Forward facing
MINI COUNTRYMAN JCW ALL4
FOR Fabulous interior, distinctive character, well engineered
AGAINST It’s grown so much it’s hardly a Mini or a hot hatch
This is the third generation Countryman, the model in the (now not so) New Mini lineup that tested the definition of ‘mini’ to the point of destruction. Well, if you thought the previous two iterations were packing a little excess timber, get a load of this one.
It’s a resounding 130mm longer than the outgoing model and 60mm taller, a growth spurt that moves the Countryman out of crossover territory and closer to a full-size SUV. At 4.43m, it’s not far off the length of an original Range Rover, a fact that would likely have Sir Alec Issigonis rotating in his grave. The big news is the arrival of the first fully electric Countryman, in E and SE All4 versions. Both are powered by the same 65kWh battery pack, making 201 or 309bhp and delivering a range of 287 or 269 miles.