We tested the new Mini Countryman today...
Discussion
And it's pretty good.
Firstly the positives...
It's much more refined - less road noise, the damping is better etc. - than the outgoing model and the interior is a step above, being very similar to the current model Mini Hatch. We drove both an automatic Cooper SD and a manual Cooper S. The 8-speed ZF auto is predictably good and the manual is, again, much improved compared with the outgoing model.
Now the less good...
Both engines were average and I can now appreciate the underwhelming reaction by the motoring press. Both units are completely forgettable with zero character. The diesel feels lacking in power and torque and the petrol felt like a diesel. I would like to try the 3-cylinder 1.5L unit in the Cooper however I fear any zing it may have in the Hatch would likely be blunted by the increased weight of the Countryman.
And then the price...
A Cooper D ALL4 automatic with few options other than the larger capacity* fuel tank (costing £50 and, admittedly, a nice idea), the Chilli Pack, 18" alloys and powered tailgate was £35k?! I'd say it's probably £5k too expensive and I can't help but feel that Mini are going to cause themselves problems by pricing the car at this level. The Cooper D is only the mid-range model and you could easily specify a Cooper SD to near £40k which is madness given Mini are currently offering no discounts.
*61L instead of the standard 55L
The finance deal on the Cooper D we specified - the £35k model - was a 48 month contract with a £4k deposit, a monthly payment of £460 and a GFV of £14k, based on 10k mileage per annum. This was admittedly only their first try with the numbers so perhaps there'd have been a slight improvement after negotiating but it's still quite steep.
I do however think that when 2-year old models with 20k on them are available, they'll be a reasonably decent buy as I fear the depreciation on these may be savage.
Based on our experience today therefore, we won't be replacing our 62-plate Mini Countryman Cooper S with a new Countryman. It's not a bad car however it's now an expensive one and the prices Mini are asking puts it up against some far more serious, and upmarket, metal.
As such, we'll probably be turning our search to used RSQ3s, SQ5s and Mercedes GLCs in the next couple of weeks.
Firstly the positives...
It's much more refined - less road noise, the damping is better etc. - than the outgoing model and the interior is a step above, being very similar to the current model Mini Hatch. We drove both an automatic Cooper SD and a manual Cooper S. The 8-speed ZF auto is predictably good and the manual is, again, much improved compared with the outgoing model.
Now the less good...
Both engines were average and I can now appreciate the underwhelming reaction by the motoring press. Both units are completely forgettable with zero character. The diesel feels lacking in power and torque and the petrol felt like a diesel. I would like to try the 3-cylinder 1.5L unit in the Cooper however I fear any zing it may have in the Hatch would likely be blunted by the increased weight of the Countryman.
And then the price...
A Cooper D ALL4 automatic with few options other than the larger capacity* fuel tank (costing £50 and, admittedly, a nice idea), the Chilli Pack, 18" alloys and powered tailgate was £35k?! I'd say it's probably £5k too expensive and I can't help but feel that Mini are going to cause themselves problems by pricing the car at this level. The Cooper D is only the mid-range model and you could easily specify a Cooper SD to near £40k which is madness given Mini are currently offering no discounts.
*61L instead of the standard 55L
The finance deal on the Cooper D we specified - the £35k model - was a 48 month contract with a £4k deposit, a monthly payment of £460 and a GFV of £14k, based on 10k mileage per annum. This was admittedly only their first try with the numbers so perhaps there'd have been a slight improvement after negotiating but it's still quite steep.
I do however think that when 2-year old models with 20k on them are available, they'll be a reasonably decent buy as I fear the depreciation on these may be savage.
Based on our experience today therefore, we won't be replacing our 62-plate Mini Countryman Cooper S with a new Countryman. It's not a bad car however it's now an expensive one and the prices Mini are asking puts it up against some far more serious, and upmarket, metal.
As such, we'll probably be turning our search to used RSQ3s, SQ5s and Mercedes GLCs in the next couple of weeks.
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