2021 MINI Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 Interior

The 2021 Mini Cooper Countryman is basically a supersized version of the little cars that made the British brand famous for being fun to drive. While this maximum Mini isn't as quick or nimble as its tinier siblings, it still maintains the company's quirky character. It also provides the largest amount of cargo-and-passenger space found in any Mini, which makes it especially useful for small families. With a trio of ascending powertrains that include a plug-in hybrid, the Countryman has wide range of performance. It's considered a subcompact crossover, but it drives more like a station wagon. The cabin is decorated with peculiar-to-Mini details, and the company provides a plethora of personalization options. Although its uneven ride quality and missing driver assists detract from the experience, the 2021 Countryman offers a lot of character and convenience.

The biggest Mini gets a smattering of updates for 2021. Its unmistakable appearance is now even more distinctive due to a restyled front end. LED lighting elements promote its British heritage through a Union Jack motif on the taillights. There's now a Piano Black Exterior option that replaces the Mini's chrome trim with gloss-black pieces. A set of fresh wheel designs as well as White Silver and Sage Green metallic paint colors are new too. Inside, the infotainment system's housing is redesigned with gloss-black material. The Countryman is also now compatible with Amazon Alexa voice assistant. There's a new version of the fancy MINI Yours Interior Style, a new range of leather trims and interior surfaces, and a newly optional digital gauge cluster that's mounted on the steering column. Mini has also expanded its value-oriented Oxford Edition trim to the Countryman for 2021, bundling desirable equipment into the base front-wheel drive model at a discounted price.
The additional performance from the more powerful Cooper S model makes it our preferred choice. Its turbocharged four-cylinder provides an extra 55 horsepower compared with the regular Countryman's three-cylinder engine. The S also comes standard with 18-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, rear parking sensors, and more supportive sport seats up front. We like the added bad-weather traction of the optional ALL4 all-wheel drive system and would select the mid-level Signature trim. It adds an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, dual-zone automatic climate control, forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking, heated seats, and passive entry. Mini offers all-season tires as a replacement for the standard performance set, but we'd stick with the latter and buy a separate set of winter tires for the cold and slippery season. The Driver Assistance package would also make our list, because it includes adaptive cruise control and a head-up display.
The Countryman offers several powertrain combinations and either standard front- or optional all-wheel drive. Apart from the plug-in model, front-drive versions feature a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission; those with all-wheel-drive have an eight-speed automatic. The base engine is a 134-hp turbocharged three-cylinder that simply lacks the power to move the Countryman's 3,300-plus pounds with any authority. The Cooper S model is equipped with a more powerful 189-hp turbocharged four-cylinder. The plug-in hybrid model (known as the Cooper S E) is the quickest Countryman we've tested, but it's also the most expensive. It uses a version of the three-cylinder gas engine driving the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission in combination with a rear-drive electric motor fed by a 9.6-kWh battery pack. It can charge at either a 120-volt or a 240-volt outlet. A full charge requires seven hours on standard 120-volt house current and a bit more than three hours on 240 volts. Unlike other Mini models, the Countryman never feels light or tossable from behind the wheel. Its stoic disposition isn't a bad thing; it's just different from other Minis, which are unreservedly playful. It's worth noting, though, that our test vehicles haven't been equipped with Mini's adjustable dampers (a package option), which might help offset the sometimes-harsh ride quality we've observed on Countryman models with 18-inch wheels. The plug-in model's brake pedal had a long dead spot at the top of its travel, which takes some getting used to.


2021 MINI Cooper SE Countryman ALL4
2021 MINI Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 interior
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