2020 MINI Countryman Road Test and Review

Remember when small suvs were fun? Mini does. The brand that practically invented the premium small car segment has never done boring, and its compact crossover, the 2020 MINI Countryman, is seriously fun. It’s also Mini’s largest and most popular model.

Small SUVs are exploding in popularity as more and more buyers are choosing vehicles like the Countryman over sedans and coupes. The fast-growing segment is overflowing with new products from around the globe, but this practical, fun-to-drive, and fuel-efficient Mini remains one of our favorites. And it’s been updated for the new model year. Although it’s an iconic British brand, Mini is owned by BMW and the Countryman is built in the Netherlands. It’s offered in several variations, including the 2020 MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4, which is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The Countryman competes with the BMW X1, Audi Q3, Mercedes GLA-Class, Lexus UX, and Volvo XC40.

The 2020 MINI Countryman is available in four models: the Cooper, the more popular Cooper S, the new 301-hp high-performance John Cooper Works, and the Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 plug-in hybrid. The Cooper and Cooper S models are available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the latter known as ALL4 and costing $2,000 more. There are also three trim levels: Classic, Signature, and Iconic.

Cooper models are powered by a 134-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, which is lively, very smooth, and fuel-efficient. Mini says it can accelerate to 60 mph in 9.3 seconds. Our front-wheel drive Cooper S test car was powered by a turbocharged 189-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder and Mini’s excellent new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which is also standard on the Cooper. All-wheel drive models get a conventional eight-speed automatic. Mini is also quick to brag that it still offers a manual transmission in every model and variant. Countryman prices start at just over $29,000, including an $850 destination charge, which is a $1,500 increase over last year. The better-equipped Cooper S starts just under $33,000.

At the top of the MINI Cooper Countryman food chain are the new 301 hp high-performance John Cooper Works and the Cooper S E Countryman ALL4. Each is quite unique in this class. The all-wheel drive Countryman JCW isn’t just one of the most powerful small suvs available, but also the most powerful and the fastest Mini ever. The Cooper S E is one of the only plug-in hybrids in this class, and this year Mini has increased the size of its battery pack from 7.6 kWh to 9.6 kWh. The company says this will increase both the electric and overall range of the vehicle from 12 miles to approximately 16 all-electric miles and increase a buyer's potential tax credit from $4,001 to $4,835.

But back to the new John Cooper Works model, which was tuned on Germany’s Nurburgring — one of the most challenging racetracks in the world. It’s powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder, and gets special aerodynamics and a specifically tuned suspension for increased handling capabilities. It’s produced at MINI’s Oxford, England factory and only 3,000 will be available for global distribution. It’s unclear how many will reach U.S. showrooms next summer. Its price will be $45,750.

Mini is known for its comfortable, high-quality interiors that feature funky design and unusual switchgear and layouts. When you’re in a Mini, any Mini, you know you’re in a Mini, and the cabin of the 2020 MINI Countryman is one of our favorites in the small SUV class. It offers quality materials, impeccable fit and finish, and artistic details like toggle switches, chrome bezels, and red stitching. It’s also focused on the driver, with a thick leather-wrapped steering wheel, a well-placed shifter, and clean instrumentation.

The Countryman is a spacious little thing with plenty of headroom, and the heated leather front seats in our test vehicle were supportive and comfortable. Its driver’s seat is also height-adjustable, and a tilting and telescopic steering wheel is standard. Our test vehicle featured the Iconic trim package, which costs an extra $8,000 and includes a power tailgate, panoramic sunroof, head-up display, Harman/Kardon audio system, and other sundries.

The Mini Countryman’s infotainment touchscreen isn’t huge, but it’s large enough for a vehicle this size. The system is similar to BMWs, but somehow it’s not as intuitive. Its menus and selections can be cumbersome. It’s not so complex that you won’t get the hang of it after a few days, but there shouldn’t be a learning curve. Programming its navigation system isn’t difficult, but it’s not quite as easy as it should be either.

The good news is that the system's graphics are top-notch. Bluetooth is standard, and the system is compatible with Apple CarPlay, but Android Auto isn’t offered. Neither is onboard Wi-Fi, but the Touchscreen Navigation Package does also add wireless phone charging.

You’ll be surprised by the size of the Countryman’s rear seat. There’s plenty of head and legroom, and four adults fit comfortably. (If you must fit five, though, make sure the ride is short.) The Countryman’s rear seat is also shaped well and reclines for additional comfort. There’s also plenty of storage inside the Mini’s cabin, though unfortunately its two front cupholders are also ahead of the shifter, so tall drinks can interfere with some controls.

If cargo volume is a high priority, the 2020 MINI Countryman may surprise you again. It offers 17.6 cubic feet of space behind its rear seat, which is more than you might think, but significantly less than you get in a BMW X1. Every Countryman comes standard with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, which easily drops flat to expand that space to 47.6 cubic feet.

The 2020 Mini Cooper S Countryman definitely lives up to the brand’s reputation for building fun-to-drive vehicles with exceptional dynamics. The SUV is agile and athletic with exceptional balance and handling. Perfectly weighted and responsive, its steering is among the best in the segment, and it gives the small SUV a solid, stable, and substantial feel. The Countryman also packs a smooth ride — sporty but never harsh.

With 189 horsepower, the base Countryman’s acceleration isn’t going to peel your face off, but it’s quick enough for most buyers and has enough punch to be satisfying. Mini says the Cooper S model can hit 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, which is as quick as an Audi Q3. The Mini’s new seven-speed automatic transmission is well-tuned and well-matched to its four-cylinder engine, and it has a manual mode so you can choose your own gears. There’s also a Sport mode that stiffens the SUV’s suspension, adds weight to its steering, increases the engine’s throttle response, and recalibrates the transmission to hold gears longer.

One of the most fuel-efficient SUVs in the small premium class, the front-wheel drive Mini Cooper Countryman is rated at 28 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. The more powerful Cooper S Countryman scores 24 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. Unfortunately, the Mini’s turbocharged engines require pricier higher-octane premium gasoline.

We’re also huge fans of the Countryman’s look. With so many new small SUVs flooding the market, designers are doing all they can to create distinctive and memorable shapes. Some are successful, but most are not. The Countryman sticks to the Mini design playbook, but quite successfully. It’s funky cool without being overwrought. It’s youthful, clean, and uncomplicated, and it’s the only SUV available with Union Jack mirror caps and racy hood stripes. We’re sure it’ll still look great in 10 years.

With options, our front-wheel drive 2020 Mini Cooper S Countryman test vehicle cost $42,250. However, its list of high-tech driver aids and active safety systems was disappointingly short. Standard features included parking sensors, a forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. Our test car’s $850 Driver Assistance Package added adaptive cruise control, Park Distance Control, and parking assistance. LED headlights are also standard. It’s hard to believe that a blind-spot monitoring system isn’t even offered. And the same goes for other now-common technologies like a rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and others. 

Although the Mini has performed well in crash tests executed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, it has not been named a Top Safety Pick by the organization. And parents using car seats for infants or toddlers may find the Mini’s LATCH connectors difficult to reach. The Countryman has not been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If you’re looking for a comfortable, practical, and fuel-efficient subcompact SUV, the 2020 Mini Cooper Countryman is a very desirable overall choice. However, if you want a really fun-to-drive subcompact SUV, the Countryman shoots right to the top of the list. Although some may find the Mini’s price to be a bit steep for its size, it offers one of the coolest interiors in the segment, along with class-leading performance and dynamics. Few SUVs are this satisfying to drive.

The Cooper model is undoubtedly the best value, but if you can, step up to the more popular Cooper S model. You’ll appreciate the additional features and performance as the years of ownership stack up.