How much country is in a Countryman?  Beyonce will be pleased to know that, like some of her new hit singles, the largest of the MINI cars does have a rhythm of country beating through its veins.  Just how well the 2024 Mini Countryman stacks up in the Aussie Outback is what I’m interested to observe.  But I do know that, like a tough stockman, the MINI Countryman does scrub up nicely for a night in the city.  The sexy stockman will have the ladies swooning over his hard, tanned physique.  And if he arrives in a new Countryman, there will be admiring looks, and plenty of space and style for the ride back home.

One of the things about Australia is that when you do happen to live on a station outside any of the big main cities, it will take you quite some time to drive into the CBD.  Sometimes the roads will be a little rough, and there will be long stints when you’re up at around 110 km/h.  How does a new MINI Countryman drive out here? 

So, you can get the new MINI Countryman as a 2WD (through the front wheels) or as an AWD.  For those who like the upright, boxy wagon/SUV shape of the little Countryman, which boasts decent ground clearance, but will use it for tarmac travel only, then the 2WD versions will be perfect for their needs. The hybrid powerplants are extremely good on fuel and impress with their economy and refinement in the city environment. 

However, what about the sexy stockman?  Can an AWD tackle off-road adventures, gravel roads, and long hauls on the motorway?  The simple answer is yes – very well indeed.  The MINI’s ALL4 AWD system distributes engine power and torque evenly around the wheels and gives you excellent traction for all types of terrain and superb grip on any surface.  Having the extra ride height (200 mm of ground clearance) does mean that you can scoot down a gravel track or back road swiftly and efficiently.  Turn onto a main motorway, and the Countryman cruises effortlessly at the legal road limits, boasting plenty in reserve for quick overtaking. 

In Australia, what you’ll find powering the brand-new Mini Countryman is a choice of two turbocharged petrol engines.  There is a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine that produces up to 115 kW of power and up to 230 Nm of torque, feeding this through the front wheels.  Those living in the country will be opting for the more powerful 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine that develops up to 150 kW of power and up to 300 Nm of torque.  This performance is perfectly mated to the AWD system. 

Both models make use of the smooth seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, with the gearbox and the engines being carried across from BMW’s X1 model.

Behind the rear seats, you’ll find a handy 460 litres of boot space to carry all sorts of goodies, and if you need more space for a quickie, the Countryman has split-folding rear seats that can fold down nice and flat with up to 1530 litres available.  (Down, girl!  Note to self: don’t read so many western romances before reviewing cars). 

The base model 2024 Mini Countryman C Core offers things like front-wheel drive, 3-cylinder economy, 18-inch ‘Asteroid’ six-spoke wheels, sports seats, a heated sports steering wheel, a nice grey/blue or black/blue synthetic leather upholstery, piano black highlights, a very decent 9.4-inch round OLED infotainment touchscreen system, wired as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), cruise control (non-adaptive), front and rear parking sensors with a rear-view camera, keyless entry, and a power-operated tailgate.

The 2024 Mini Countryman C Classic and S Classic adds more features to the C Core list; things like: the option of the 150 kW/300 Nm turbocharged 2.0-litre motor, front-wheel drive (Countryman C) or AWD (Countryman S), heated front seats, a head-up display (Countryman S only), a panoramic glass roof, adaptive cruise control, augmented satellite navigation, lane centring assist, an automatic speed limiter assistant, and a 360-degree camera view around the vehicle.  You can also get these models in Melting Silver III exterior colour.

The 2024 Mini Countryman C Favoured and S Favoured adds (over the Classic models) things like: wide19-inch ‘Kaleido’ six-spoke wheels or wider-still 20-inch Windmill six-spoke wheels (Countryman S only), a special 12-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system, very nice power-adjustable John Cooper Works sports seats with a driver memory function, sun protection glazing, an Anthracite headliner, a range of synthetic leather upholstery colours (Beige, Dark Petrol or Vintage Brown), and even a cool Smokey Green exterior colour.

Finally, and perfect for the discerning stockman, the 2024 Mini Countryman S JCW Sport adds (over the Favoured model) things like: 19-inch ‘Runway’ five-spoke wheels or 20-inch ‘Flag’ 10-spoke wheels, an adaptive suspension, John Cooper Works brakes, paddle shifters, Jet Black or Chilli Red sport stripes, super sporty John Cooper Works exterior styling along with a John Cooper Works steering wheel, and JCW Black synthetic leather upholstery. 

The MINI Countryman is a very talented small SUV/wagon that drives really well, offers models with 2WD and AWD traction, and combines a perfect blend of performance and efficiency.

The new MINI Countryman models include the:

• Mini Countryman C Core
• Mini Countryman C Classic
• Mini Countryman S Classic
• Mini Countryman C Favoured
• Mini Countryman S Favoured
• Mini Countryman S JCW Sport

For any more information on the new MINI Countryman, for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181.  If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of BMW/MINI dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours.  Private Fleet – car buying made easy!