The 2024 MINI Countryman is available in two trims: Countryman C and Countryman S ALL4.
Yes, it’s grown! No more unfunny sarcastic dad jokes about MINIs not being minis anymore.
The MINI Countryman hasn’t been a Mini for years now, but the car is still a great SUV and the brand has managed to transfer its core fundamentals to a larger vehicle – the challenge with this new generation is to replicate that transition again.
Can lightning strike twice? Let’s go on record and say, yes!
exterior
The exterior of the 2024 MINI Countryman sets the theme for the rest of the vehicle, and the best way to describe the new look is that someone from the future came back, looked at the original, and went back to that time to create it.
The word retro-future sums it all up. The overall shape is simplified and sharpened for an angular look while still retaining plenty of connections to design elements of the past. Take the roofline, the front lights and the rear lights. These three elements are reinterpreted from the past to the future. The roofline, available in a contrasting color, continues its gentle curve to the rear with a new C-pillar design. The LED headlights are no longer round but more squared off, but still retain the distinctive outer light ring. The front and rear lights can be changed to one of several patterns with just a few presses within the infotainment system.
Of course, many MINIs can be customised and the Countryman S ALL4 we tested, with its John Cooper Works package, futuristic logo and more, is a visually striking sight, riding on new 20-inch wheels.
interior
The interior is even more dramatic in every respect. Those familiar with MINI lore will immediately realise what else the new platform has done besides increased passenger space. In the iconic original MINI Cooper, the instruments took centre stage. For the 2024 model year, they have returned to their roots: all driver instruments have been moved to a round OLED infotainment screen with a diameter of 240 mm. Its size and clarity mean the driver has no problem getting used to the new orientation.
Secondly, the brand’s boldness and eccentricity are on display. The dash and cabin are covered in soft fabrics that contrast pleasantly with other materials, such as copper accents. Everything comes to life when the alternative experience of the mode is engaged and MINI’s delightful ambient lighting is turned up a notch. Otherwise, the seats are comfortable, especially for the driver with massage function. Rear passengers can recline slightly while enjoying loud music from the excellent stereo system. Five people can be comfortably seated, and the trunk is well-equipped with modern amenities as well as numerous storage solutions, including a quirky, non-traditional interpretation of the centre console.
MINI’s quirky nature is well-expressed in its infotainment: it’s fast, logically laid out for use on the move, puts key information in the driver’s sights, and has the funky ability to generate inescapable audio and visual responses when switching modes (nay, experiences), as well as a digital recreation of the original MINI central speedometer.
on the road
Behind the wheel, the Countryman S hasn’t lost any of its driving appeal. The John Cooper Works trim is typically for those looking for something a little sportier, so the slight compromise of the larger tire package is acceptable. The suspension still handles Jamaican moon-crater-like roads well, but the 20-inch wheels occasionally let the sound of tires meeting the road into the quiet cabin. Switch to the go-kart experience and, with a very video-game-like yell and a red-light transition, the Countryman is ready to go. The new power figures mean it’s never slower on the straights, and with the grip of the ALL4 system and the new tire package, it’s just as quick to disappear through corners.
The 2024 MINI Countryman carries over a lot of the fun from the past while keeping all the important bits like improved performance and SUV practicality beneath the surface for a unique ownership experience.
