Mini Countryman
NEW: An SUV for Mini, the brand previously seen as the anti-SUV.
Noteworthy: The new Countryman stretches the definition of Mini. Compared with the hatchback, it's nearly a foot and a half longer and six inches taller, and it sits astride a four-inch-longer wheelbase. The cabin is familiar Mini (giant central speedometer, overdone circular design theme), only writ larger. Four adults can fit (but not five, as the rear seats are buckets) and, unlike in the Clubman, conventional rear doors make access easy. The Countryman comes as a Cooper and a Cooper S, which use updated 1.6-liter engines-other Minis get them starting this fall.
The base engine increases to 122 hp, while the turbo produces 184 hp and is available with all-wheel drive. In our initial drive of the Countryman, it was slower than its siblings (no surprise, given its extra weight) but still managed to be fun and tossable despite being a bigger and taller Mini.
On sale: Early 2011
BASE PRICE: $26,500 (est.)
SPECS: 1.6L I-4, 122 hp, 118 lb-ft; 1.6L turbo I-4, 184 hp, 192 lb-ft: front- or 4-wheel drive
The Twitter Feed:
Yes, it will be anathema to some Mini loyalists, but the Countryman is more Mini than SUV.
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