Used 2019 MINI Countryman

As the largest Mini, the 2019 Cooper Countryman blends the brilliant driving dynamics of its smaller companions with a roomy and versatile interior. At the same time, it has more ground clearance than other Minis, so it’s totally at home on dirt roads, especially when fitted with ALL4, the Countryman’s optional all-wheel-drive system. With its familiar style and retro interior, the Countryman appeals to adventurous Mini fans who may be considering a Subaru Crosstrek or a Jeep Compass. A Countryman Cooper S E ALL4 also is available: it’s a plug-in hybrid model with a 65-MPGe rating.

In spite of its added size, weight and ground clearance, the Countryman has the agility you’d expect of a car wearing the Mini badge. The steering is quick and responsive, and it takes only a few moments behind the wheel of this crossover SUV on a winding mountain road to fall in love with the 2019 Mini Countryman. While the standard engine, a turbocharged 1.5-liter 3-cylinder with 134 horsepower, is fine for daily commutes, the added oomph provided by the 189-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder in the S model is hard to resist, as there is almost no penalty in fuel economy. And of course, there’s the 228-horsepower John Cooper Works option, but that pushes the price up by more than $6,000. The S model, though firm, is a good compromise, mixing strong acceleration with good composure, especially when it’s ordered with all-wheel drive.

Mini’s Countryman is based on a larger platform than its predecessor, which makes the cabin roomier than you might expect. The second row has four inches more legroom, and its seat slides, reclines and folds, while also offering a 40/20/40-split to accommodate people and cargo. The quality of materials is first-rate. Various types of interior leather are available, as are a panoramic sunroof, smartphone charging, a head-up display and a navigation system. But there’s still plenty of Mini in this Countryman, with accent lighting, oversized displays and those retro toggle switches.

In the Mini world, the new Countryman looks least like the traditional 2-door Hardtop. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t look like a Mini; it’s as if the Mini were stretched and lifted. The 2019 Countryman has a more expressive face, a longer hood and longer rear end. The cargo area features a liftgate and fold-out picnic cushion. Although we see lots of Countrymen on the streets, very few look identical because the Mini order form allows lots of personalization.

SECOND-ROW SEATING
Unlike the Mini Hardtop, the Countryman offers a roomy and comfortable rear seat, with plenty of legroom. Even taller occupants will feel at home, and the split 40/20/40 seat can slide fore and aft, as well as fold, recline and tilt.

CONCIERGE SERVICES
When you press the Countryman’s new SOS button, you can ask Mini agents for help with finding a local restaurant, gas station, or hotel. The agents can even send addresses to the vehicle’s navigation system, which now also gets automatic over-the-air map updates.

The Countryman comes standard with a 3-cylinder engine, a 6-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive (FWD) and Mini’s selectable Green, Normal and Sport driving modes. A panoramic sunroof (a delete option) and automatic climate control also are standard on every 2019 Mini Countryman, along with a sliding rear seat. What’s more, all Countrymen have eight airbags, 17-inch wheels, automatic headlights, Bluetooth, a rearview camera and rear park-distance control, plus Attentiveness Assist, automatic rain-sensing wipers and a 6.5-inch screen with Mini Connected.

Countryman buyers can opt for the 4-cylinder engine, an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD). While some options are stand-alone items, most are part of the eight available packages. These include the Touchscreen Navigation Package (Apple CarPlay), Convenience Package (power tailgate), Driver Assistance Package (active cruise control), Classic Trim Package (panoramic moonroof), Iconic Trim Package (touch-screen nav), Premium Package (power front seats), Signature Trim Package (18-inch alloy wheels) and Signature Upholstery Package (leather-wrapped steering wheel).

While the notion of a 3-cylinder engine powering a Mini crossover SUV sounds like a potential cause for concern, the turbocharged 1.5-liter in the standard Countryman has more horsepower than the engine in the 2016 base model, and nearly as much torque as the previous Cooper Countryman S. The base 2019 Mini Countryman isn’t quick, but it’s faster than you’d think. It’s backed by a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed automatic or an 8-speed automatic, all of which are programmed to wring out every bit of this engine’s power. Most people are likely to choose the 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, given its blend of power and fuel economy. With the four, you can choose a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic with or without paddle shifters. The plug-in hybrid, the Cooper S E ALL4, uses the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor for a combined 221 horsepower. AWD is standard, as is a 6-speed automatic transmission.

1.5-liter turbocharged inline-3 (Countryman)
134 horsepower @ 4,400 rpm
162 lb-ft of torque @ 1,250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/33 mpg (FWD, manual), 24/32 mpg (FWD, automatic), 22/32 mpg (AWD, manual), 23/30 mpg (AWD, automatic)

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (S Countryman)
189 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm
207 lb-ft of torque @ 1,350 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/32 mpg (FWD, automatic), 21/30 mpg (AWD, manual), 22/31 mpg (AWD, automatic)

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (John Cooper Works Countryman)
228 horsepower @ 5,200 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,450 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/30 mpg (manual), 22/30 mpg (automatic)

1.5-liter turbocharged inline-3/electric motor assist (S E ALL4 Countryman)
221 horsepower (combined)
284 lb-ft of torque @ 1,350 rpm (combined)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27 mpg combined, 65 mpge