The second generation of the Mini Countryman crossover was introduced in the fall of 2016, which means that the time has come for planned restyling. Despite the growing popularity of crossovers, the classic hatchback is still the best-selling model of the Mini brand. Yet in Europe, demand for Countryman has been growing for four years in a row – and an updated version should help consolidate success.
Even after restyling, Countryman retained a recognizable appearance. Although the bumpers are changed, the fully LED headlights, which from now on rely even on the initial configurations, are decorated a little differently – with rectangular lens housings instead of round ones. Union Jack in the taillights migrated from Mini-hatchbacks, the radiator grill is now visually divided into two parts, alloy wheels of a new design have appeared, and “off-road” accents in appearance have become even greater, especially for versions with the letter S and hybrid modification SE. For all trim levels for a surcharge, the Piano Black Exterior package is offered, when selected, the chrome inserts on the body are replaced with similar black parts.
The dashboard, traditional for Mini, nevertheless gave way to a five-inch display, which previously debuted on the Mini Cooper SE electric hatchback and the extreme version of John Cooper Works GP. In the center of the front panel is a modified media system with an 8.8-inch touch screen and a slightly modified control unit. Ample personalization options now include new interior finishes.
The Mini Countryman was updated only a year after the BMW X1 cross-platform crossover, however, it got a rechargeable hybrid version in the European market three years earlier. All-wheel drive Mini Cooper SE Countryman is still equipped with a power plant with a turbo 1.5, a six-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor in the rear axle drive. Peak power is 220 hp, and a battery charge of 9.6 kWh lasts for 61 km without a gasoline engine.
In addition to the hybrid, the company, as before, offers three gasoline and diesel modifications. After the upgrade, all engines meet the new Euro 6d eco-standards: gasoline units are equipped with diesel particulate filters, and diesel engines are equipped with dual-flow turbochargers and an AdBlue urea injection system. The gasoline range includes the three-cylinder versions of One (1.5 L, 102 hp) and Cooper (1.5 L, 136 HP), but the four-cylinder Cooper S modification engine is “strangled” from 192 to 178 liters. with. – Apparently, to create a greater gap between modifications with internal combustion engines and a hybrid version. The efficiency of diesel engines has not changed. The One D version has a three-cylinder unit 1.5 (116 hp), while the more expensive Countrymen are equipped with a two-liter turbodiesel – these are the Cooper D (150 hp) and Cooper SD (190 hp) variants.
The only change in the range of transmissions is the abolition of the combination of all-wheel drive with the “mechanics” (previously Cooper and Cooper D had this). From now on, only front wheel drive Countrymen can be three-pedal. There are two automatic transmissions in the gamut. Front-wheel drive crossovers in versions of One, Cooper, Cooper S and One D since the year before last put a seven-speed “robot” with two clutches. And with the Cooper D version and with all-wheel drive modifications, this is a classic eight-speed automatic.
In Europe, prices for the updated Mini Countryman start at 29,500 euros. The first cars will appear at dealerships in the summer, and crossovers will reach our market a little later (our prices have not yet been announced). Now they are asking for a minimum of 1 million 925 thousand rubles for the pre-reform Mini Countryman – this is the price of the Cooper version with “mechanics”.
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