[Taboleo] Mini Countryman, the Secret to Being the No.1 Imported Small Car...

Test Drive of Mini Cooper S Countryman
Spacious Rear Seats and Trunk... Faithful to Digitalization

A significant number of those who choose Mini cite the unique brand sentiment conveyed by its small body and distinctive design, or the tight driving feel akin to driving a go-kart. Mini's individual customer ratio is around 80%, noticeably higher compared to the overall imported car average (63% from January to April this year). It is also the only imported car brand with more female customers than male. Despite various minor drawbacks, these clear points offset them and open customers' wallets.

The Mini Countryman is a compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) and the largest in the entire lineup. While the typical 3-door hatchback type has limited rear seat usability, the Countryman's rear seat features a 3-person seat configuration, providing ample headroom and legroom for both children and adults. It covers the practicality that Mini buyers previously had to give up. The trunk capacity starts at 450ℓ and can be expanded up to 1390ℓ by folding the seats in a 40:20:40 split. The model tested this time is the high-end trim Cooper S Countryman ALL4 Classic, which gives a more luxurious impression with 19-inch two-tone wheels, brown leather seats finished with quilting, and dashboard trim materials compared to other models.

Mini Countryman [Photo by Mini Korea]

The driving pleasure stands out more on winding mountain roads than in the city or on highways. The car delivers power as you press the accelerator and turns in the direction you steer the wheel. Although it is an SUV, the driving feel that sticks closely to the ground and creates a sense of unity with the driver clearly reveals that it is a Mini. The all-wheel-drive system performs well even in bad weather.

Driving modes are divided into basic mode (Mid), Green for fuel efficiency, and Sport suitable for high-speed driving. Depending on the setting, the steering wheel stiffness, shift patterns, and exhaust sound vary slightly. The official fuel efficiency is 10.7 km per liter (combined). After driving about 200 km mainly on city and surrounding arterial roads in Sport mode, the trip meter showed a fuel efficiency of about 11 km per liter, which was similar.

Mini Cooper S Countryman
[Photo by Mini Korea]

The Mini Countryman sold a total of 1,151 units from the beginning of this year until last month, making it the best-selling SUV as well as the top-selling imported compact car overall. Despite the upcoming launch of a completely redesigned new model, sales increased by more than 65% compared to the same period last year, demonstrating its popularity. Spaciousness, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Mini Connected features are cited as key factors for its digital appeal.

The Mini Countryman is sold in 26 countries worldwide, and based on sales volume, South Korea ranked 10th last year and soared to 2nd place this year. In the domestic market, where preference for mid-to-large vehicles is high, Mini, focused on small cars, maintaining a top sales rank indicates its leadership in the compact car segment.

Mini Cooper S Countryman [Photo by Mini Korea]