The new Countryman is still a Mini

Mini has retained its much-loved plate-sized speedometer — and quite right too!
Meddling with the Mini is nothing less than sacrilege to some. There are hordes of aficionados out there still quietly seething over the decision to get rid of the much-loved original design and introduce the BMW-designed Mini in 2000.

And so the idea to break into the four-wheel drive market is a contentious one. After all, the Mini is the quintessential metropolitan car, perfect for zipping about town, navigating narrow streets and squeezing into miniscule parking spaces. Rocky terrain and sandy dunes aren’t things one’s imagination conjures up when admiring its compact curves and low-lying chassis.

But then of course no one, least of all Mini, is claiming this is a rival to even a basic four-wheel drive (there’s still only one gearstick). It’s simply an option – perhaps the word gimmick is too harsh – and when you’re living in the UAE it’s one that might just get you out of a pickle if you find yourself needing to cross a couple of wadis in the outer emirates. Frankly, we can probably rule out a desert-set remake of The Italian Job.

So what does the Countryman have that the Cooper doesn’t? Of course it’s bigger – a spacious 4m long – and it sits higher off the ground. It’s got four doors and ample boot space (350 litres), and it has also shed a little of the cute factor with which the Mini is synonymous. There’s a certain belligerence to the Countryman, a don’t-mess-with-me snarl in place of the Cooper’s cheery grin, which might be something to do with the beefed-up front grill.

It’s also big on safety, which has enabled it to claim a five-star score in the latest Europe NCAP crash test results. Run-flat tyres (BMW are the largest fitter of run-flats as original features) also give peace of mind when hitting the gas on the open roads.

Drive-wise it is reassuringly Mini, planting itself to the road when being put to the slalom test, and with a highly respectable top speed of 215km/h it’s no slouch.

Inside is where you’ll find the quirkiness that makes Mini truly unique. The dinner plate-sized speedometer is still intact, incorporating Mini’s navigation screen, while the centre stack has been ever so slightly touched up, not completely redesigned. Any previous Mini owners will instantly notice the higher seating position, but it takes a matter of seconds to get used to the comparative loftiness. Arguably the most interesting addition is what Mini calls the Centre Rail, a miniature train track that runs between the seats from front to back, allowing different items such as a drinks and a sunglasses holder to be clipped on and moved through the car. Choose this, however, and you lose a seat. Give it a miss and you’ve got a bench for three – as long as those three aren’t burly 100kg rugby players.

It’s no wonder Mini’s worldwide sales have topped 1.7 million in the past decade. It’s a car that stubbornly retains its cool status and whatever model variation BMW produces only turns up the wattage on its iconic aura. Available at BMW dealerships, Dh160,000.

Quick spec

Engine: 1.6-litre
Horsepower: 184bhp
Transmission: 6-speed
0-100km/h: 7.6secs
Top Speed: 215km/h
Cost: Dh160,000