2024 MINI Countryman Wagon

　　

2024 MINI Countryman Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　, rating written byChristian WardlawSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　By definition, Minis are small. It's right there in the name. Among Minis, the 2024 Countryman crossover SUV is the biggest. You might even call its size "surprising," like Mini does. Offering about 47 cubic feet of maximum cargo space, the Countryman aims to provide more comfort and utility than any other Mini on the market. But in the grand scheme of things, it's still a small SUV. And, the 2024 Mini Countryman marks the end of the second-generation model, as a new, even larger third-generation Countryman is set to debut in 2025.

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Is a Mini Countryman worth the money?

Mini charges a premium for the Countryman, and in exchange, you get BMW engineering (Mini is owned by BMW), quality interior materials, the ability to customize the cosmetics, and complimentary scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. But mainly, you're paying a premium for the Countryman's peppy personality. Inside and out, it looks like nothing else but a Mini. Upgrade to the Cooper S or John Cooper Works, and performance is also a piece of the puzzle. If you strongly value such attributes, then, yes, an argument can be made that a Countryman is worth the money. But to be sure, check out the zzdcar testing team's Expert Rating of this expressive little SUV.

　　

Competitors to consider

Mini positions itself as a premium brand in the same thin market layer between mass-market and luxury where Buick, GMC, Jeep, Mazda and Volkswagen roam. That dictates a competitive set that includes the Buick Encore GX, Jeep Compass, Mazda CX-30 and Volkswagen Taos. Each offers a lower base price and a more powerful standard engine, but only the Mazda can match the Mini for perceived quality. And none of these rivals offers the range of appearance options or maximum outright performance of a Countryman.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Countryman drive? The Cooper S version, which is what we tested, accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a respectable 7.1 seconds. Our biggest gripe with the Countryman's acceleration is the engine's lazy response when pulling away from a stop. Once the Mini is underway, the turbocharged engine is punchy around town and helpful getting up to highway speeds quickly. The Countryman's brakes provide solid stopping power for panic braking but are occasionally grabby and abrupt in slow-moving traffic.

　　As you would expect, the best part of the Mini Countryman's driving experience is in the way it handles a twisty road. The steering is accurate and gives you a decent feel of the road. Overall, the Countryman is fun and can easily cruise down a back road quicker than most everything else in the class.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Countryman? If you're at all familiar with the Mini driving experience, the somewhat firm ride will likely go unnoticed. But buyers new to a Mini might find the ride bordering on stiff. The front seats feel firm and a bit confining at first but ultimately offer good support over longer distances.

　　Road noise is commendably low, but the Countryman's near vertical windshield and frameless side windows create noticeable wind noise. Engine and exhaust sounds are nicely subdued and only enter the cabin when you're driving more aggressively.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below