MINI COUNTRYMAN JCW

NOT-SO-MINI MINI SERVES UP BIG HELPINGS OF FUN

- ANDY ENRIGHT

Model Mini Countryman JCW Favoured
Engine 1998cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo
Max power 233kW @ 5750rpm
Max torque 400Nm @ 2000-4500rpm
Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch
Weight 1660kg
Economy 7.7L/100km (combined)
0-100km/h 5.4sec (claimed)
Price $73,990
On sale Now

MINI HAS supersized the Countryman.No, really. There aren't too many cars that have grown so much in such a short lifespan. Let's break out the tape measure and apply some cold, hard data to that assertion.

The first-gen R60 Countryman (2010-2016) measured a mere 4097mm from stem to stern. The next one, dubbed the F60 (2016-2024) grew significantly and was 4313mm long.

It's now grown again with this latest U25 version, and breaks the tape at 4433mm. While a 7.7 percent growth doesn't seem that extreme, bear in mind that the Porsche 911 grew 5.7 percent from the 'tiny' 964 generation to the apparently huge 992.

The Countryman is now a sizeable hunk, its 8.17m² road footprint being significantly larger than something like a Volkswagen T-Roc (7.7m²) and a gnat's away from a current Mazda CX-5 (8.37m²) or Hyundai Tucson (8.39m²) - all three of which you might well consider as your sole family vehicle. That's a deliberate move on Mini's part. The brand's range has had a reshuffle of late, with the Countryman stepping up in size in order to slot the Aceman between it and the Cooper hatch.