MINI COUNTRYMAN ELECTRIC HATCHBACK 150kW E Exclusive 66kWh 5dr Auto

The MINI Countryman Electric is the first larger electric MINI. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Review

MINI's transition to being a full-electric car maker must of course include larger models and this is the first of them, the Countryman Electric. This characterful lower-mid-sized SUV aims to bring a bit of visual and dynamic joie de vivre to its rather sensible segment. You might just end up thinking that it does.

Background

The very first electrified production MINI of any kind was a Countryman, the PHEV version launched back in 2017, just before we saw the full-battery MINI Electric hatch in 2019. These were the early signs of the company's intention to transition into being a full-electric brand, underlined by the introduction in late 2023 of the second generation MINI Hatch Electric; and of this car, the marque's first larger EV, the MINI Countryman Electric. This German-built full-battery Countryman doesn't share its lithium-ion cell pack with the smaller EV Hatch because it's a bigger and heavier thing that also needs more power and the option of the company's All4 four-wheel drive system. Actually, almost everything you can't see inside and out is shared with BMW's two smallest electric SUVs, the iX1 and the iX2: but it offers all that technology at a significantly more affordable price. What might also be tempting is that this MK3 Countryman design is no longer a very compact thing, now properly big enough to do battle with family-shaped lower mid-sized EVs.

Driving Experience

All-electric Qashqai-class lower-mid-sized SUVs usually sprint forward with the slightest dab on the throttle, but by and large, they offer precious little else to reward the enthusiastic driver, especially when it comes to the twisty stuff. The Countryman Electric does its best to be different. No of course it won't be quite like a MINI Hatch Electric to throw around the corners - the extra weight has to show somewhere - but you can expect quite a few more smiles per mile than you'd get from the vanilla class norm. Especially if you select the most vibrant of the provided 'MINI Experience' drive modes - 'Go-kart'. There are two Countryman full-EV variants, both using a 64.7kWh battery. Things kick off with the single motor Countryman Electric E, which offers 201hp, 62mph in 8.6s and a range of 287 miles. The alternative is the Countryman Electric SE, which adds an extra electric motor on the rear axle, creating a nominal four-wheel drive system. This boosts total output to 308hp with 494Nm of torque and the 62mph sprint time drops to just 5.6s. But range drops too - to 269 miles. Different chassis settings are available depending on the model you choose, including an adaptive suspension option that lowers ride height by 15mm. You can select between eight 'MINI Experience' modes - 'Core', 'Green', 'Go-kart', 'Personal', 'Vibrant', 'Vivid', 'Timeless' and 'Balance' - each with a corresponding soundtrack.

Design and Build

Apart from the badging and the lack of an exhaust pipe, there are no obvious visual differences between this full-EV Countryman and its combustion counterparts. This third generation design is significantly bigger than its predecessors. It measures way past 4.4-metres in length and is 13cm longer and 6cm taller than the second generation design introduced in 2016. Some will find the swollen stance visually challenging and there are some curious touches, like the heavily stylised C-pillar with its contrast-coloured panel. Black plastic wheel arch surrounds and roof rails supply the crossover vibe, big wheels (17 to 20-inches) suit the current trend and there's much the same octagonal grille and range of lighting signatures as you'd get from the latest MINI Hatch, though here, the LED headlights are of a lozenge shape. The minimalist interior is a big departure from what went before and in design is carried over almost completely from the cabin created for that new-era MINI Hatch - though the extended dimensions here allow for an enlarged centre console. There's no instrument binnacle. Instead, dominating everything is the brand's latest 9.4-inch LED 'MINI Interaction Unit' round central screen, which you'll have to get used to looking at for speed unless you specify the optional Head-up display. You can flick between different settings for this very thin 240mm-diameter display, with sporty or retro typefaces, and it incorporates a new ambient lighting system which sees projectors flash a light show across the new textile dashboard at night. Virtually all the previous buttons and switches have been removed from the fascia and centre console (including unfortunately, the old rotary infotainment controller). A small panel with a few short-cut buttons is all that remains, along with the drive selector and a start/stop switch designed like an ignition key attached to the dash. In the back, there's reasonable leg room and the backrests can individually adjust through six positions by up to 12-degrees. Unlike the combustion version though, the seat base doesn't slide. Boot space is the same as the ICE version; 460-litres - or 1,450-litres with the backrest folded. And there's space beneath the boot floor - enough to store the set of charging leads needed by the EV versions.

Market and Model

Prices start at around £42,000 for the Countryman Electric E, while the Countryman Electric SE ALL4 model starts from around £47,000. By means of a comparison, the petrol Countryman C is priced from around £29,500. There are three available trim levels - 'Classic', 'Exclusive' and 'Sport' - and all are well equipped. The 'Classic' trim presents the brand's logo in a new colour ('Vibrant Silver'), and there's a range of three external paint finishes ('Melting Silver', 'Midnight Black' and 'Nanuq White'), plus two roof colour options and three wheel options. The 'Exclusive' trim adds additional exterior design elements, such as the option for a Multitone Roof with a combination of six different colours, as well as offering the front grille in 'Vibrant Silver' to match the MINI logo. Finally, the 'Sport' trim offers a distinctive front and rear design including a redesign for the front bumper, rear bumper, side skirt and spoiler, while using high-gloss black as the frame for the front grille and logo colour. You can combine that with a contrasting Chili Red roof and optional red/black bonnet stripes. MINI boasts that this is its most connected SUV ever, courtesy of a revised 'My MINI' app; and a "Hey MINI" personal assistant voice control system, via which owners can choose digital depiction of a British bulldog named Spike as their screen avatar of choice.

Cost of Ownership

We gave you the range figures for the Countryman Electric models in our 'Driving' section - 287 miles for the E and 269 miles for the SE. The 64.7kWh battery that both variants use can be rapid-charged rates of up to 130kW and so connected, can be replenished from 10 to 80% in half an hour. AC charging via the usual 7.4kW garage wallbox takes 10 hours, dropping to six and a half hours if your home (or office) happens to have a three-phase supply and you can fit an 11kW wallbox. The 'My MINI' app provides a convenient overview of the vehicle status and charging process, including current battery status, charging-optimised route plan and charging history. As expected, there's the normal three year unlimited mileage warranty. And the battery has its own 8 year or 100,000 mile warranty. Most customers here will want to buy into the provided MINI Electric Pay Monthly Service Plan to manage maintenance costs. Residuals should be strong. And MINI itself offers fully comprehensive insurance but you might find that your own broker can improve on the premiums your dealer can offer.

Summary

All-electric versions of the MINI Hatch have been around in one form or another for over a decade, but the concept of a large MINI with full-electric power is quite new. And difficult to pull off. It was hard enough for the brand to try and replicate trademark darty MINI handling with earlier generation combustion-powered Countryman models, whose extra weight over their little Hatch counterparts was immediately obvious to MINI loyalists. Add in the prodigious weight this time round of a huge lithium-ion battery pack and you've the recipe for a potential compromise in brand values. Yet rather against the odds, this Countryman Electric seems to get pretty close to pulling off its difficult development remit. And it does so while moving the game on substantially in terms of cabin design and media connectivity. There's actually nothing quite like it in the segment, which is in itself refreshing and different: as every MINI should be.

Body Glass

Rain sensor with auto headlights

Rear window wiper

Heated rear window

Front and rear electric windows

Brakes

Hill hold assist

Hill start assist

Electronic handbrake

DSC - Dynamic Stability Control

Electronic Stability Programme (ESP)

Traction control

Anti-lock brake system

Carpets/Rugs

Floor mats

Communication

E-call

Compatible mobile phone bluetooth with audio streaming

Bluetooth connection

Driver Aids

Electro-mechanical speed dependant steering assistance

MINI Experience Modes

Cruise Control (DCC)

Driving assistant

Parking assistant in camera and ultrasound based assistance system, rear view camera, parking aid and distance control

Driver Information

Circular OLED Screen

Mini navigation system

MINI TeleServices

Digital dashboard display

Driving Mirrors

Electric adjustable heated door mirrors

Embellishment Trims

Petrol/Brown dashboard knit

Entertainment

DAB Digital radio

Personal eSim

6 speakers

Exterior Body Features

Roof rails

Logos in Vibrant Silver

Vibrant Silver Grill Surround

Auto tailgate

Rear side wing doors

Exterior Lights

LED third brake light

LED daytime running lights

LED Headlights

LED rear lights

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Auto air conditioning

Interior Features

Vibrant Silver sill inlay

Height and length steering column adjustment

Anthracite headliner

Lidded storage box in Petrol knit

Vescin synthetic leather upholstery

Heated steering wheel

Sport Vescin Steering Wheel

Front armrest

Safety

Tyre pressure monitoring system

Front ISOFIX (iSize)

Warning triangle

6 Airbags - front, side, head and seat belt tensioners

Acoustic pedestrian protection

Manual rear child locks

3x3 point rear seat belts

Seats

3 seat bench in 2nd row

60/40 split rear bench seat

Front sports seats

Front headrests

Rear headrests

Single front passenger seat

Security

Locking wheel bolts

Electronic vehicle immobiliser

Auto drive away locking

Deadlocking function

Alarm system with tilt sensor, monitoring doors, bonnet interior and tailgate

Remote control locking

Keyless Go

Vanity Mirrors

Sunvisors with vanity mirrors

Vehicle Charging

DC Rapid charging

11kW AC charging

Mode 3 charging cable

Wheels - Spare

MINI Mobility Kit

Electric Vehicle Data

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Charge Time (Mins): 2070

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Power Supply - kW: 2.3

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Charge Time (Mins): 600

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW: 7.4

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Charge Time (Mins): 390

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Power Supply - kW: 11

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Charge Time (Mins): 29

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Power Supply - kW: 130

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Percentage Change: 10-80

Coupler/Connector Type: CCS Type 2

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Years: 8

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Mileage: 100000

Battery Capacity in kWh: 66.5

Battery Leased: 0

Battery Type: Lithium-ion

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Low: 553

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Medium: 565

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - High: 507

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Extra High: 355

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - City: 560

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb: 453

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb - TEL: 462

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb - TEH: 422

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Low: 13.2

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Medium: 12.9

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - High: 14.5

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Extra High: 20.7

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - City: 12.9

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb: 15.9

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEL: 15.7

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEH: 17.4

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - City: 4.8

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb: 3.9

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEH: 3.6

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEL: 4

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Extra High: 3

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - High: 4.3

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Low: 4.7

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Medium: 4.8

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Extra High: 220.6

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - City: 348

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb: 281.5

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb - TEH: 262

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb - TEL: 287

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - High: 315

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Low: 343.6

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Medium: 351.1

Battery Capacity % guaranteed under warranty: N

Charging Port Location: Right Side Rear

Usable Battery Capacity: 64.6

Maximum Charging Rate - kW: 130

Emissions - ICE

CO2 (g/km): 0

Standard Euro Emissions: N

Noise Level dB(A): N

CO: N

HC: N

NOx: N

HC+NOx: N

Particles: N

Engine and Drive Train

Cylinders - Bore (mm): N

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): N

CC: 1

Cylinders: N

Cylinder Layout: N

Number of Valves: N

Camshaft: N

Fuel Delivery: N

Catalytic Convertor: N

Engine Layout: N

Compression Ratio: N

Transmission: AUTO

Gears: 1 SPEED

Engine Code: HB0003N0

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: N

EC Urban (mpg): N

EC Extra Urban (mpg): N

EC Combined (mpg): N

General

Coin Series: E Exclusive

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 999999

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 24E

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: 83

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: 87

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: 81

NCAP Safety Assist %: 79

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: 5

Badge Power: 204

Badge Engine CC: 0.0

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

AdBlue: 0

Generation Mark: 3

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Performance

0 to 62 mph (secs): 8.6

Top Speed: 105

Engine Power - BHP: 204

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - KW: 150

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 184

Engine Torque - NM: 250

Engine Torque - MKG: 25.5

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: N/A

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 225/55 R18

Tyre Size Rear: 225/55 R18

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Type: 18" ALLOY

Wheel Style: ASTEROID SPOKE

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Vehicle Dimensions

Length: 4445

Width: 1843

Wheelbase: 2692

Width (including mirrors): 2069

Height: 1635

Weight and Capacities

Minimum Kerbweight: 1865

Gross Vehicle Weight: 2435

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): N

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 750

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 750

Max. Loading Weight: 570

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 460

No. of Seats: 5

Max. Roof Load: 75

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1450

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 11.8

Exterior Body Features

Solid paint

Roof and Mirror caps in Glazed White

Body colour roof

Additional metallic paint

Roof and Mirror caps in Vibrant Silver

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Nanuq White

Metallic - Smokey green

Metallic - Blazing blue

Metallic - Legend grey

Metallic - Melting silver lll

Metallic - Midnight black ll

Metallic - Slate blue

Metallic - British racing green

Paint - Solid

Solid - Chili red

Towing

Towbar

Trim - Leather

Vescin synthetic leather - Beige

Vescin synthetic leather - Dark Petrol

Vescin synthetic leather - Vintage Brown

Wheels - Alloy

19" Runway Spoke Black alloy wheels

20" Windmill Spoke 2 Tone alloy wheels

19" Kaleido Spoke 2 Tone alloy wheels