The MINI Countryman C – First Look at The New 3 Cylinder Countryman Base Model

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Just as MINI officially unveiled its petrol powered 2024 Countryman S last week, the brand is taking the wraps off its entry-level crossover model, the Countryman C. What is the Countryman C and where will it be sold? And what does that C even stand for? Let’s dissect.

Let’s start with the last question first. Officially MINI hasn’t given a meaning behind the letter “C” in the name however we’ve heard some within the brand refer to it as “Core”. It also nicely lines-up with the previous Countryman Cooper in name and performance. With MINI smartly limiting the name Cooper to its iconic hatch, product planners had to come up with an alternative and “C” is it.

Unlike the previous F60 Countryman Cooper, the entry-level Countryman C will not be available North America. Sales were tepid for the previous version and margins were low. The focus on the Countryman C will be in Europe, Asia and South America for the time being.

At the heart of the MINI Countryman C is an evolution of the efficient 3-cylinder gasoline engine we’ve seen in MINIs for years. However it’s been upgraded with a mild-hybrid system that will creates less CO2 emissions while giving the new Countryman a more seamless start/stop system.

With the revised engine the Countryman C does 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 8.3 seconds and achieving a top speed of 212 km/h or 132 mph. Helped by 206 ft lbs and the efficiency of TwinPower Turbo technology, we’d expect steady if not great mid-range performance.

The innovative mild hybrid component of this revised engine enhances the vehicle’s eco-credentials, recuperating braking energy and providing 14 kW of electric drive power during accelerations. This synergy translates to reduced consumption and emissions that help it meet future EU emissions requirements.

“As an entry-level model, the MINI Countryman C seamlessly integrates quintessential MINI traits, including agility and driving pleasure, with an opulent suite of standard features,” remarks Stefanie Wurst, the luminary figure at the helm of the MINI brand.

Countryman Model	Countryman C (Europe)	Countryman S (Europe)	JCW (Europe)	Countryman S (USA)	JCW (USA)
Power	170 hp	218 hp	300 hp	241 hp	312 hp
Torque	206 ft lbs	266 ft lbs	295 ft lbs	295 ft lbs	295 ft lbs
Transmission	7 speed DCT	7 speed DCT	7 speed DCT	7 speed DCT	7 speed DCT
Drivetrain	front wheel drive	all-wheel	all-wheel	all-wheel	all-wheel
Powertrain type	petrol/mild hybrid	petrol/mild hybrid	petrol	petrol	petrol
Cylinders	3	4	4	4	4
Displacement	1499	1998	1998	1998	1998
Engine Power	156 hp / 4700 – 6500	201 hp	300 hp	TBD	313 hp
Engine Torque	177 hp / 4700 – 6500	266 ft lbs	295 ft lbs	TBD	295 lb
Electric Power	19 hp (temporary)	19 hp (temporary)	N/A	N/A	N/A
Electric Torque	TBD	TBD	N/A	N/A	N/A
0-60 mph	8.3	TBD	5.2	TBD	5.1
Maximum speed	132 mph	TBD	132 mph	132 mph	155 mph
Curb weight (LBS)	3,571 lbs	TBD	TBD	TBD	3,825 lbs

In terms of aesthetics, the new MINI Countryman looks almost identical to all other models. With MINI letting its different trims dictate styling rather than performance, only subtle badging will truly differentiate models in markets like the UK, Europe and Asia.

To that point MINI will offer the Countryman C in four distinct trim variants—Essential, Classic, Favoured, and JCW (the latter making the C look identical to a JCW even down to the badges). Trim-specific features include paint and roof colors, interior finishes, and alterations to the design of the C-pillar element. For instance the Favoured trim you see here offers a contrasting roof, Vibrant Silver front grille frame, and 20-inch rims in the aerodynamically optimized Windmill Spoke 2-tone design. The interior of the Favoured trim has a two-tone color gradient on the textile surface, crafted from recycled polyester using an innovative knitting process. Additionally, the trim features a heated sports steering wheel and perforated Vescin sports seats, available in three colors with traditional accent stitching.

The Interior Revolution

MINI has a lot to talk about inside starting with that circular display. So we’ll let our recently published demo of the display and MINI OS9 do the talking.

Aside from the infotainment system, MINI has made huge changes. The brand has moved away from leather and chrome and leaned into new materials in a way that we’ve never seen from other manufacturers. The result is impressive. The new Vescin leather alternative feels better than the typical leather found in MINIs. While it doesn’t quite match the suppleness of the Lounge Leather options, it’s very close. In fact the grade of Vescin on the steering wheel actually feels just as good. You can read much more about Vescin and why MINI has gone leather free in our exclusive report.

We really liked the look and feel of the textiles but time will tell in terms the longevity. According to MINI the material is 90% recycled and should be easily cleaned with a damp cloth – no chemicals needed.

One area that we’re eager to test is the center console. Gone is the storage under the armrest and in its place a very solid feeling extendable armrest. In fact it extends so far I could see someone propping a laptop on it and working. But we’re still at a loss for why MINI couldn’t figure out how to include storage in it.

The console itself has a small cubby that acts as storage. Interesting we’re told it’s relatively easy to remove and potentially replace with different forms to storage. According to MINI we should watch this space for potential future accessories.

While it’s big in the MINI world, the new Countryman is clearly not big when compared to a BMW X7

How Big is This Thing?

The U25 MINI Countryman is all new and based on the same platform as the new BMW X1 and X2. And since those two vehicles have grown, so has the Countryman. But that growth is more about what customers want. MINI tells us that the data clearly points to owners reluctantly moving away from the brand due size. It sounds obvious for a brand called MINI. But the brand feels they can grow the Countryman slightly while still appealing to those looking for something different and smaller in the segment. So MINI’s answer was to increase the size of the Countryman while introducing a new model to bridge the gap from the Cooper. That model is the electric Aceman which will have a footprint similar to the original R60 Countryman. That strategy was key for MINI being able to grow longer by over 5” and taller by 2”.

	R60 Countryman (’10-’16)	F60 Countryman (’17-’23)	U25 Countryman (’24-’32)
Length	4097 mm / 161.3 in	4298 mm / 169.2 in	4429 mm / 174.37 in
Height	1562 mm / 61.5 in	1557 mm / 61.3 in	1613 mm / 63.5 in
Wheelbase	2596 mm / 102.2 in	2670 mm / 105.1 in	2670 mm / 105.11 in

While the Countryman has grown, the Aceman will offer customers an R60 sized crossover.

It’s no secret that the U25 Countryman shares a platform with the BMW X1. However what we didn’t know is how it differs under the skin. When MINI Design evaluated the X1 platform they immediately realized that they needed to find a way to downsize it to better fit MINI proportions. More specifically the rear overhang had to shrink. The answer came in the form of leveraging the rear section of the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (not a car we get in the US) and replacing what was there in the X1. The result are proportions that not only fit a MINI shape better but a reduction in weight where you really don’t want it.

To our eyes this increase in size is hidden by the proportions of this car as well as clever styling. That “blade” in the c-pillar? One reason it’s there is to break-up the length of the roof so it didn’t look like a tall station wagon. 

Autonomous Driving Comes to MINIs

One of the biggest tech additions to the Countryman is its autonomous driving features. Driving Assistant Professional is a massive improvement over the previous adaptive cruise and is a first for the brand. With the Driving Assistant Professional, the MINI Countryman enables partially automated Level 2 driving on highways for the first time. If you’ve been following MotoringFile all year you’ll remember us exclusively reporting on this feature last spring. However until recently we didn’t have some of the final technical details.

When engaged, Driving Assistant Professional allows the driver to take their hands off the wheel at speeds of up to 37 mph (60 km/h), as long as they have their eyes on the road (as determined by an eye tracker) and are ready to intervene at any time.

The thin grey strip above “set” is one of the two LED lights that lets you know the system is active

Once you reach 38 MPH the system switches modes and goes into a more simplistic autonomous setting which requires a driver’s hands to rest on the wheel. However the system works identically, following traffic, the curves of the road and will even change lanes based on the driver using the turn signal. However at these speeds the system requires hands-on the wheel or at least pressure of some kind.

This feature has been optional on BMWs for years and in our experience is ideal for stop and go traffic. However MINI’s system adds a new wrinkle as it can identify gaps in traffic needed to change lanes to get to an exit. It then brings the vehicle to the optimum speed for assisted lane changes. The MINI will let know when it’s successfully on via two green lights on the steering wheel. When it can’t detect your eyes (in hands-free) or hands (at higher speeds) those green lights being to flash orange.

While MINI is focused on that Level 2, hands-free mode intended mostly for traffic jams, it’s the higher speed (above 38 mph) that you’ll likely find much more useful. In this mode the system uses a combination of adaptive cruise and steering input to follow well marked highways without intervention. It uses steering and lane guidance assistant and also includes lane keeping, lane change assistant with active side collision protection and the emergency stop assistant.

The 2025 MINI Countryman Model Range

The Countryman begins production this November in C, D and S All4 models. The electric production should begin this March alongside the new JCW Countryman.

MINI Countryman – Electric Models	Drivetrain	German Pricing	US Pricing	Start of Production
U25 MINI Countryman E	Electric	43.500€	N/A	03/2024
U25 MINI Countryman SE ALL4*	Electric	49.500€	$45,200	03/2024
MINI Countryman – ICE Models
U25 MINI Countryman C	ICE (Petrol)	39.900€	N/A	11/2023
U25 MINI Countryman D	ICE (Diesel)	42.900€	N/A	11/2023
U25 MINI Countryman S ALL4*	ICE (Petrol)	45.900€	$38,900	11/2023
U25 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4*	ICE (Petrol)	56.500€	$46,900	03/2024

* Available in the US

MINI Countryman C Photo Gallery

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