Used Mini Countryman 2010-2017 review

Need more space than a Mini hatchback can offer? That’s where the Mini Countryman comes in.

When it was launched in 2010, the intention was to provide a car with the fashionable styling and huge range of personalisation options that had made the Mini so popular, but stretched and inflated into a larger body with SUV-ish styling cues that made it better-suited to families, so that young couples who had enjoyed their Minis could trade up when kids came along.

Mini attempted to endow the Countryman with the same feel as its smaller stablemate, an aim to which its sharp steering, quick turn-in and impressive body control are testament. The news gets even better with the All4 version, whose four-wheel drive offers a tonne of traction. All of which means that, the Countryman is pretty good to drive, for an SUV at least.

The problem is, to keep that tall body in shape, Mini had to fit the Countryman with pretty firm suspension – and that means you’ll feel most of the knobbles and lumps in the road surface, which can grow tiresome on a long trip. What’s more, it isn’t the most family-friendly car out there – while it’s more spacious than a Mini, there are other SUVs that’ll knock it into a cocked hat for space and versatility.

In other words, the Countryman is a car to buy with your heart over your head. If you’re after a fashionable image, funky styling and sharp handling, you’ll love it. But if you’re looking for something practical, comfortable, spacious and sensible, there are better options out there.

If you’re happy to live with a high mileage or a Category C/D write-off, you can pick up a Mini Countryman for as little as £5500 these days. If you want to find a tidy, low-mileage example with a full service history and average mileage, though, you’ll need to pay rather more than that – £6500 is about the right starting price for an entry-level 1.6-litre petrol.

Diesel models fetch a little more, as do the four-wheel-drive All4 variants, while if you’re looking for the faster Cooper S model, you’ll need to up your budget to at least £8000.

The Countryman was given a very subtle facelift in 2014, and these updated models now start at around £11,000 for a well cared-for, average-mileage petrol example.

Not too much – the Countryman’s range of engines looks pretty economical. Whether you choose a petrol or a diesel version, fuel consumption compares favourably with rivals, and as a result, tax is reasonable too.

What’s more, servicing costs aren’t extortionate – you’ll pay less to service the Mini than you will the equivalent Skoda Yeti or Nissan Juke.

If you’re on a budget, the basic Mini Countryman One is worth considering, but it doesn’t come with much standard equipment, so it’s worth upgrading to the Cooper model if your money will stretch that far. The sporty Cooper S versions are great fun and highly recommended, but keep in mind that they’re aimed at hot hatch buyers, and their greater power means higher fuel consumption.

If you don’t need the pace of a Cooper S, then, the standard Cooper should be all you ever need. But the problem is, it doesn’t stop there – Minis are famed for their extensive options list, and many owners added options packs, the most popular being the Salt, Pepper and Chili packs, which added increasing amounts of equipment.

You’ll also find plenty of Countrymen out there which were specified with one of the myriad paint options. These can include black or white roofs, bonnet stripes and coloured alloy wheels. It’s worth bearing in mind that it’s a legal requirement to declare all these optional extras to your insurance company, so make sure you get a quote before buying.

Unless you do high mileages, we’d stick with the petrol versions of the Countryman. They’re generally a touch less mechanically complex than the diesels, and no less easy to find; what’s more, they’re generally cheaper to buy and have done fewer miles. And unless you really need four-wheel drive, we’d stick with the standard two-wheel-drive model, as it’s more economical.

Our favourite Mini Countryman: 1.6 Cooper

The Skoda Yeti is the polar opposite of the MIni Countryman: its boxy profile makes it less fashionable, but far more useful, with loads of space inside for both people and luggage. The Yeti isn’t as much fun as the Countryman to drive either, but it is more comfortable, and feels stable and assured on a twisting road.

We’re also fans of the Renault Captur, which isn’t quite as overtly fashionable as the Countryman, but does still come with some quirky options that allow you to make it stand out from the crowd. The zippable, washable seat covers are a great touch.

You could also try the Nissan Juke, which is very popular thanks to its quirky looks. However, we’re less enthusiastic about its plasticky interior, cramped rear seats and small boot. Still, at least it should be more reliable than the Mini.

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