Since Mini made its U.S. debut in 2002, BMW’s British brand has handily outperformed expectations. It’s also grown a bit in terms of lineup.
But is a larger car still capable of being a Mini? That’s a question that sent us scurrying to Hamburg, Germany, to test-drive the maker’s latest addition.
Based on an all-new platform, the 2011 Mini Countryman isn’t just larger, it’s also Mini’s first four-door model and the brand’s first sport-utility vehicle.
It’s not about to take on the Jeep Wrangler, but as we discovered during two days of driving, the new model is reasonably capable on gravel, dirt and deep ruts, especially if equipped with the new Mini ALL4 all-wheel-drive system.
Bigger is a relative term, of course, as we realized as soon as we picked up a blinding white Mini Countryman Cooper S ALL4 (whose name is as long as the vehicle).
It’s obviously larger than the little coupe, convertible and hatchback we’ve come to know, but not by nearly as much as one might expect, especially when adding those two doors. At 4.1 meters – 161.8 inches – the Countryman Cooper S is still about 3 inches shorter than the Volkswagen Golf, expected to be one of its key competitors. But we expect a lot of folks will like the extra shoulder room, the taller seating position, the surprisingly roomy cargo hold and the real back seat.
From the inside, this is very much the trademark Mini, including the oversized speedometer that caps the center stack – here surrounding a large and easy-to-use full-color navigation display. There’s the more limited digital MPG readout visible between the spokes of the typical Mini steering wheel. There are the classic aircraft-style toggle switches. About the only distinctly new feature – and a welcome addition – is the center rail, a multipurpose console stretching front to back to which a variety of storage devices and holders can be attached.
If there’s a downside to the larger dimensions, you really notice it only during aggressive driving. Wandering down some back roads near the North Sea, we found the Countryman to turn in just like a regular Mini Cooper – in other words, like a go-kart. But steering was a bit nonlinear: After that nimble first move, it was as if the bulk of the Countryman suddenly caught up with the suspension, introducing some unanticipated body roll and a barely perceptible softening of the steering.
