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FIRST DRIVE

Mini Countryman JCW

High-per formance version of Mini’s new family SUV promises to liven up the school run On sale Spring Price from £ 41,520 Lawrence Cheung lawrence.cheung@haymarket.com

WHILE THE ELECTRIC Countryman you’ve just read about brings a modern twist to Mini’s family SUV range, those who’d rather have one with a petrol engine will be pleased to see three options are available: an entry-level 1.5-litre Countryman C and the 2.0-litre Countryman S and John Cooper Works (JCW). We’re testing the latter, which packs the most punch with 296bhp and a 0-62mph sprint time of 5.4sec.

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What Car?
Apr-24
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WELCOME
WELCOME
‘Voice control used to be rudimentary at best,
Target Price
The What Car? Target Price is the maximum
SUVs COMING SOON
Peugeot e-3008
There are more new SUVs on the way this year than you can shake a stick at. Here’s our guide to the imminent ar rivals
Mini Countryman E, SE
Latest iteration of this family SUV is larger than ever and available in electric form for the first time On sale May Price from £42,080
Audi Q4 e-tron
New motor, faster charging and revised suspension for Audi’s popular electric SUV On sale Spring Price from £51,440
Volkswagen ID 5 GTX
Quickest version of this electric coupé SUV gets more power and revised suspension On sale Spring Price from £55,705
Nissan Juke
Big-selling small SUV gets more tech and the choice of hybrid power across the range On sale Late March Price from £23,485
Renault Symbioz
New hybrid family SUV will be followed by plug-in hybrid and electric versions On sale Spring Price from £30,000 (est)
Volkswagen Tiguan
Family SUV sticks to a proven formula in its latest iteration while boosting tech and practicality On sale Spring Price from £34,060
BMW X2
X1 family SUV’s sleeker stablemate has grown to promise more practicality than before On sale Late March Price from £41,110
Skoda Kamiq
Refreshed small SUV gets tweaked engines and a tech injection while maintaining a common-sense theme On sale April Price from £24,030
Mercedes-Benz EQA
Cheaper, longer-range version of Mercedes’ smallest EV joins a refreshed line -up On sale Spring Price from £49,750
Mercedes-Benz EQB
Seven-seat electric SUV benefits from similar updates to its sibling On sale Spring Price from £52,800
Volvo EX40
Revamp for this upmarket electric SUV brings a new name and a larger battery option On sale April Price from £46,505
Kia EV9 Air
Does the entry-level version of Kia’s seven-seat electric SUV make the most sense? On sale Spring Price from £65,025
Range Rover Sport SV
With 626bhp, this sports SUV is the most potent Range Rover yet On sale Spring Price from £171,460
Alfa Romeo Milano
Italian brand’s first all- electric car is a close relative of the Jeep Avenger On sale Late 2024 Price from £38,000 (est)
Volvo EX90
Volvo’s largest model – the seven-seat XC90 – now has an all-electric twin On sale Autumn Price from £96,255
Ineos Fusilier
New electric SUV aims to mix green credentials with off-road ability On sale Spring 2027 Price from £90,000 (est)
FIRST DRIVES
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Toyota targets a wider audience with a smaller, cheaper electric model than the bZ4X On sale Late 2024 Price from £35,000 (est)
Volkswagen Passat
Long-running executive car enters its ninth generation – exclusively as an estate On sale April Price from £38,480
BMW 5 Series
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Aston Martin Vantage
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Skoda Octavia
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BUYER’S GUIDE
Small cars
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Hot hatches
Small SUVs
Family SUVs
Seven-seaters
Executive cars
Luxury cars
Plug-in hybrids
Electric cars
Electric SUVs
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