2019 Mini Countryman Plug-In Hybrid Road Test and Review

The MINI Cooper SE Countryman is the brand’s first plug-in hybrid, giving those who crave the quirkiness of a Mini a fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly option. Much of a Mini’s appeal is in that quirky style, so Mini doesn’t mess with how its plug-in looks. It easily blends in with the rest of the lineup, which will make purists happy. The story is similar inside, where this is first and foremost a Mini.

It is still a hybrid, however, so you’ll get better fuel economy than you will with the rest of the Countryman lineup along with the savings that come from being able to plug in and charge. While charging stations were once hard to find, they’re becoming commonplace and easy to work into your everyday lifestyle. Let’s take a closer look at the 2019 Mini Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 PHEV and see if it’s the plug-in hybrid for you.

There’s a choice of three trim levels. The base Classic has a starting price of $36,900, and standard features include a 6.5-inch infotainment screen, a panoramic roof, sport seats, and a leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel. There’s also a six-speaker audio system with AM/FM/HD Radio and Bluetooth connectivity. The Signature adds a touchscreen, heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a forward-collision warning with emergency braking for $39,400.

Sitting at the top of the lineup is the Iconic at $44,400 with an 8.8-inch touchscreen, navigation, Apple CarPlay, leather seating surfaces, and LED headlights and taillights. In any trim, even the Classic, the Countryman PHEV doesn’t come cheap. Although there are savings to be had over the long-term with the ability to plug in and use electricity rather than gas, it’s not cheap at the outset, which puts it out of reach for those with a more modest budget.

A single powertrain choice is offered throughout the Countryman PHEV lineup. It includes a 1.5-liter twin-turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline engine with 134 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, along with an electric motor with 87 horsepower and 133 lb-ft of torque. That gives you a total system output of 221 horsepower and 284 lb-ft of torque paired to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Three available eDrive modes determine how power is derived from that system. Auto eDrive uses electric power at speeds up to 55 mph except under hard acceleration, while Max eDrive increases the top all-electric speed to 78 mph. There’s also Save Battery mode, which uses only the gas engine and keeps the battery charge level above 90 percent. This is a small vehicle, so it doesn’t need astounding numbers, and the MINI Countryman PHEV is plenty peppy. It’s easy to merge into high-speed traffic and has a smooth, quiet transmission.

Mini has a reputation for building vehicles that are fun to drive. They’re the kinds of cars you look forward to taking on winding country roads and the Countryman PHEV lives up to that reputation. Gone are the days when hybrids were underpowered roller skates that were miserable to drive and noisy. Today’s hybrids combine fuel efficiency and fun.

The Countryman PHEV has tight, crisp handling that tends toward the sporty side of the spectrum. It never goes too far, however, keeping a good balance between responsiveness and comfort. It’s relaxed and easy on a meandering road without getting sloppy when it comes time for quick maneuvers on the highway. All but the roughest surfaces are easily smoothed out, giving passengers a comfortable ride, and road and wind noise are kept to a minimum to make conversation easy.

Fuel economy is at the top of the list when you buy a plug-in hybrid. The 2019 Mini Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 PHEV gets an EPA-estimated 65 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) combined when using both gas and electric power. Using gas only, it gets an EPA-estimated 27 mpg. It’s a fuel-efficient vehicle that will cut your fuel expenses, and as a plug-in hybrid, the Countryman PHEV lets you maximize the benefits of having electric power by deciding when and where you charge.

You can choose to plug-in only at the charging stations with the best rates or you can schedule your car to charge at home during times when electricity rates are at their lowest. If your focus is on saving money on fuel, then the Countryman PHEV is a good choice.

The benefit to a hybrid versus an electric vehicle is not having to worry about running out of juice. If you run down the charge, then it simply kicks over to the gas engine and you’re driving the old-fashioned way. The benefit to a plug-in hybrid over a hybrid is that you can plug-in and top off that charge whenever you choose. A little bit of planning can reduce the number of times you have to bother stopping at the gas station.

The MINI Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 PHEV has an all-electric range of 12 miles with an overall range of 270 miles. It takes 3 hours and 15 minutes to fully charge at a 240-volt charger. You won’t get a full charge during a quick stop running errands, but you can easily get a full charge while you’re at the office and be ready for the evening commute.

The interior of the Countryman PHEV is pure Mini with all the rounded dials and cockpit-like switches common to the brand's lineup. It looks a bit overwhelming at first glance, but it’s all quite simple and straightforward once you give it a minute. Materials are of good quality with well-chosen finishes that keep the abundance of plastic from making this Mini feel cheap. Even the fabric seating surfaces are appealing with a look and feel superior to what is typical in base trims.

Seating is supportive and heavily bolstered up front, all the better for having fun on winding roads. Despite the heavy bolstering, the seats aren’t snug. They’re wide enough so even those with a larger frame will find plenty of room for their shoulders. There’s room for three in the rear seats, but it realistically seats two adults and is short on legroom.

The infotainment system includes a 6.5-inch color screen that becomes a touchscreen in the middle trim and a standard 8.8-inch touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and wireless charging in the top trim. Android Auto isn’t available regardless of the trim level you choose, but Mini says it’s coming soon. There’s also a smartphone app that lets you access important vehicle information including fuel level and where you parked your car.

It’s a decent system, but the absence of Android Auto is a negative, as is the availability of the larger screen only when you opt for the top trim or a $1,700 package on the mid-range trim. This isn’t an inexpensive vehicle in the first place, and it could do with a better system in the base model for the overall price of the car.

The Countryman PHEV has not been crash-tested by either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In the absence of crash tests, we can look at safety based on standard and available features.

Standard on every Countryman PHEV are all-wheel drive and rear parking sensors. The Signature trim adds the Active Driving Assistant system with a forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, speed information, and high-beam assist. There’s also an available Driver Assistance Package for $1,250 with front parking sensors, active cruise control, a parking assistant, and head-up display. That same package is available for $850 on the top trim, with a price reduction since the head-up display is a standard feature. As is typical, the base trim has limited features, while standard and available features on the rest of the lineup are solid.

The Countryman PHEV adds a fun plug-in hybrid to the Mini lineup. Three available trims offer a good range of features with a comfortable interior. It maintains the familiar Mini style inside and out rather than trying to look different simply because it’s a plug-in hybrid, which is a plus. More importantly, it keeps the ride and handling for which the brand is known making it an enjoyable car to drive.

Where it falls short is pricing, which is high no matter the trim you choose. It makes up for some of that initial cost over the long-term with its great fuel efficiency, but especially in the top trim, this is not an affordable choice. Still, the 2019 Mini Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 PHEV will win you over for combining plug-in hybrid fuel efficiency with the crisp handling and smooth ride of a Mini.