Find the best price deals on 2012 MINI-Cooper Countryman both locally and nationally.
The MINI-Cooper Countryman is a Four Seat Compact Wagon or Compact Crossover SUV, depending on who is telling the story. It is made by BMW, and has only been around since 2010. It is the biggest of the MINI line; we surmise that it qualifies as a “Maxi MINI.”
So far, the MINI line is targeted at females who want a cute car, a BMW, and a good bargain all wrapped in a miniature entry-level luxury package. It has worked very well. The MINI hasn’t sold a lot of units, but its buyers are among the most satisfied drivers in the industry. So, what’s so special about the MINI-Cooper? Let’s take a look.
The 2012 MINI-Cooper Countryman Base trim has a 1.6 liter, inline 4-cylinder engine that produces 121 horsepower and 114 foot-pounds of torque. It has 205/55R17 tires, 17-inch alloy wheels, front-wheel drive, and a 6-speed manual transmission. It is rated at 28 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. It allegedly goes from zero to sixty in 9.8 seconds.
The Countryman comes with a leather-covered, tilt-telescope steering wheel that contains audio and cruise controls, front bucket seats with height adjustment, leatherette upholstery, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, keyless entry, power windows, power mirrors, electric speed-proportional power steering, 12-volt outlets in both the front and cargo areas, standard air conditioning, a trip computer, a mini-co0ler in the front seat, a roof rack, and a rear defogger. The audio system has 6 speakers, AM/FM/satellite radio, and a CD player.
The Countryman also comes with antilock brakes, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, traction control, stability control, and a post-collision safety system. Even though it is a small car, the Countryman got high scores of “good” in all tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Conclusions and Driver Feedback
Reviews from the MINI line are mixed, usually according to size and gender, but one thing everybody agrees on is that the interior feels a lot bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside. The total combined head and legroom in the front seat adds up to 80.3 inches, or slightly over 6 feet 8 inches. While we haven’t seen an NBA power forward get into or out of a MINI yet, the math says it is within the realm of possibility. The rear seat measurement is 73.3 inches, which will allow a rarity: people slightly over 6 feet being able to sit comfortably in the rear seat of a compact.
The design is much more visual than practical. The interior really looks like it was made by a fashion designer instead of an engineer. People who like that really love their MINI-Coopers; those who aren’t into it don’t understand why. The materials are very nice, and the interior has a “presence” that has been described with words like “esoteric” and “quirky,” highlighted by a giant speedometer. You will have to make your own decision.
There are 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, and folding the rear seat down increases that to 41.3 cubic feet. This is fair to middling for its market segment.
The Countryman handles like the compact wagon that it is. The only thing that keeps this BMW from being a BMW is the fact that the steering and suspension are nothing like those of a real BMW. It is adjusted squarely in the middle, with accurate steering that is responsive more because of the electronic assist than because of traditional adjustments, and the suspension corners pretty well witn just a bit of body roll. Because of its size, it is quite maneuverable.
The ride can be a little bit stiff for some people, but is definitely more like a typical compact ride than a BMW. The engine doesn’t really have a lot of power, either. It is fine for other cars in the MINI line, but the Countryman is just a tad too heavy for the base Cooper engine.
When you add all of this up, you get an adorable compact that has attained cult status. We like the cabin space and the mileage. MINI acolytes love its visual aspects, both inside and out. The price is very nice. Just don’t expect it to be a real BMW. There is a reason this goes out under the MINI marque instead of as a BMW.
The verdict: definitely worth a test drive if you are so inclined. Drive at your own risk, though, as you may be assimilated into the fold.
Other Trims and Options
The next trim level is the S. It gets all of the standard equipment, and then adds a turbocharged version of the 1.6 liter engine that produces 181 horsepower and 177 foot-pounds of torque. This brings the zero to sixty time into the high-seven second range, and decreases mileage slightly. The S also adds foglights, sport seats, adjustable traction control, and a different exterior package. The foglights, sport seats, and adjustable traction control can also be added to the base trim.
The highest trim level is the S ALL4, which adds 4-wheel drive to the S trim.
There are a lot of options to make this car more like other cars from the parent company. Among them: a 10-speaker Harman-Kardon sound system, an audio jack, USB-iPod input, Bluetooth, leather upholstery with or without cloth, automatic climate control, keyless ignition, heated mirrors, rear parking sensors, the MINI-Connected system, a navigation system, xenon headlights, and a sport-tuned suspension.
By the time you add all of these options, though, you could afford a lower-series BMW. The advantage to the S trims is that the turbocharged engine is a lot more fun and gives a lot better performance than the base engine because it is a much better match for the size of the vehicle. All-wheel drive is a lot safer for driving in inclement conditions, and helps maneuverability by adjusting individual wheel speeds to fit the situation.
The only question is this: when is a MINI too large to be mini anymore? They are in danger of losing their unique marketing proposition here. The public will vote with its feet either way.
Related posts:
- 2011 Mini Cooper Countryman Review, Cheapest Price & Specs
- Cheapest Prices On 2012 MINI Cooper Base Convertible & Review
- Cheapest Price 2011 Mini Cooper Hatchback Base Review & Specs
- Cheapest Used 2010 MINI Cooper Hatchback Base’s For Sale & Review
- Used 2010 MINI Cooper Hatchback Base’s For Sale & Reviews
