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Mini Countryman

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Expert Rating

Mini Countryman

(2017 - present)

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    Summary


    The Mini Countryman is a medium-sized five-door hatchback/crossover. The current model is the second generation, which went on sale in the UK in 2017. Unlike most of the Mini range, it’s built in Austria rather than Britain.

    The Countryman tends to fall somewhere between a mid-size hatchback (like the Ford Focus or) Volkswagen Golf and a similarly-sized SUV/crossover model (like the Nissan Qashqai or Ford Kuga). It’s available in various levels of sportiness, such as Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works.

    Unlike the previous generation, the current model is available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. On the other hand, the diesel models have disappeared in recent years due to the rapidly declining popularity of diesel engines across the car industry.

    The Mini Countryman has received consistently good reviews from the UK motoring media, although the plug-in hybrid tends to score better. On the other hand, the high-performance John Cooper Works model is not as well rated as the lower-order models.

    In a 2020 What Car? survey of the 50 most reliable cars in the UK up to eight years old, the current Mini Countryman ranked an excellent joint 11th place.

    An all-new Mini Countryman was announced in Autumn 2023, which will arrive in the UK in early 2024. Unlike the current one, it will also be available as an all-electric model. We’ll have an Expert Rating published on this model as soon as the first media reviews are published.

    Key specifications


    Body style: Medium hatchback/crossover
    Engines: petrol, plug-in hybrid
    Price: From £29,290 on-road

    Launched: Spring 2017
    Last updated: Winter 2020/21
    Replacement due: Winter 2023/24


    Media reviews


    Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

    The Car Expert

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    Auto Express

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    Auto Trader

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    Autocar

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    Car

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    Car Keys

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    Carbuyer

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    Carwow

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    Company Car Today

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    Evo

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    Fleetworld

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    Heycar

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    Honest John

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    Motors.co.uk

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    Parkers

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    The Sun

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    The Sunday Times

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    The Telegraph

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    Top Gear

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    What Car?

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    Which?

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    Safety rating


    Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

    Overall score: 5 stars
    Date tested: May 2017
    Read the full Euro NCAP review

    Adult protection: 90%
    Child protection: 80%
    Vulnerable road users: 64%
    Safety assist: 51%

    Eco rating


    Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

    No eco rating

    As of October 2023, the Mini Countryman has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.

    Reliability rating

    MotorEasy logo 600x167

    Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

    All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

    As of October 2022, the Mini Countryman has a poor reliability score of 36%, according to exclusive extended warranty data provided by our partners at MotorEasy.

    The majority of problems with the Countryman relate to its engine, which is unfortunately the most expensive claim category with an average repair cost of about £3,000. Another area to look out for is the braking system, although at least these faults are much cheaper with an average repair bill of around £300.

    If you’re looking at a used Mini Countryman, make sure any extended warranty cover you purchase covers all of these potential problem areas.

    Running cost rating

    Clear Vehicle Data logo close crop

    Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

    Fuel consumptionAverageScoreVariationScore
    Petrol models42 mpgD39 – 45 mpgC – D
    Diesel models54 mpgB50 – 58 mpgB – B
    Plug-in hybrid models158 mpgA149 – 166 mpgA – A
    CO₂ outputAverageScoreVariationScore
    Petrol models150 g/kmB143 – 175 g/kmB – C
    Diesel models139 g/kmB129 – 149 g/kmA – B
    Plug-in hybrid models41 g/kmA40 – 42 g/kmA – A
    Battery rangeAverageScoreVariationScore
    Plug-in hybrid models32 milesE29 – 51 milesC – E
    Insurance groupAverageScoreVariationScore
    All models23B16 – 50A – F
    Service and maintenanceCostScore
    Year 1£185A
    Year 2£476A
    Year 3£781A
    Year 4£1,028B
    Year 5£1,361A
    Overall£3,831A

    The Mini Countryman range is a fairly inexpensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost information provided to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

    The petrol models are not very fuel efficient, which is the biggest concern. The diesels are better but are no longer available new, so you’re limited to looking at the used car market. The plug-in hybrid model looks amazing on paper, but this is largely a function of inadequate EU/UK government lab testing that results in basically useless figures for plug-in hybrids – there are no real-world scenarios where you’re going to travel for 158 miles on one gallon (4.5 litres) of petrol and a bit of electricity…

    The battery range on the plug-in hybrid isn’t great, but could still be enough for your day-to-day driving if you’re gentle on the accelerator pedal.

    The good news is that insurance and servicing costs are likely to be very competitive, with an excellent set of results in these categories.

    Awards


    Trophies, prizes and awards that the Mini Countryman has received

    2023

    • What Car? EV Awards – Best Hybrid Small SUV + Best Used Hybrid Small SUV

    2022

    • What Car? EV Awards – Best Used Hybrid Small SUV

    2021

    • What Car? EV Awards – Best Used Hybrid Small SUV

    Similar cars


    If you’re looking at the Mini Countryman, you might also be interested in these alternatives

    Alfa Romeo Giulietta | Citroën C4Fiat TipoFord Focus | Honda Civic | Hyundai i30Kia Ceed | Mazda 3 | Peugeot 308 | SEAT Leon | Skoda Scala | Skoda OctaviaToyota Corolla | Vauxhall Astra | Volkswagen Golf


    More news, reviews and information about the Mini Countryman at The Car Expert

    New Mini Countryman crossover debuts

    New Mini Countryman crossover debuts

    Mini Countryman gets updated styling and cleaner engines

    Mini Countryman gets updated styling and cleaner engines

    Mini Countryman and Clubman JCW models updated

    Mini Countryman and Clubman JCW models updated

    MINI Countryman review

    MINI Countryman review

    Skoda, MINI and Nissan receive five-star Euro NCAP ratings

    Skoda, MINI and Nissan receive five-star Euro NCAP ratings

    MINI minor updates across the range

    MINI minor updates across the range

    New Mini Countryman is biggest yet

    New Mini Countryman is biggest yet

    Mini Countryman goes large – and electric

    Mini Countryman goes large – and electric

    Mini Countryman plug-in hybrid to launch in 2017

    Mini Countryman plug-in hybrid to launch in 2017

    Worst cars of the year? 2012’s least-inspiring efforts

    Worst cars of the year? 2012’s least-inspiring efforts

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    Subscribe to a Mini Countryman


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    The top cars in every category

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    The Mini Countryman has received good media reviews, with the plug-in hybrid scoring better and the JCW model not as well.Mini Countryman