The Mini Countryman

Edmunds Inside Line

Call the new Countryman a “big Mini” and you’ll be “trapped in one of those ‘jumbo shrimp’” oxymorons. Though the brand’s first four-door is taller, wider, and longer than previous Minis, it’s still ultracompact. We prefer this model’s “less frenetic ride.” But it seems unnecessary to trade up from the $22,350 base model to the All4 and its all-wheel-drive system. With other options, this can quickly become a car that costs more than it’s worth.

The New York Times

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“Even the company seems a little confused” as to why it’s offering all-wheel drive. That option adds 155 pounds of weight, which costs the Countryman some of the “playful exuberance” you expect from a Mini. The 15.7 inches of extra length is more useful, so the smart-looking front-wheel-drive model should “find its following.” It “comes across as a BMW with a sense of humor.”

The Detroit Bureau

Since BMW handled most of the engineering, it’s no surprise that the 1.6-liter, 184-hp engine, which in the base model delivers 35 mpg on the highway, proves to be “pleasantly peppy.” For potential buyers who’ve been waiting for Mini to offer “something just a wee bit roomier and more practical,” the 2011 Countryman “may be precisely the prescription.”