The first Mini with all-wheel drive is hardly something for off-road use, but the TÜV has only a few complaints about the Countryman – which also applies to the puncture resistance, albeit with drawbacks here. You also have to dig deeper into your pocket, because used car prices are quite high.
The Countryman was the first Mini with all-wheel drive. The British classic was also equipped and built up like this into a small SUV. But the 4×4 drive, which was initially intended to transfer the off-road characteristics of off-road vehicles to the SUV, is not for hill and dale in the Mini Countryman, the ground clearance is too low. The model did pretty well in the main inspection (HU), disadvantage: the high used car prices.
Model history
In 2010, the Countryman was launched, the fourth variant of the Mini since the brand moved under the BMW umbrella. For the 2014 facelift, there were revised engines and a reground body. In 2017, the model grew by a considerable 20 centimeters with the second edition. This was electrified in 2020 in the form of a plug-in hybrid (Cooper SE Countryman).
body variants
The Countryman is always a five-door car with good space in the front and at least child-friendly space in the rear.
Dimensions (according to ADAC)
Strengthen
According to the “Auto Bild TÜV Report 2023”, the Countryman hardly shows any weakness at the HU. Whether axle suspension, springs and dampers, drive shafts or steering system and joints: they all cut a fine figure. Foot brakes, parking brakes, brake discs and lines also deliver “solid to above-average test results”. No problems with low beam and turn signals.
weaknesses
Already at the first HU, however, the front lighting of the Countryman II is criticized more often than average. Likewise again at the fourth HU at the vehicle age of nine years.
With the Countryman I, the inspectors recorded oil loss on the engine and transmission, and from the third check on, the rear lighting was often noticed negatively. Many Countryman suffer from oil loss at the age of eleven when they drive up to the fifth HU.
breakdown behavior
In the current ADAC breakdown statistics, the Countryman, which was first registered in 2012, is only average, while the others achieve good or very good rankings. Trouble spots have not crystallized.
The engine
Market prices (according to “DAT Marktspiegel” from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand with statistically expected kilometers):
