Not since the Tesla Model 3 arrived in 2017 have I been so taken aback by the cabin of a car (at least the sensible ones, so not counting any Paganis) – and I mean that in a positive sense.
In the case of the Tesla, the sheer minimalism was of major ergonomic concern but the lightfilled ambience was superb. The new Mini Countryman, with its bezel-less touchscreen and lack of an instrument binnacle, takes clear inspiration from the American EV, but as for materials and design, its ethos is contrastingly maximalist yet every bit as compelling.
Some highlights: the monolithic, swept-back dash, with its portraitoriented vents, is very Mercedes S-Class and pleasing to the eye; the circular screen has a spectacular floating effect; the rust-on-petrol, open-weave knit adorning the dash and doors with middling Exclusive trim could easily be from Missoni; the door handles have an appealing campaign-chest aesthetic; and the bottom spoke of the steering wheel is in fact a taut tongue of fabric.