2023 Mini Countryman

The 2023 Mini Cooper Countryman will be offered in three trim levels which are Classic, Signature, and Iconic. While the price of the base and Signature trims has been made official, the Iconic trim’s price is yet to be released. The Classic trim starts at $30,450, and it gets a handsome list of standard features such as LED headlamps and tail lamps, a keyless ignition system, 60/40 split-folding rear bench seats, faux leather upholstery, and an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment display. The Signature trim brings in an upgraded wheel design, a power-operated liftgate, a passive keyless entry system, and a two-zone automatic climate control. The top-end Iconic trim equips the car with bigger 19-inch alloy wheels, front sport seats with power adjustments, heating for the steering wheel, a premium Harman Kardon audio system, leather upholstery, and a head-up display.

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The base trim is quite well-equipped for the price, making it a preferable option for budget-oriented shoppers. The top-end Iconic trim is a more value-for-money package than the mid-level Signature due to the number of standard features the former offers.

Release Date

The 2023 Mini Countryman has been released and entered production in March 2022.

The 2023 Mini Countryman gets a small 1.5-liter B38 turbocharged I-3 motor that produces 134 horsepower along with 162 lb-ft of torque. At first glance, the output numbers might look decent but once you get behind the wheel, the reality will strike hard. The motor doesn't have adequate grunt right from the beginning and you need to work the motor a bit hard to get going. The engine is mated to a standard 7-speed automatic transmission which is quick with its shifts. The powertrain drives the front wheels of the crossover as default while the brand offers an optional AWD layout as well. The 0-60mph sprint time of almost 9 seconds is a bit too leisurely for a vehicle carrying the Mini logo.

The Kia Soul, when equipped with its optional turbo motor, has a better performance department as compared to when equipped with its base motor. Even though the Soul generates a lot more power and much better torque than the base Countryman, it is only slightly quicker than the latter with a 0-60mph sprint time of 8.1 seconds. Keeping your foot down will see a standing quarter-mile time of 16.4 seconds respectively. The Subaru Crosstrek is the only one here that offers a unique powertrain setup. Along with the hallmark Symmetrical AWD layout of Subaru, the crossover gets a standard 6-speed manual transmission and a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-4 motor. Even though it is more lethargic and slower off the line than both the Mini and the Soul, its standard AWD makes up for it. The Audi Q3 sits on the upper side of the class both in terms of price, power, and image. Despite that, the Q3 is only slightly quicker than the rivals here by taking 8.6 seconds to complete the 0-60mph run. However, it also offers the iconic Quattro AWD layout though.

2023 Mini Cooper Countryman Ride and Handling

Much like the Symmetrical AWD layout and flat-4 motors of Subaru, athletic handling is the hallmark of Mini. Despite its crossover platform, the Mini Countryman behaves like a car both on road and around the corners. The steering wheel is surprisingly precise and delivers adequate feel and feedback from the road as well. To keep things spicy, Mini has always compromised on the ride comfort part, and the same characteristics have followed into the Countryman as well. For shoppers who are familiar with automobiles from Mini, the ride quality of the Countryman wouldn’t bother them much. Instead, they’ll cherish the sharp handling, and the crossover’s impressive abilities to go around the corners. However, for the audiences taking the Mini Countryman for the first time, the ride can feel a bit too firm, especially at lower speeds.

2023 Mini Cooper Countryman Braking Performance

Unlike the dismal performance department, the braking department of the 2023 Mini Countryman is impressive. While the brand has kept the brake sizes of the Countryman under wraps, it doesn’t bother much, given the way the brakes perform. At lower speeds, the brakes do feel sharper than average and can result in abrupt stops. However, at higher speeds, the brakes deliver impressive bite and stopping power. The brakes are capable enough to stop the Countryman within 120 feet while traveling at 60 mph.

The Kia Soul has 11-inch front and 10.3-inch rear rotors. The size doesn’t matter too much here, given the 3,036 lbs curb weight of the crossover. As such, the Soul can come to a complete stop from 70 mph within 161 feet. The Subaru Crosstrek gets slightly bigger brakes than the Soul, with 11.6-inch front and 10.8-inch rear brake rotors. Owing to its higher curb weight, the Crosstrek requires 127 feet to come to a complete stop while traveling at 60 mph. The Audi Q3 has the best braking hardware and braking performance here, naturally. With its 13.4-inch front and 11.8-inch rear rotors, the Q3 comes to a halt from 60 mph within 117 feet sharp, despite weighing quite a handful at 3,916 lbs.

The output and performance stats of the 2023 Mini Countryman might appear despicable to some, the vehicle does benefit from it though. According to the EPA, the vehicle will return an average of 26 mpg inside the city limits and 33 mpg out on the highways. The combined mileage is rated at 29 mpg. Surprisingly, the Countryman gets a big 16.1-gallon gas tank, allowing the crossover to offer lengthy driving range numbers such as 419 miles of city driving and over 500 miles of highway driving miles.

The Kia Soul has marginally better city mileage and identical combined mileage to the Mini Countryman. However, its smaller, 14.3-gallon gas tank keeps it from going as long as the Countryman on a tank full of gasoline. The Subaru Crosstrek has mediocre fuel efficiency numbers due to its unusual powertrain setup. Despite that, its sizable 16.6-gallon gas tank results in some overwhelming driving range figures though. The Audi Q3 is quite similar to the Crosstrek in terms of fuel efficiency but its driving range numbers are average.

After the takeover by BMW, Mini vehicles have gone through a significant evolution in terms of design and technical advancements. However, Beemer has been generous enough to keep the authenticity of the badge intact by keeping the basic design ethos intact as well. On the inside, the 2023 Mini Countryman sees the familiar circular design cues such as a circular encasement for the infotainment system and circular climate control knobs. The driver’s instrument console gets an oval design and is fully digital. The overall layout is quite straightforward, with all the controls being accessible from the driver’s seat. As compared to the immediate rivals, the Countryman’s interior feels nicer with more premium materials used for construction. As standard, the vehicle gets faux leather upholstery and a keyless ignition system. As you go up the trims, features such as leather upholstery, heated and power-adjustable front sport seats, and two-zone automatic climate control starts adding up and replacing a few base features. The cabin space is on the tighter side and the front seats can feel a bit confining for tall adults. Cargo capacity is dismal at 17.6 cu-ft only.

The Kia Soul’s interior isn’t one of its fortes, and the extensive use of hard plastic materials can be a turn-off. The overall design is satisfactory though with plenty of space on offer. Not only is the Soul more spacious than the Countryman for occupants, but it also has a much bigger cargo area at 24.2 cu-ft as well. The Subaru Crosstrek is the most spacious and comfiest one here that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket. Yes, the interior design of the Crosstrek is in dire need of an update, but the old-school charm refuses to fade amidst the modern and sharper cabin designs of the rivals. The Audi Q3 offers a much better and comfier cabin obviously, along with having superior quality interior materials as well. Moreover, the Q3 impresses with its spacious boot too.

Some of the key interior features available with the 2023 Mini Cooper Countryman include:

• Simulated leather upholstery
• Manually adjustable front seats
• Sliding 60/40-split bench rear seat
• Keyless ignition
• Digital instrumentation
• Heated front seats
• Dual-zone automatic climate control

How intuitive is the 2023 Mini Cooper Countryman's infotainment system?

We wish to say nicer things about the 2023 Cooper Countryman’s infotainment system, but cannot. Even though the brand has been generous enough to equip the crossover with a decent-sized 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, it did skimp on the features part. In the base trim, both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are missing, and Android Auto isn’t available as an optional extra either. A 6-speaker audio setup, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and a USB port are standard on the base model. Further, you can get navigation, a premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio setup, and a wireless device chagrin pad from the optional features list.

Some of the most notable infotainment features available with the 2023 Mini Cooper Countryman include:

• 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment display
• 6-speaker/12-speaker audio system
• Apple CarPlay
• HD radio
• Satellite radio
• Bluetooth
• Navigation(optional)

The exterior design of the 2023 Mini Countryman carries plenty of Mini charm that you’d find on smaller Cooper models. At the front, you’ll smile after looking at the blacked-out front grille that looks a lot like the original Mini’s front grille, only a bit sleeker now. The LED headlamps with neon-like LED DRLs bordering them gives a retro feel to the vehicle’s front fascia while the front bumper houses the fog lamps and a big air dam. The side profile is tall and the crossover gets black plastic cladding under the fenders to justify the placement of the Countryman’s placement within the crossover segment. The rear end has a familiar design, complete with the iconic LED Union Jack tail light units. Lower on the liftgate, the vehicle gets “Countryman” lettering and the dual exhaust pipes complete the overall design.

The Kia Soul does disappoint a bit on the inside but gets a radical design on the outside. The unique headlamp setup at the front and the tall design make it look more imposing despite its compact form factor. However, it is shorter than the Mini Countryman due to its shorter nose. The Subaru Crosstrek has a familiar exterior design that looks more like a lifted wagon than a crossover. However, its dated design still packs in more character than a few rivals it faces in the class. Wearing the latest design from Audi, the latest version of the Q3 looks ravishing and loud courtesy of its front grille. Yes, the grille isn’t as big as the bigger Q5 but gives the crossover a much-deserved street presence and character. The Q3 also has the maximum ground clearance here at 8.3 inches.

Some standout exterior features include:

• Alloy wheels
• LED headlights
• Roof rails
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Heated ORVMs
• Panoramic sunroof
• Passive keyless entry
• Power liftgate

The 2023 Mini Cooper Countryman as well as the last year’s model hasn’t been crash-tested by both the NHTSA or the IIHS. Hence, the crash ratings aren’t available for the crossover. Since the Countryman is built on the BMW UKL2 platform, it is expected to be safe for occupants given the German brand’s irrefutable reputation of making safe vehicles. Additionally, the Countryman gets a forward collision warning and mitigation system and lane departure warning systems as standard on the base trim. Furthermore, adaptive cruise control and an automated parking system join the list on the top trim. The crossover does miss out on a few other important advanced safety techs that its rivals get as standard or as optional extras.

Some of the standout safety features include:

• Forward collision warning and mitigation system
• Adaptive cruise control
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Automated parking system
• Lane departure warning system
• Brake assist

2023 Mini Cooper Countryman vs 2022 Kia Soul

The Kia Soul has been a popular offering in the affordable subcompact crossover segment. Moreover, its unique design and comprehensive warranty coverage have lured in a solid customer base too. However, in its base form, the Soul doesn’t match up with the base model of the Countryman. For that, it needs to get the optional turbocharged motor. Even though the Soul makes more power and torque than the Countryman with its most powerful powertrain, its performance stats are not so distant from what the Countryman delivers. On the inside too, the Countryman has better appointments and nicer materials along with a more appealing design. Despite that, the Soul wins the practicality part by offering more space inside its cabin along with providing a bigger boot.

2023 Mini Cooper Countryman vs 2022 Subaru Crosstrek

The Subaru Crosstrek still relies on its unique powertrain setup and its above-average ruggedness to have an edge over most of its rivals. Even though its interior and exterior design has become quite dated now, the Crosstrek is still preferred by a loyal customer base. The Crosstrek leaves the Mini Countryman behind in the practicality aspect with its impressive ground clearance and standard Symmetrical AWD layout. The interior of the Crosstrek offers more space for the occupants too as compared to the Countryman. The Mini still holds its own with its sharp handling and quirky appeal.

2023 Mini Cooper Countryman vs 2022 Audi Q3

The Audi Q3 sits on the higher price spectrum within the subcompact crossover segment. For its price, the Q3 delivers brilliantly in its practicality as well as on the safety part, with impeccable safety scores from both the NHTSA and the IIHS. On the inside too, the Q3 is roomier and gets more premium materials along with a delectable design. On the outside too, the Q3 looks fresh out of the box with an updated design though the Countryman has an edge over the former here. In the handling department, the Countryman still leads the pack.

If you’re a Mini fan and have experienced vehicles from the brand before, the Countryman can be a preferable option. For first-time buyers, however, the Countryman can be a deal breaker in some aspects. The aspects are its tight cabin, small cargo capacity, lack of safety features, lack of infotainment features, and a stiff ride. Moreover, the lackluster performance of the motor doesn’t induce any confidence while planning to buy it either. For a better value-for-money package, you can take a look at the Subaru Crosstrek or, you might want to increase your budget and go for the Audi Q3.