The MINI Countryman has been launched in India at Rs 34.90 lakhs (all-India ex-showroom). It’s the second generation for the British automaker’s largest vehicle and was unveiled for the Indian market at the 2018 Auto Expo. You can have it either in petrol power with the Countryman Cooper S or the Countryman JCW Inspired as well as a diesel in the form of the Countryman Cooper S diesel. Both are 2.0-litre units with sub 7.8 second 0-100kmph timings.
Well, we’ve given you an idea of what the car was like at the Auto Expo and then we attended the launch yesterday. And, now here is our take on the highs and lows of buying the car.
The good
There is no doubt that the Countryman’s biggest selling point is its looks and there lies its appeal as a life style product. The interiors are not too shabby either and you get some nice signature bits like the chrome surrounds for the infotainment system which harks back to the way to the instrument cluster was placed in the original BMC MINI. We also like the beige and black colour combination as it is quite pleasing to the eyes.
Being the largest car that Mini makes, it’s quite a bit more practical than its smaller and sportier siblings, which also makes it a product that opens the Mini brand to nuclear families rather than the two person deal that the other cars offer.
The Bad
Well making your car a lifestyle product gives it a niche appeal and that doesn’t always translate into numbers that are expected from cars in this part of the market. What’s more only the Cooper SD and JCW Inspired model get electric seats and only the latter gets a rear view camera.
Despite being the largest car that Mini makes, its size is comparable only to the likes of the smallest cars that its rivals makes. In terms of downright practicality, this might be a deal breaker but you should also consider that the brand is called Mini and therefore small cars are its forte.
Best Variant
We would recommend the Cooper SD as you get roughly the same levels of performance as the petrol models but with a significantly bigger punch in terms of torque. We believe that Mini will soon offer the Countryman SD with the JCW Inspired package and that should make the car even more appealing.
The facts
Price range
Mini Countryman Cooper S – Rs 34.90 lakhs
Mini Countryman Cooper SD – Rs 37.40 lakhs
Mini Countryman S JCW Inspired – Rs 41.40 lakhs
F.Y.I
The father of the original Mini was Sir Alec Issigonis who developed the car on the a tight budget as a way to offer low cost four wheel transport for post-war Britain. His original creation won him many awards and today the original Mini is considered an automotive legend.
