We Like: Roomy inside and a plush ride for its size
We Don’t Like: Stretches credibility of the Mini brand
Built on the same platform as the BMW X1, the new Mini Countryman is bigger and better mannered than the model it replaces. It’s also better groomed inside and out. “The new Countryman presents more practicality in a larger car that is still more fun to drive than most in the segment,” Alisa Priddle said.
With a lively chassis, the 2.0-liter Cooper S is the most entertaining of the Countryman lineup to drive. Disappointingly, the 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine that powers the Cooper and is the ICE component of the Cooper S E plug-in hybrid is a shuddering drudge.
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Although technically interesting and seamless to drive, the hybrid—the heaviest, most powerful, and most expensive of the Countryman lineup—will confuse consumers expecting a fuel miser. It does deliver superior fuel efficiency but only in town. Everywhere else the Cooper S E is more about mph than mpg, being 1.5 seconds quicker to 60 mph than the Cooper S and taking 1.1 seconds less to cover the quarter mile.
Ride refinement is noticeably improved across the range compared with the old Countryman. The longer wheelbase helps, reducing fore-aft pitching, but there’s also been a marked improvement in the initial compliance of the suspension.
The cheeky edge that’s core to the Mini brand is still there. But there’s a fine line between character and caricature, and some judges felt the Countryman crossed it. “The Countryman has always been something of a cartoon,” Frank Markus said. “And I see no flashes of brilliance that warrant elevating this one to finalist status.”
Read about other 2018 SUV of the Year contenders:
- Audi Q5
- BMW X4
- Buick Enclave
- Buick Encore
- Buick Envision
- Chevrolet Equinox
- GMC Terrain
- Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
- Jeep Compass
- Maserati Levante
- Mazda CX-5
- Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe
- Nissan Rogue Sport
- Toyota C-HR
- Volkswagen Tiguan
- Volvo V90 Cross Country
| 2017 Mini Countryman Cooper ALL4 | 2017 Mini Countryman Cooper S ALL4 | 2018 Mini Countryman Cooper S E ALL 4 (plug-in hybrid) | |
| BASE PRICE | $28,950 | $31,950 | $37,650 |
| PRICE AS TESTED | $36,750 | $38,500 | $39,700 |
| VEHICLE LAYOUT | Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV | Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV | Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV |
| ENGINE | 1.5L/134-hp/162-lb-ft turbo DOHC 12-valve I-3 | 2.0L/189-hp/207-lb-ft turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4 | 1.5L/134-hp/162-lb-ft turbo DOHC 12-valve I-3 plus 87-hp/122-lb-ft electric motor; 221-hp comb |
| TRANSMISSION | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic | 6-speed automatic |
| CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) | 3,546 lb (57/43%) | 3,633 lb (58/42%) | 3,881 lb (53/47%) |
| WHEELBASE | 105.1 in | 105.1 in | 105.1 in |
| LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT | 169.8 x 71.7 x 61.3 in | 169.8 x 71.7 x 61.3 in | 169.8 x 71.7 x 61.3 in |
| 0-60 MPH | 9.3 sec | 7.4 sec | 5.9 sec |
| QUARTER MILE | 17.0 sec @ 79.6 mph | 15.7 sec @ 86.7 mph | 14.6 sec @ 88.3 mph |
| BRAKING, 60-0 MPH | 138 ft | 129 ft | 150 ft |
| LATERAL ACCELERATION | 0.79 g (avg) | 0.83 g (avg) | 0.79 g (avg) |
| MT FIGURE EIGHT | 28.3 sec @ 0.58 g (avg) | 27.2 sec @ 0.63 g (avg) | 27.5 sec @ 0.63 g (avg) |
| EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON | 23/30/25 mpg | 22/31/26 mpg | 28/27/27 mpg |
| ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY | 147/112 kW-hrs/100 miles | 153/109 kW-hrs/100 miles | 120/125 kW-hrs/100 miles |
| CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB | 0.75 lb/mile | 0.77 lb/mile | 0.70 lb/mile |
The post Mini Countryman: 2018 Motor Trend SUV of the Year Contender appeared first on Motor Trend.
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