Mini Countryman PHEV - am I mad?!
Discussion
Styling is challenging but at least not anonymous like the Golf 
Over on another EV orientated forum there’s a chap who took delivery a few weeks back and he uses it for a 150 mile commute each day. He’s currently getting c.55mpg in this cold weather on mixed driving so I’d expect that to climb.
That’s even better than my Merc diesel is returning at the moment thanks to this weather.
Mine finally arrives on Weds next week (assuming RAC don’t delay me any more than they already have).
Over on another EV orientated forum there’s a chap who took delivery a few weeks back and he uses it for a 150 mile commute each day. He’s currently getting c.55mpg in this cold weather on mixed driving so I’d expect that to climb.
That’s even better than my Merc diesel is returning at the moment thanks to this weather.
Mine finally arrives on Weds next week (assuming RAC don’t delay me any more than they already have).
jonobigblind said:
Styling is challenging but at least not anonymous like the Golf
Over on another EV orientated forum there’s a chap who took delivery a few weeks back and he uses it for a 150 mile commute each day. He’s currently getting c.55mpg in this cold weather on mixed driving so I’d expect that to climb.
That’s even better than my Merc diesel is returning at the moment thanks to this weather.
Mine finally arrives on Weds next week (assuming RAC don’t delay me any more than they already have).
Cheers! That sounds encouraging. I've requested a demo through the company car provider, we usually get the cars to try for 2 or 3 days so that ought to give an idea of how it'll perform on ICE alone when opportunities to recharge are scarce. (My very forward-thinking employer has issued a diktat banning car charging on all our operational sites...!)Over on another EV orientated forum there’s a chap who took delivery a few weeks back and he uses it for a 150 mile commute each day. He’s currently getting c.55mpg in this cold weather on mixed driving so I’d expect that to climb.
That’s even better than my Merc diesel is returning at the moment thanks to this weather.
Mine finally arrives on Weds next week (assuming RAC don’t delay me any more than they already have).
What did you go for spec-wise? I've never known a car with so many options. Chili packs, Tech packs, XL Media... Then there's about 9 million individual options as well
Jonny_ said:
Cheers! That sounds encouraging. I've requested a demo through the company car provider, we usually get the cars to try for 2 or 3 days so that ought to give an idea of how it'll perform on ICE alone when opportunities to recharge are scarce. (My very forward-thinking employer has issued a diktat banning car charging on all our operational sites...!)
What did you go for spec-wise? I've never known a car with so many options. Chili packs, Tech packs, XL Media... Then there's about 9 million individual options as well
Wow, that policy may be revisited in the coming months I hope? A few days’ trial is excellent and when I had the JCW version I kept making excuses to pop out in it (which I didn’t do when I had the new 5 the following weekend). What did you go for spec-wise? I've never known a car with so many options. Chili packs, Tech packs, XL Media... Then there's about 9 million individual options as well
Too many bloody options on this motor and from memory I went with the following:
- Chili
- Tech
- Black 18” pin spoke wheels
- Black roof rails
- sun protection glass
- auto tailgate
- folding mirrors
- debadging
The packs give me most of what I want (heated seats, HUD, HK sound and the comfort access) so didn’t go too crazy with additions on top. I didn’t spec runflats as they bump the emissions up a little according to Mini and I wanted to keep it at 49gm co2.
All in all, I’m paying £10 per month more than my C250 but saving a chunk in BiK (and fuel when I’m not going into the office once a week).
I picked up a type 2 public charging cable for £90 from that auction site rather than pay mini £165 for theirs and with a few free destination chargers around you can easily top up whilst in the cinema, doing shopping or just out for the day.
The only downside of the hybrid over the regular Countryman (for me) is that the rear seats don’t slide back and forth. That would have helped with some longer ‘sporting goods’ that I usually carry about with me, but the 40-20-40 seats will compensate somewhat.
Happy shopping
Just heard from the dealer that our car provider uses, they can supply a demo car in mid January... For a week! That's quite unexpected, usually we get a couple of days which itself is more than you'd ever expect as a private buyer. A week with the car will be great for sussing out what it's like to live with.
I've had a tinker with the spec, unfortunately most of the packs add a lot to the lease cost so I've ruled out chili, tech or XL. The Driving Assistant pack, heated seats, heated windscreen and parking sensors front and rear should be enough.
The other car I'm considering is a Hyundai Ioniq, most likely the plain hybrid version rather than plug in as the plug in sacrifices too much boot space.
Compared to the Countryman as specced above the Hyundai is £60 a month less and better equipped (dual climate control, vented seats, Android auto, even has heated rear seats!), likely to be more economical, and non controversial styling, but it's significantly slower and the boot is a less useful shape than the more upright Countryman, although the overall capacities are very similar. Ive got an Ioniq demo car booked for the weekend before the Mini demo, so should give a decent comparison.
I've had a tinker with the spec, unfortunately most of the packs add a lot to the lease cost so I've ruled out chili, tech or XL. The Driving Assistant pack, heated seats, heated windscreen and parking sensors front and rear should be enough.
The other car I'm considering is a Hyundai Ioniq, most likely the plain hybrid version rather than plug in as the plug in sacrifices too much boot space.
Compared to the Countryman as specced above the Hyundai is £60 a month less and better equipped (dual climate control, vented seats, Android auto, even has heated rear seats!), likely to be more economical, and non controversial styling, but it's significantly slower and the boot is a less useful shape than the more upright Countryman, although the overall capacities are very similar. Ive got an Ioniq demo car booked for the weekend before the Mini demo, so should give a decent comparison.
I wasn't a fan of the 'packs' as most had options I wasn't fussed about, so I just ordered the specific options and it worked out cheaper on our company car configurator.
I've had mine a week now, and there is a fault with the hybrid system. The frustrating thing is that MINI have very few qualified hybrid technicians, so the earliest they can even take a look is January, which takes the piss.
Apart from the poor service I've had from both the supplying dealer, and my local MINI centre, the car is great. One upside I suppose, is that with the hybrid not working, I'll break the engine in sooner. Every cloud and that.
I've had mine a week now, and there is a fault with the hybrid system. The frustrating thing is that MINI have very few qualified hybrid technicians, so the earliest they can even take a look is January, which takes the piss.
Apart from the poor service I've had from both the supplying dealer, and my local MINI centre, the car is great. One upside I suppose, is that with the hybrid not working, I'll break the engine in sooner. Every cloud and that.
Wow Jonny, you can cover a lot of ground in a week. Liking their generosity! Back to back drives should help with the comparison, especially if you’ve got a few routes you can test out.
£60 plus potential extra fuel savings can’t be ignored but then you’ll know if your head or your heart is going to win that battle
Sorry to hear that JB8. Sounds like similar issues some people were experiencing with 330e and Merc 350e when they were launched. Lack of knowledge and a distinct scarcity of parts to replace when a fault was eventually diagnosed. Usually stick you in an oil burning machine for the duration of the fix too. Hope they get to the bottom of it quickly.
£60 plus potential extra fuel savings can’t be ignored but then you’ll know if your head or your heart is going to win that battle
Sorry to hear that JB8. Sounds like similar issues some people were experiencing with 330e and Merc 350e when they were launched. Lack of knowledge and a distinct scarcity of parts to replace when a fault was eventually diagnosed. Usually stick you in an oil burning machine for the duration of the fix too. Hope they get to the bottom of it quickly.
Issue has been fixed now - hybrid working just fine.
Was speaking to a colleague who told me to try MINI assist, as apparently 'breakdown' jobs are prioritised over normal bookings, and they'll sort you a hire car rather than rely on the few and far between courtesy cars in dealers.
It didn't come to that as the breakdown chap managed to fix it in 20 mins at the roadside. It was some plonk in the factory forgetting to plug in the aux hydraulic pump, which apparently operates the transmission when the engine is off i.e. in electric mode. So not a hybrid specific issue after all.
Disappointed with the dealer service so far, but MINI assist were great, and really enjoying the car now it's working. Looking forward to the preheated cabin in the morning, and silent waft to work.
Was speaking to a colleague who told me to try MINI assist, as apparently 'breakdown' jobs are prioritised over normal bookings, and they'll sort you a hire car rather than rely on the few and far between courtesy cars in dealers.
It didn't come to that as the breakdown chap managed to fix it in 20 mins at the roadside. It was some plonk in the factory forgetting to plug in the aux hydraulic pump, which apparently operates the transmission when the engine is off i.e. in electric mode. So not a hybrid specific issue after all.
Disappointed with the dealer service so far, but MINI assist were great, and really enjoying the car now it's working. Looking forward to the preheated cabin in the morning, and silent waft to work.
JB8 said:
Issue has been fixed now - hybrid working just fine.
Was speaking to a colleague who told me to try MINI assist, as apparently 'breakdown' jobs are prioritised over normal bookings, and they'll sort you a hire car rather than rely on the few and far between courtesy cars in dealers.
It didn't come to that as the breakdown chap managed to fix it in 20 mins at the roadside. It was some plonk in the factory forgetting to plug in the aux hydraulic pump, which apparently operates the transmission when the engine is off i.e. in electric mode. So not a hybrid specific issue after all.
Disappointed with the dealer service so far, but MINI assist were great, and really enjoying the car now it's working. Looking forward to the preheated cabin in the morning, and silent waft to work.
Glad they got it sorted quickly enough for you and hope that’s the only Friday afternoon F-up they did with it Was speaking to a colleague who told me to try MINI assist, as apparently 'breakdown' jobs are prioritised over normal bookings, and they'll sort you a hire car rather than rely on the few and far between courtesy cars in dealers.
It didn't come to that as the breakdown chap managed to fix it in 20 mins at the roadside. It was some plonk in the factory forgetting to plug in the aux hydraulic pump, which apparently operates the transmission when the engine is off i.e. in electric mode. So not a hybrid specific issue after all.
Disappointed with the dealer service so far, but MINI assist were great, and really enjoying the car now it's working. Looking forward to the preheated cabin in the morning, and silent waft to work.
I've done over 1200 km in mine now and have to say, very happy with it.
I was a little concerned that it would be a practical, functional car but with relatively limited performance; I was, happily, wrong about that.
The car is nippy and feels good for its 221 bhp. It can corner well and is, above all, fun to drive, something I did not expect.
Unlike most Buyers of this type of car, economy was and is still not a priority. I haven't worked out how economical it is, all I can say is I seem to visit the petrol station less.
I also do not drive it in the Auto mode where the car chooses which drivetrain to use all the time; that is strictly reserved for around town and residential area use only. Everywhere else? Save mode. Save mode keeps the batteries topped up so the whole 221 bhp is always available; and in conjunction with Sport mode the car comes alive since it really does make a nice difference.
So, if not for economy or company tax reasons why buy it? Well, purely because my wife and I wanted a Hybrid. We will probably replace it with an all-EV car next if the infrastructure supports it so it is a stepping stone. We do own it outright and intend to keep it at least 5 years, if not longer, hence the very high, nearly full-house spec.
Living in the Algarve, a small SUV that could comfortably fit our Labrador with some 4-wheel drive ability for negotiating narrow roads on occasion and travelling over sandy roads to remote beaches was the priority. A car that meets those requirements and is still fun to drive and quicker than many is a nice bonus.
I use the sunroof daily, I even like being able to open the boot with a swing of my foot beneath the bumper when holding two shopping bags. The leather seats are comfortable and supportive. The load space enough for trips to Seville, Gibraltar, Granada, Lisbon etc. The HK sound is good, the SatNav works well. Keyless entry is nice to have. Even that pull-out bench-thingy is useful when parking the car so as to watch a glorious Sunset over the ocean; drink in hand, taking it all in. Indeed, all the extras are nice to have.
Overall, very pleased - and we like how it looks!
I was a little concerned that it would be a practical, functional car but with relatively limited performance; I was, happily, wrong about that.
The car is nippy and feels good for its 221 bhp. It can corner well and is, above all, fun to drive, something I did not expect.
Unlike most Buyers of this type of car, economy was and is still not a priority. I haven't worked out how economical it is, all I can say is I seem to visit the petrol station less.
I also do not drive it in the Auto mode where the car chooses which drivetrain to use all the time; that is strictly reserved for around town and residential area use only. Everywhere else? Save mode. Save mode keeps the batteries topped up so the whole 221 bhp is always available; and in conjunction with Sport mode the car comes alive since it really does make a nice difference.
So, if not for economy or company tax reasons why buy it? Well, purely because my wife and I wanted a Hybrid. We will probably replace it with an all-EV car next if the infrastructure supports it so it is a stepping stone. We do own it outright and intend to keep it at least 5 years, if not longer, hence the very high, nearly full-house spec.
Living in the Algarve, a small SUV that could comfortably fit our Labrador with some 4-wheel drive ability for negotiating narrow roads on occasion and travelling over sandy roads to remote beaches was the priority. A car that meets those requirements and is still fun to drive and quicker than many is a nice bonus.
I use the sunroof daily, I even like being able to open the boot with a swing of my foot beneath the bumper when holding two shopping bags. The leather seats are comfortable and supportive. The load space enough for trips to Seville, Gibraltar, Granada, Lisbon etc. The HK sound is good, the SatNav works well. Keyless entry is nice to have. Even that pull-out bench-thingy is useful when parking the car so as to watch a glorious Sunset over the ocean; drink in hand, taking it all in. Indeed, all the extras are nice to have.
Overall, very pleased - and we like how it looks!
That’s excellent to hear Coolbanana
I’ve done about 300 miles in mine now and I’m just getting the feel of it. I know what you mean about the space and it hasn’t disappointed yet (especially swallowing all the luggage and presents for our family trip over Christmas). I’ve only been successful with the kicking open / close boot function twice so I need to perfect my technique on the drive before looking like a prat in Waitrose again, but I must say that the auto close is a god send.
I think I need to play around with the sound levels to get the best out of the HK system as Appetite for Destruction doesn’t sound punchy enough for me just yet
I had decent economy on the trip down to the south coast, taking country and A roads, with a combined 69MPG, but then tried it on the motorways and A34 coming back and got 40MPG so I can tell where it’s more at home.
How are you finding charging? It looks like you have plenty of room in the grounds of your villa, but are you blessed with charging points when out and about?
I’ve had couple of successful public charges (for free) and try to where I can as there’s a satisfying feeling in zipping around town on no fuel.
The only real disappointment is the phone app, with very little functionality when compared to the equivalent BMW version (which should be exactly the same, just with a different skin).
I’ve done about 300 miles in mine now and I’m just getting the feel of it. I know what you mean about the space and it hasn’t disappointed yet (especially swallowing all the luggage and presents for our family trip over Christmas). I’ve only been successful with the kicking open / close boot function twice so I need to perfect my technique on the drive before looking like a prat in Waitrose again, but I must say that the auto close is a god send.
I think I need to play around with the sound levels to get the best out of the HK system as Appetite for Destruction doesn’t sound punchy enough for me just yet
I had decent economy on the trip down to the south coast, taking country and A roads, with a combined 69MPG, but then tried it on the motorways and A34 coming back and got 40MPG so I can tell where it’s more at home.
How are you finding charging? It looks like you have plenty of room in the grounds of your villa, but are you blessed with charging points when out and about?
I’ve had couple of successful public charges (for free) and try to where I can as there’s a satisfying feeling in zipping around town on no fuel.
The only real disappointment is the phone app, with very little functionality when compared to the equivalent BMW version (which should be exactly the same, just with a different skin).
jonobigblind said:
How are you finding charging? It looks like you have plenty of room in the grounds of your villa, but are you blessed with charging points when out and about?
I’ve had couple of successful public charges (for free) and try to where I can as there’s a satisfying feeling in zipping around town on no fuel.
The only real disappointment is the phone app, with very little functionality when compared to the equivalent BMW version (which should be exactly the same, just with a different skin).
I charged it almost every evening when I first got it because I was using the EV to empty all the time but haven't needed to since; I switch between Auto and Save to make sure I do not need to. Extreme economy isn't my goal so I want the performance aspect available at all times. I’ve had couple of successful public charges (for free) and try to where I can as there’s a satisfying feeling in zipping around town on no fuel.
The only real disappointment is the phone app, with very little functionality when compared to the equivalent BMW version (which should be exactly the same, just with a different skin).
I really like the way the car delivers its power and am a firm fan of EV being the future - this car is me demonstrating my convictions in this regard and contributing to making the transition.
As for the phone, I have a Galaxy S8+ so doesn't fit in the charger or use CarPlay.
Couple of days in to a 6 day demo with the Countryman PHEV, findings thus far...
+ve
It's pretty quick
Interior is a nice place to be
Seats are pretty comfy
-ve
Thirsty once battery is depleted
Tiny boot
Fiddly iDrive-esque controls
Doesn't handle nearly as well as expected
Driven with a flat battery, very gently, it'll just creep over 40mpg. Not very impressive given the modern 3-cylinder engine; our 7 year old Alfa has a 1.4-litre turbo four with 35bhp more than the Mini's, yet it still returns slightly better economy in similarly gentle driving. You can perhaps attribute a couple of MPG to this particular Mini demo car being very new, but I can't see running-in making that drastic an improvement - perhaps 2 or 3mpg at most.
"Auto E-Drive" mode doesn't seem very clever, it seems to aim to deplete the battery before using the petrol engine rather than switching between the two depending on driving conditions (other than bringing in the engine if the throttle is floored). A side effect of this is that it heats the cabin electrically, which decreases the electric range quite significantly. I suspect it'll do better if I force it into "Battery Save" mode above, say, 40mph or when driving uphill, and let it run electrically downhill and at low speeds only.
Starting with a fully charged battery and discharging it down to about 11%, a 50-mile round trip of mixed driving (A-roads, 30/40mph limits through villages and motorway driving) resulted in 60mpg, not that impressive given that it used about 8kWh (90p-worth) of electricity to charge it in the first place!
It does get a move on when you ask it to, though. Excellent for overtaking .
I didn't expect the Countryman, being tall and carrying a heavy battery pack, to be the best handling Mini. But even so it's a let down. The steering is quick but lacks any kind of feel or feedback. I thought the Hyundai Ioniq I drove last week had slightly odd steering feel, but at least it had some! And the Countryman rolls quite a lot in the bends too, despite the quite firm suspension. That high CofG is very noticeable.
It's a tall and quite bulky car (not very "mini" in the literal sense of the word) but seems poorly packaged. The boot is smaller than a Fabia's and although there's loads of headroom, legroom isn't brilliant.
The interior looks smart, it's got some nice touches such as the toggle switches and the variable-colour ambient lighting. The iDrive-type controller, though, is horrible to use. I gave up on the satnav entirely and the media player is excessively fiddly too. I don't recall having anywhere near this much bother with the iDrive in a 4-series!
All things considered it just isn't going to make a great deal of sense as my work/family car. It's only real advantage is the performance and that's not really a priority given the intended use. Certainly not worth the extra £70+ per month over an Ioniq hybrid, which is more spacious and (IMHO) a nicer drive, as well as being far more economical without needing to faff about plugging it in.
+ve
It's pretty quick
Interior is a nice place to be
Seats are pretty comfy
-ve
Thirsty once battery is depleted
Tiny boot
Fiddly iDrive-esque controls
Doesn't handle nearly as well as expected
Driven with a flat battery, very gently, it'll just creep over 40mpg. Not very impressive given the modern 3-cylinder engine; our 7 year old Alfa has a 1.4-litre turbo four with 35bhp more than the Mini's, yet it still returns slightly better economy in similarly gentle driving. You can perhaps attribute a couple of MPG to this particular Mini demo car being very new, but I can't see running-in making that drastic an improvement - perhaps 2 or 3mpg at most.
"Auto E-Drive" mode doesn't seem very clever, it seems to aim to deplete the battery before using the petrol engine rather than switching between the two depending on driving conditions (other than bringing in the engine if the throttle is floored). A side effect of this is that it heats the cabin electrically, which decreases the electric range quite significantly. I suspect it'll do better if I force it into "Battery Save" mode above, say, 40mph or when driving uphill, and let it run electrically downhill and at low speeds only.
Starting with a fully charged battery and discharging it down to about 11%, a 50-mile round trip of mixed driving (A-roads, 30/40mph limits through villages and motorway driving) resulted in 60mpg, not that impressive given that it used about 8kWh (90p-worth) of electricity to charge it in the first place!
It does get a move on when you ask it to, though. Excellent for overtaking .
I didn't expect the Countryman, being tall and carrying a heavy battery pack, to be the best handling Mini. But even so it's a let down. The steering is quick but lacks any kind of feel or feedback. I thought the Hyundai Ioniq I drove last week had slightly odd steering feel, but at least it had some! And the Countryman rolls quite a lot in the bends too, despite the quite firm suspension. That high CofG is very noticeable.
It's a tall and quite bulky car (not very "mini" in the literal sense of the word) but seems poorly packaged. The boot is smaller than a Fabia's and although there's loads of headroom, legroom isn't brilliant.
The interior looks smart, it's got some nice touches such as the toggle switches and the variable-colour ambient lighting. The iDrive-type controller, though, is horrible to use. I gave up on the satnav entirely and the media player is excessively fiddly too. I don't recall having anywhere near this much bother with the iDrive in a 4-series!
All things considered it just isn't going to make a great deal of sense as my work/family car. It's only real advantage is the performance and that's not really a priority given the intended use. Certainly not worth the extra £70+ per month over an Ioniq hybrid, which is more spacious and (IMHO) a nicer drive, as well as being far more economical without needing to faff about plugging it in.
Jonny_ said:
Couple of days in to a 6 day demo with the Countryman PHEV, findings thus far...
+ve
It's pretty quick
Interior is a nice place to be
Seats are pretty comfy
-ve
Thirsty once battery is depleted
Tiny boot
Fiddly iDrive-esque controls
Doesn't handle nearly as well as expected
Driven with a flat battery, very gently, it'll just creep over 40mpg. Not very impressive given the modern 3-cylinder engine; our 7 year old Alfa has a 1.4-litre turbo four with 35bhp more than the Mini's, yet it still returns slightly better economy in similarly gentle driving. You can perhaps attribute a couple of MPG to this particular Mini demo car being very new, but I can't see running-in making that drastic an improvement - perhaps 2 or 3mpg at most.
"Auto E-Drive" mode doesn't seem very clever, it seems to aim to deplete the battery before using the petrol engine rather than switching between the two depending on driving conditions (other than bringing in the engine if the throttle is floored). A side effect of this is that it heats the cabin electrically, which decreases the electric range quite significantly. I suspect it'll do better if I force it into "Battery Save" mode above, say, 40mph or when driving uphill, and let it run electrically downhill and at low speeds only.
Starting with a fully charged battery and discharging it down to about 11%, a 50-mile round trip of mixed driving (A-roads, 30/40mph limits through villages and motorway driving) resulted in 60mpg, not that impressive given that it used about 8kWh (90p-worth) of electricity to charge it in the first place!
It does get a move on when you ask it to, though. Excellent for overtaking .
I didn't expect the Countryman, being tall and carrying a heavy battery pack, to be the best handling Mini. But even so it's a let down. The steering is quick but lacks any kind of feel or feedback. I thought the Hyundai Ioniq I drove last week had slightly odd steering feel, but at least it had some! And the Countryman rolls quite a lot in the bends too, despite the quite firm suspension. That high CofG is very noticeable.
It's a tall and quite bulky car (not very "mini" in the literal sense of the word) but seems poorly packaged. The boot is smaller than a Fabia's and although there's loads of headroom, legroom isn't brilliant.
The interior looks smart, it's got some nice touches such as the toggle switches and the variable-colour ambient lighting. The iDrive-type controller, though, is horrible to use. I gave up on the satnav entirely and the media player is excessively fiddly too. I don't recall having anywhere near this much bother with the iDrive in a 4-series!
All things considered it just isn't going to make a great deal of sense as my work/family car. It's only real advantage is the performance and that's not really a priority given the intended use. Certainly not worth the extra £70+ per month over an Ioniq hybrid, which is more spacious and (IMHO) a nicer drive, as well as being far more economical without needing to faff about plugging it in.
Interesting to see another's opinion. I see where you are coming from but I guess our expectations may be somewhat different. +ve
It's pretty quick
Interior is a nice place to be
Seats are pretty comfy
-ve
Thirsty once battery is depleted
Tiny boot
Fiddly iDrive-esque controls
Doesn't handle nearly as well as expected
Driven with a flat battery, very gently, it'll just creep over 40mpg. Not very impressive given the modern 3-cylinder engine; our 7 year old Alfa has a 1.4-litre turbo four with 35bhp more than the Mini's, yet it still returns slightly better economy in similarly gentle driving. You can perhaps attribute a couple of MPG to this particular Mini demo car being very new, but I can't see running-in making that drastic an improvement - perhaps 2 or 3mpg at most.
"Auto E-Drive" mode doesn't seem very clever, it seems to aim to deplete the battery before using the petrol engine rather than switching between the two depending on driving conditions (other than bringing in the engine if the throttle is floored). A side effect of this is that it heats the cabin electrically, which decreases the electric range quite significantly. I suspect it'll do better if I force it into "Battery Save" mode above, say, 40mph or when driving uphill, and let it run electrically downhill and at low speeds only.
Starting with a fully charged battery and discharging it down to about 11%, a 50-mile round trip of mixed driving (A-roads, 30/40mph limits through villages and motorway driving) resulted in 60mpg, not that impressive given that it used about 8kWh (90p-worth) of electricity to charge it in the first place!
It does get a move on when you ask it to, though. Excellent for overtaking .
I didn't expect the Countryman, being tall and carrying a heavy battery pack, to be the best handling Mini. But even so it's a let down. The steering is quick but lacks any kind of feel or feedback. I thought the Hyundai Ioniq I drove last week had slightly odd steering feel, but at least it had some! And the Countryman rolls quite a lot in the bends too, despite the quite firm suspension. That high CofG is very noticeable.
It's a tall and quite bulky car (not very "mini" in the literal sense of the word) but seems poorly packaged. The boot is smaller than a Fabia's and although there's loads of headroom, legroom isn't brilliant.
The interior looks smart, it's got some nice touches such as the toggle switches and the variable-colour ambient lighting. The iDrive-type controller, though, is horrible to use. I gave up on the satnav entirely and the media player is excessively fiddly too. I don't recall having anywhere near this much bother with the iDrive in a 4-series!
All things considered it just isn't going to make a great deal of sense as my work/family car. It's only real advantage is the performance and that's not really a priority given the intended use. Certainly not worth the extra £70+ per month over an Ioniq hybrid, which is more spacious and (IMHO) a nicer drive, as well as being far more economical without needing to faff about plugging it in.
With regards to the economy, the idea as I understand it, is if you live in a Village, Town or City, where the battery range alone is sufficient distance-wise then relying upon recharging every evening will reap great rewards - no ICE expense.
If you leave it in Auto, yes, it prioritises battery use first.
If you have longer distances and motorways or highways involved, I find that you need to find a balance. Use the Auto or even pure Electric for trips in built-up areas and allow the car to recharge the batteries when in Save mode on the faster roads. It really works.
The iDrive thing? Ignore it! It has a perfectly good touchscreen.
Performance is indeed nippy. The handling? Depends what you need. Coming from a Golf R, Porsche 911 and other, faster cars and comparing it to my wife's previous Mini Cooper S, I don't think it is too bad - in fact, I expected worse and was pleasantly surprised. It is an SUV and compared to other SUV's, I think it handles just fine and I chuck it around tight corners and roundabouts faster than I should all the time.
Boot size? Again, depends what you intend to cart about. It is bigger than the Golf it replaced so all good for me. When I wanted more space, I used to own a Discovery.
I haven't plugged the Mini in since the first week I got it. 2 months ago.
Having driven a Hybrid, I will never go back to Diesel again. Ever.
Handed the demonstrator Countryman back today after 6 days and just over 400 miles. It's definitely not the right car for my purposes, although I can see the appeal if you don't regularly drive long distances or carry a lot of luggage/equipment. It's quick, the interior is attractive, the exterior is certainly distinctive, and if you do a lot of short runs with recharging opportunities in between then it'll be a cheap car to run.
The lack of boot space, relatively poor economy when using the petrol engine and high overall lease contribution + BIK tax cost mean it just doesn't add up as a work car when compared with cheaper, lower performance options such as the Ioniq.
Plugging in each night the overall running cost was equivalent to doing 42mpg purely on petrol. In all fairness that's quite decent for the performance available, but much lower than my current car, which is a non plug in hybrid that's much slower but far more practical.
Cool banana: it's definitely not a touchscreen, I did wonder if it was somehow disabled via the menu but I suspect the touchscreen is part of the upgraded media system, which this particular car didn't have.
The lack of boot space, relatively poor economy when using the petrol engine and high overall lease contribution + BIK tax cost mean it just doesn't add up as a work car when compared with cheaper, lower performance options such as the Ioniq.
Plugging in each night the overall running cost was equivalent to doing 42mpg purely on petrol. In all fairness that's quite decent for the performance available, but much lower than my current car, which is a non plug in hybrid that's much slower but far more practical.
Cool banana: it's definitely not a touchscreen, I did wonder if it was somehow disabled via the menu but I suspect the touchscreen is part of the upgraded media system, which this particular car didn't have.
Jonny_ said:
Handed the demonstrator Countryman back today after 6 days and just over 400 miles. It's definitely not the right car for my purposes, although I can see the appeal if you don't regularly drive long distances or carry a lot of luggage/equipment. It's quick, the interior is attractive, the exterior is certainly distinctive, and if you do a lot of short runs with recharging opportunities in between then it'll be a cheap car to run.
The lack of boot space, relatively poor economy when using the petrol engine and high overall lease contribution + BIK tax cost mean it just doesn't add up as a work car when compared with cheaper, lower performance options such as the Ioniq.
Plugging in each night the overall running cost was equivalent to doing 42mpg purely on petrol. In all fairness that's quite decent for the performance available, but much lower than my current car, which is a non plug in hybrid that's much slower but far more practical.
Cool banana: it's definitely not a touchscreen, I did wonder if it was somehow disabled via the menu but I suspect the touchscreen is part of the upgraded media system, which this particular car didn't have.
Yep, sounds like it isn't ideal for your purposes. It is definitely a niche car rather than a mainstream one given it will only deliver upon all its promises within very specific use areas. The lack of boot space, relatively poor economy when using the petrol engine and high overall lease contribution + BIK tax cost mean it just doesn't add up as a work car when compared with cheaper, lower performance options such as the Ioniq.
Plugging in each night the overall running cost was equivalent to doing 42mpg purely on petrol. In all fairness that's quite decent for the performance available, but much lower than my current car, which is a non plug in hybrid that's much slower but far more practical.
Cool banana: it's definitely not a touchscreen, I did wonder if it was somehow disabled via the menu but I suspect the touchscreen is part of the upgraded media system, which this particular car didn't have.
I do not have a commute and so it is for general use only and that is very mixed with plenty of recharging on the go opportunities and EV only too to balance it all out. I like that in Save Mode, it doesn't mean no use of the EV engine, it does call upon it under hard acceleration to provide the full 221 bhp.
Also, economy wasn't my main motivator for getting it anyway albeit it is better than the car it replaced for me. The boot is 405 litres without the seats folded. That's 45 litres smaller than the non-Hybrid due to the batteries. My Golf R was 340 litres and allowed me to drive from the UK to Portugal with luggage on the back seat and a Labrador in the boot. With the kids both at University now and no intention of living here in Portugal, it is just my wife and I so boot space isn't really an issue for us.
No touchscreen? Ok, then yes, the iDrive-type dial will be annoying. I have the upgraded Media Pack with the larger screen which is touch sensitive.
Jonobigblind said:
I'm pleased I've stumbled across this thread as I'm going through the same thought process at the moment.
Current company car is a Merc C250d sport (W205) and has been good if unremarkable and with the introduction of the phevs looking into these makes financial sense to me.
Our list is a little restrictive and the best of the bunch boils down to
I don't fancy another Merc and the forums seem awash with a bit of a design flaw on the charging point allowing water ingress and then shutting down
I've made a shortlist of the 530 and the Mini with the Mini (Cooper S) coming for the weekend I'll give it a thorough test on our local roads and whizzing between Hampshire and Wiltshire.
There's a fair bit of kit I have specced on my mock order and the end monthly cost is only £26 lower than the 530e so it had better be good for that price.
Given the relatively small difference in monthly cost, this test will be very interesting to me and probably give me more headaches and reason to dissect them further in some spreadsheets
I have had my 530e for about a month and I love it. Personally I have a few must haves: HUD and ACC. I did option mine up fully (nappa leather, leather dash, driving assistance packages, icon adaptive lights, massage seats (Over the holidays I had relatives in and they all fought over who could get to sit in the front passenger seat to have a massage), nightvision. Of the additional features, the ACC was part of the driving assistance plus package for me so that was a no brainer. Of the other options, the luxury seating package is the one I would most want after the HUD and ACC. Current company car is a Merc C250d sport (W205) and has been good if unremarkable and with the introduction of the phevs looking into these makes financial sense to me.
Our list is a little restrictive and the best of the bunch boils down to
- BMW 330e
- BMW 530e
- Mini Countryman Cooper se
- Merc C350e
I don't fancy another Merc and the forums seem awash with a bit of a design flaw on the charging point allowing water ingress and then shutting down
I've made a shortlist of the 530 and the Mini with the Mini (Cooper S) coming for the weekend I'll give it a thorough test on our local roads and whizzing between Hampshire and Wiltshire.
There's a fair bit of kit I have specced on my mock order and the end monthly cost is only £26 lower than the 530e so it had better be good for that price.
Given the relatively small difference in monthly cost, this test will be very interesting to me and probably give me more headaches and reason to dissect them further in some spreadsheets
MPG is less important to me than the reduction of the impact on the environment, the ability to precondtion my car by running the HVAC off the hybrid battery pack, and the ability to drive in the car pool lane at any time of the day or week. But opinions are like rear ends...everyone has one.
steveinarizona said:
I have had my 530e for about a month and I love it. Personally I have a few must haves: HUD and ACC. I did option mine up fully (nappa leather, leather dash, driving assistance packages, icon adaptive lights, massage seats (Over the holidays I had relatives in and they all fought over who could get to sit in the front passenger seat to have a massage), nightvision. Of the additional features, the ACC was part of the driving assistance plus package for me so that was a no brainer. Of the other options, the luxury seating package is the one I would most want after the HUD and ACC.
MPG is less important to me than the reduction of the impact on the environment, the ability to precondtion my car by running the HVAC off the hybrid battery pack, and the ability to drive in the car pool lane at any time of the day or week. But opinions are like rear ends...everyone has one
The 5 was impressive but ultimately didn’t give me the thrill that I was expecting after reading all the motoring press. That coupled with the discount on the Mini making it over £50per month cheaper swing it for me. MPG is less important to me than the reduction of the impact on the environment, the ability to precondtion my car by running the HVAC off the hybrid battery pack, and the ability to drive in the car pool lane at any time of the day or week. But opinions are like rear ends...everyone has one
Know what you mean about HUD, I don’t think I’ve looked at my speedo since getting the car a month ago today.
Night vision and massage seats must be cool though!
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