2018 Mini Countryman SE ALL4
MSRP $36,900.00
“Shockingly large in size but short in range, the Cooper SE Countryman ALL4 doesn’t want to wander out of town.”
Avg
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Drive on gas, electricity or both
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It’s fun to drive on mountain roads
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Instantaneous torque
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The space is efficient and comfortable
Against
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Limited driving range
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High price premium
It’s been eons since the Mini really lived up to its namesake, and that’s one of the first things you notice about the Mini Countryman: It’s anything but a Mini.
A much larger “crossover” version of the standard Cooper with two extra doors, the Countryman is the biggest and most practical Mini ever to wear the famous badge. Add a plug-in hybrid drivetrain and you get this model: the Cooper SE Countryman ALL4.
Although a seeming paradox on four wheels, the larger Countryman does not stray far from the company’s tradition. During the heyday of the iconic and indeed small Morris Mini-Minor in the 60s, the company also expanded its range with larger versions. And right now, Mini parent BMW Group can’t wait to add electric versions of just about everything.
In basic form, the Cooper Countryman competes with the Audi Q3 and Mercedes-Benz GLA. But because of its hybrid status, the Countryman SE ALL4 effectively remains the only car in its class with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Is it worth the hype, starting at $36,900?
Interior and tech
Despite their diminutive dimensions, Minis have always been incredibly efficient in terms of space, as they could fit more inside than what appears on the outside. Although much larger, the Countryman SE ALL4 retains that efficiency. Thanks to its upright and boxy profile, the Countryman is very easy to get in and out of, both front and rear, for full-size adults. Once settled inside, the high roofline makes for a very spacious and airy cabin, with plenty of room for five. Its gas-powered rivals, the Audi Q3 and Mercedes-Benz GLA, feel awfully cramped by comparison.
Since the Countryman is also a BMW plug-in hybrid underneath, technology is a big focus on the interior. The infotainment system sits front and center within a circular ring inspired by Mini’s iconic dashboards of the past. The speedometer and other gauges that used to live here have been moved behind the steering wheel.
Minis have always been incredibly efficient in terms of space, because they could fit more than what it looks like from the outside.
The display is powered by Mini Connected, a built-in suite of apps that displays overall vehicle functions and hybrid system operation. It also collects data based on your driving habits and reports back to you, all in the hope that it can encourage you to become a more fuel-efficient driver. This is a hybrid after all and that is one of the missions of the Countryman SE ALL4.
Apple CarPlay is available as part of the base touchscreen navigation package, but if you want park assist, active cruise control and parking distance sensors, you’ll need to get the $1,250 Driver Assistance package.
The dash layout and overall interior design feel well thought out and fun, especially with unusual touches like the airplane-style toggle switches on the lower part of the center console. But the materials seem a bit cheap, plasticky for a car that can stand well under $40,000.
Chris Chin/Digital Trends
Driving experience
Unlike larger and taller crossovers that ride more like SUVs, the Countryman rides like a tall wagon with just a little more ground clearance. So rest assured, you won’t get bored behind the wheel of the Mini if you decide to blaze some back roads or if you want to test your rear passengers’ tolerance to G-forces. The fun-to-drive factor also makes it clear that BMW is more than just a corporate parent, as the Munich influence is evident throughout the Countryman. Settle down with normal driving and the Countryman soaks up road imperfections much better than its smaller siblings.
You won’t get bored behind the wheel of the Mini if you decide to go off-road.
Step on the throttle and the Countryman SE ALL 4 jolts a lot faster than its 1.5-liter three-cylinder hybrid powertrain suggests on paper. Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised: this is, after all, the same turbocharged 1.5-liter TwinPower three-cylinder that’s used in the i8 sports car, but in a detuned state. It drives the front axle while an additional electric motor drives the rear axle for a total of 221 horsepower and 284 pound-feet of torque. According to official internal test data, the Countryman PHEV hits 60 in just 6.7 seconds.
The gas engine alone puts out 134 horses out of those 221 and 162 out of those 284 torques. But the instant electric thump really allows the Countryman to feel like there’s a much bigger engine under the hood. On the road it’s quite stunning.
If you want to avoid petrol altogether, flick the eDrive switch and the Countryman will rely entirely on a small 7.6kWh battery to power the electric motor. Mini says it will drive on electric power up to 77 mph, and on a good day, 24 miles of range. Then comes the gas engine that works as a hybrid, making the Countryman SE ALL4 only good for a total driving range of 270 miles. On both fronts, those are pretty limited driving ranges. Engineers had to reduce the size of the gas tank to fit an equally small battery pack to power the electric motor.
And that’s where the Countryman starts to fall short. Running errands around northern New Jersey was enough to drain the electrical capacity and put us into hybrid mode before we got home with the groceries. And any kind of public charging station was at least five miles from any of my destinations, given that my living space has no available charging options. But it might do better in other scenarios. A stop-and-go charging approach between Brooklyn and Manhattan would make better use of the Countryman’s hybrid system.
Otherwise, the EPA rates the Countryman SE ALL4 at 65 mpg combined city/highway.
Warranty
All Minis come with a four-year, 50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty on all non-wear items.
How would DT configure this car
While we’ve reviewed the plug-in hybrid Countryman, we’d recommend sticking with just the gas engine if you frequently drive long distances outside of the metropolitan area. Get the Countryman S ALL4 for $5,000 less, or even the front-wheel-drive model if you don’t need all-wheel drive. The Model S adds a dash of sporty styling to the mix with a different suspension and tuning, and is worth the $2,500 upgrade.
The package would round out the top-of-the-line “Iconic” trim over the base “Classic” and mid-range “Signature” models, adding standard options like various equipment upgrades, dual-zone automatic climate control and tech upgrades like LED headlights and Apple CarPlay.
Our example
The Mini Countryman SE ALL4 is an expensive proposition for personal intercity transportation, where most people don’t even own a car because it’s already expensive and challenging to park and insure. Therefore, the Countryman SE ALL4 targets only a very niche group of city dwellers looking for a large inter-city family car with plug-in hybrid capabilities. In that, it succeeds, but more than that, it comes up just a little short.
Should you get one?
Unless you live deep in the center of a major city or in one of the nearby outlying neighborhoods within 15 miles of downtown, and with access to charging infrastructure, just stick with the gas-only version. You really won’t find the plug-in hybrid system useful and worth the hefty premium across the Countryman lineup. Fortunately, there are state and federal tax credits that the Countryman SE ALL4 qualifies for. But even with gas power, it’s limited to 270 miles at best, meaning you’ll be refueling very often if you’re driving long distances.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn