just don’t need any more performance for today’s world.
A glance at the speed shown on that large circular central display was a rude reminder of the forces at work – By the Lord Harry does this car go. There’s no such thing as a free lunch, of course and fuel consumption proved to be in the mid to late 30s
The car looks good. Aerodynamics must be reasonable because it is fairly quiet at speeds in excess of Mach one.
Inside it is well laid out and there’s plenty of room – even for aged parents in the backseats to criticise your robust driving style – so it’s ok to enjoy yourself. This Countryman exhibits real precision: you move the steering wheel and the car follows. You command with fidelity, so on roads designed by spaghetti manufacturers, you don’t need to do too much of that ungainly elbow twirling, and you’d need freakish bad luck to lose adhesion. Put simply, the John Cooper Works Mini Countryman feels brilliant to drive.
Ride is firm – as you would expect – but then that’s part of the appeal. This is not an anodyne boulevardier: this is an interesting and involving ‘living’ car like they used to make, to set your heart racing and it’s all the better for it. With this version of the Mini, ‘performance fun’ really is a major constituent of Mini funkiness. I loved it immediately…. but then doesn’t everyone?
It’s beautifully made too, and you get that German meticulous attention to detail and finish, so it should be impressively durable. Of course, the ‘up to the minute’ trumpery of digital tricks on the electronic podule are guaranteed to confuse all but the most dedicated trainspotter – but then I’m an old cynic who considers the car before its flags, badges and tattoos.
Drive it and whatever the weather, the sun seems to be shining, so – as one who is addicted to a life soaking wet on motorcycles – I relished the comfort and luxury. But above all, in anyone with well oxygenated blood coursing through their veins, it induces a hormonal response encouraging wide grins, obligatory sunglasses and enthusiastic driving. It’s seriously big fun, but seriously expensive too, starting at £42,520 – but it’s worth it.
