2012 MINI Countryman Baltimore

Check out our new MINI Cooper Countryman Inventory in MD!

For 2012, the MINI Countryman's already lengthy options list adds a mirror-mounted digital compass, plus premium items such as a two-tone leather steering wheel, the option of a 3 seat rear bench, and unique wheels and upholstery. The Countryman is a logical extension of the MINI Cooper line. It remains true to the character and style of Mini, delivers the performance and driving engagement you expect from Mini, while offering more space, practicality, and the option of all-wheel drive. The MINI Countryman is larger than any MINI before, with four doors and available all-wheel drive. Everything outside looks new, but many of the basic bones of the car are identical to or derived from other MINI Cooper models, including the engines. It's as much a car for new buyers as for MINI owners with new friends, a larger dog, or another offspring.

2012 MINI Cooper Countryman Handling

MINI Countryman comes standard with a 121-hp 1.6-liter engine and front-wheel drive. MINI Cooper S Countryman features a 181-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter engine and front-wheel drive.  All models come with a 6-speed manual or optional 6-speed automatic.  Agility has always been a MINI hallmark, one frequently likened to kart-like handling. The Countryman is no different, with crisp handling and response to driver direction that is the envy of most other crossovers. All 2012 Countryman models come with a Sport button that makes the engine respond to the throttle faster. Brakes work just the same as a MINI Cooper, responding immediately as the pedal begins to move, and you don't need to press it very far to get a high rate of retardation. Turning or braking, or both simultaneously, the Countryman stays planted and doesn't lean sideways or forward. Given it's built on a widened version of other MINI chassis this comes as no surprise.

Design of the '12 MINI Countryman

Up front headlights remain larger than life, more squarish than other Coopers, and bi-xenon lights are optional. It has the same pouting-lip smirk but is broader and taller at the hood-line, partially for government regulations regarding pedestrian safety. Countryman S and ALL4 models have extra openings in the matrix grilles, one a slot above the bumper that replaces the hood scoop on other Coopers to feed cold air to the intercooler, and chrome-surrounded squared openings near the fog lights for directing cooling air to the front brakes. Apart from wheels, the Countryman S is distinguished by a badge on the side scuttle, the chrome slice that extends from the windshield pillar to the front wheel opening and houses the turn signal repeater. All-wheel-drive models have the same scuttle and an ALL4 badge on the front doors. While the standard Countryman has a single tailpipe and black license plate panel, Countryman S and ALL4 models have a single outlet on each side with a hex-patterned panel in between above a chrome strip, and fake air extractors behind the rear wheels with a horizontal-slat pattern for the insert.

2012 Cooper Countryman Interior

Inside, the rear seats are a bit more spacious in the Countryman than they are in the regular Mini Coopers. All MINI Coopers have four seats, but the Countryman is a realistic four-adult car. The Countryman has also four conventional doors, so it's easier to get in or load kids, and can handle 41 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats or a third of that in the deep trunk. Upholstery is cloth, leather or a combination of cloth inserts and leather side bolsters on the seats. Piping is available for the seats. Door panel inserts have some soft-touch surfaces, the floor is carpeted and the roof a fuzzy fabric, and most of the trim pieces are plastic. Nothing looks out of place nor a cost-cutting measure, the texturing neither fine sand nor fish scales in style, and no sharp edges on mold lines or where pieces meet. The front seats are reasonably comfortable, and the available sport seats are up to the car's capability. The cushions are adjustable for height but not angle, so longer legs may find thigh support minimal and tend to submarine, sliding down and forward over time.

MINI Countryman Lineup 2012

MINI Countryman includes leatherette upholstery, air conditioning, power mirrors, locks and four auto-up/down windows, alloy wheels, six-way manual front seats, sliding and reclining rear seats, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, pushbutton start, rear wash/wipe, adjustable-color ambient lighting, trip computer, center rail storage, and AM/FM/CD/satellite radio with one-year subscription.

Countryman S adds traction control and sport seats to the standard equipment list, and is distinguished by mildly different trim and grille.

MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 upgrades the S with all-wheel drive.

Conclusions

Safety features standard include six airbags, stability control, anti-lock brakes with cornering brake control and brake hold. Traction control is standard on S and ALL4 and optional on Countryman. All-wheel drive on the ALL4 enhances safety in slippery conditions. For more details on this new model, visit the official MINI Cooper Countryman website!

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com