The second-generation Mini Countryman crossover will be priced from AUD 39,900 plus on-road costs when it arrives in Australia at the end of March, an increase offset by significant specification increases.

Mini’s new small SUV is a significant step forward on its predecessor in every area, and will fight in a more congested segment, principally against the imminent Audi Q2, as well as the Mercedes-Benz GLA. It also sees the manual gearbox axed.


The new Countryman, based on an entirely new architecture shared in part with the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer as well as the Mini Clubman, is slightly bigger than before, and offers appreciably more headroom and rear legroom.

It’s also vastly more practical, with 40/20/40 folding rear seats that both slide (up to 130 mm) and recline, and a cargo space increase of about 25 per cent to 450L with the back sets occupied. The base front-wheel drive (FWD) Countryman Cooper spec is up from AUD 34,150 (for the now-axed manual) in current iteration, but significantly better equipped.


Power comes from the company’s familiar 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 136 Hp of power and 200 Nm of torque, giving the car a 0-100 km/h time of 9.6sec and fuel consumption of 6.0L/100km (claimed). This engine is matched to a standard six-speed automatic gearbox, with the manual axed due to almost no market demand.

Standard equipment includes: reversing camera; park assist; keyless entry and go; DAB+ digital radio; cloth/leather seats; climate control; a 6.5-inch screen with sat-nav; 18-inch alloy wheels; automatic electric tailgate and a cool Mini projection on the pavement at night.


Finally, you get the Driver Assistant package standard, which adds the the adaptive cruise system technologies such as low-speed autonomous brakes, auto high-beam; a speed-limit warning and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go.

Next up the tree is the FWD Countryman Cooper D, with a 150 Hp/330 Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine that uses a claimed 4.8L/100km of fuel and cuts the 0-100 km/h time to 8.8 sec. It comes with the same spec as the base Cooper, but adds an eight-speed auto from the Clubman. The price is AUD 43,900.


Beyond both of the base Coopers sits the FWD Mini Countryman Cooper S, priced at AUD 46,500. Power comes from the hatchback’s familiar 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol four with 192 Hp and 280 Nm, cutting the 0-100km/h time to a sprightly 7.4 sec. The eight-speed auto from the Cooper D is standard.

Additional specification over the base Coopers includes various driving modes (changing the gearbox shift points, throttle mapping and steering resistance); twin-pipes; a John Cooper Works (JCW) steering wheel; rear folding armrest and full LED headlights.


Topping the range, in line of the full-flat JCW, for now is the Countryman Cooper SD All4, which sports an on-demand all-wheel drive (AWD) system that defaults to the front wheels, a potent 190 Hp/400 Nm turbo-diesel engine and a 7.4 sec 0-100 km/h time. The price is AUD 51,500, and specification mirrors the Cooper S.