The Independent American Magazine for all Mini Owners
Issue link: http://mc2.epubxp.com/i/33537
to a MINI Cooper Clubman the Countryman is 5.4 inches longer, rides an inch higher and tips the scale at 242 lbs heavier. Check the accompanying chart for more numbers crunching. There are three distinct Countryman models; base, Cooper S and Cooper S ALL4. Motivation comes from the same two engines powering the existing MINI line-up in the United States; naturally aspirated and turbo variants of the Prince 1.6-liter 4-cylinder. The base powerplant is rated at 121 horsepower and 114 lbs-ft of torque. The Cooper S rocks a direct-injection, Valvetronic-orchestrated, twin-scroll boosted 1.6 liter that pumps out 181 horsepower and 177 lbs-ft of torque. An ‘overboost’ program delivers up to 192 lbs-ft in spurts when the right foot demands it. While these powerplants deliver a pleasurable, sporty drive, efficiency is also a big part of their DNA. The base engine delivers 27-mpg city, 35 mpg highway while the turbocharged Cooper S returns an impressive 25- city, 32 highway. Base and Cooper S models are front-wheel drive while the Cooper S ALL4 features MINI’s first all-wheel drive system. The core of the ALL4 system is a direct-drive center differential and a rear differential with an integrated electro-mechanical clutch that distributes power to the wheels, providing up to 100-percent front-wheel drive during normal conditions with the ability to channel up to 50 percent of its power to the rear wheels when the system senses slippage. Creature Comforts Sitting at the helm of the Countryman there is a strong feeling of déjà vu going on. The general dash layout mirrors the hardtop. It’s only when you turn and look back that sirens blare and red flags rise. MINI has put rear bucket seats in the Countryman. While there is no denying this limits people hauling capacity to four the sense of sporty style it invokes is pure MINI. There is ample legroom (33.8 inches) and the seats slide (up to 5.1 inches) and recline, maximizing comfort. The trailblazing continues with MINI’s innovative rail storage system. The rail is home to a number of removable items such as cup holders, armrests, storage containers, sunglass holders, mobile phone holders and others. The bins and boxes can be slid on the rail as needed. The rails are mounted between both sets of seats but can be ordered in a one-piece design that runs from the gear shifter to the back of the rear buckets. We found no trace of novelty here; the system is genius, allowing owners to tailor the Countryman to their storage needs. Technoids will drool profusely over the Countryman’s far-reaching connectivity. Going well beyond Bluetooth the Countryman opens the door to Twitter, Facebook and Internet radio access on the road with its high-tech Mini Connected application, though why anyone needs to be on Facebook and Twitter while driving is beyond my ken.Using a 6.5-inch display within the center speedometer, the system can also show album cover artwork, caller lists stored on a mobile phone and business cards from contacts as well as incorporating voice activation. And then there’s the Dynamic Music function where the Mini Connected app plays mind-reader and selects music based on your mood/driving characteristics. Stuck in traffic gets you Beethoven, miles of open highway gets your motor runnin’ with “Born To Be Wild” by Steppenwolf. This function is a bit whimsical in our book, but may be the price of staying on the leading edge of technology. Cargo capacity is another gray area for the Countryman. It’s all about perspective. The Countryman has about 32 cubic feet less max cargo volume than a RAV4 but 17 cubic feet more than a Cooper hardtop and 8.5 cu ft more room than a Clubman. We think the larger cargo area fits well with the Countryman’s four-person seating arrangement and MINI reports that two mountain bikes with front wheels removed can be stowed in the Countryman. The MINI emblem hatch handle is one of those cool styling cues that can be easily overlooked. But we love it. It’s easy to use and gives the rear a clean look. Ergonomic ridges on the backside of the handle provided a comfortable grip and plenty of leverage to raise the liftgate, which is a big step forward from the clumsy barn-style doors on the Clubman. >>> 26 www.mc2magazine.com 7KH LQWHULRU OD\RXW ZLOO EH IDPLOLDU WR 0,1, IDQV VW\OLVK IXQFWLRQDO DQG IXQ ZLWK WKH WDFK EHKLQG WKH ZKHHO DQG WKH VSHHGR LQ WKH FHQWHU VWDFN 1R EOLQG UHG OLJKWLQJ PDNHV WKH LQVWUXPHQWV UHDGDEOH DW QLJKW ZLWKRXW H\H VWUDLQ DQG UHG WULP ODPSV VHW D GUDPDWLF PRRG LQ WKH FDELQ 2QH RI WKH PRUH GDULQJ PRYHV RQ 0,1,·V SDUW ZDV JRLQJ ZLWK DGMXVWDEOH UHFOLQLQJ UHDU EXFNHW VHDWV LQ OLHX RI D EHQFK 7KH FHQWHU UDLO V\VWHP LV EULOOLDQW DOORZLQJ RZQHUV WR PL[ DQG PDWFK WKHLU RZQ FRPELQDWLRQV RI FXS KROGHUV DUPUHVWV DQG VWRUDJH FRQWDLQHUV