MINI Countryman 2017 Review

In Malaysia's compact SUV market, consumers who prioritize individuality and driving pleasure often face a dilemma—either compromising design for space or sacrificing practicality for a niche model. The 2017 MINI Countryman public, the brand's first true compact SUV, retains MINI's iconic retro design while enhancing spatial practicality, which excites many users who pursue a "no-compromise on individuality" lifestyle. In this test drive, we will focus on verifying whether it can balance MINI's driving DNA with the family needs of an SUV, while achieving mainstream levels of configuration and space in the same segment.

In terms of exterior design, the 2017 Countryman public continues the MINI family's round headlights and vertical grille, but its size is obviously enlarged compared to other MINI models, with an overall contour closer to the boxy feel of traditional SUVs. The front face's LED headlights come standard with lenses, making them highly recognizable when lit; the waistline on the body extends from the front fender to the rear, paired with 17-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, which not only maintain MINI's agility but also add a sense of SUV sturdiness. The rear's L-shaped taillights echo the rear spoiler, and the silver skid plate under the rear bumper emphasizes its crossover attributes. Overall, it has not lost MINI's essence despite the size increase; instead, it enhances practicality with SUV elements in its details.

Inside the car, the design style remains the familiar MINI flavor: a round central control screen, airplane toggle-style air conditioning switches, and a three-spoke steering wheel with the MINI logo. However, unlike smaller MINI models, the interior materials of the Countryman public are noticeably upgraded. The top of the center console is wrapped in soft-touch materials, with leather strips added to the inner side of the door panels, providing a more premium tactile feel than expected. The center console is equipped with a 6.5-inch touchscreen that supports Bluetooth connectivity and a reversing camera. Although the screen size is not very large, its operating logic is clear, making it convenient for daily use. The seats are made of fabric and leather stitching materials, with the front seats supporting manual height adjustment. They offer moderate support and are comfortable for long periods of sitting.

Space performance is one of the core upgrades of the 2017 Countryman public. The body dimensions are 4299mm x 1821mm x 1613mm, with a wheelbase of 2670mm, which is 75mm longer than the previous generation. In actual use, a passenger with a height of 175cm sitting in the front seat would have a headroom of one fist and two fingers; keeping the front seat position unchanged, the rear legroom reaches two fists, and the headroom remains around one fist, ensuring that even with three passengers in the rear, it does not feel overly crowded. In terms of storage, the trunk has a regular capacity of 450L, which can be expanded to 1390L by folding down the rear seats, easily accommodating two 28-inch suitcases and one carry-on. This meets the needs of short family trips. Additionally, the front central armrest box and door panel storage compartments offer sufficient practicality, providing suitable spaces for phones, water bottles, and other small items.

In terms of powertrain, the 2017 Countryman public is equipped with a 1.5T three-cylinder turbocharged engine, delivering a maximum power of 136 horsepower and a peak torque of 220N·m, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual mode. During daily driving, the power response at the start is quite brisk, without a noticeable sense of abruptness when the turbo engages. Even when accelerating to 60km/h, the power output remains smooth, and when overtaking, stepping hard on the accelerator prompts the transmission to quickly downshift, providing consistent power output. We attempted cruising on the highway at 120km/h, where the engine speed was maintained at about 2500 rpm, and there was still a certain reserve of power for further acceleration. However, when fully loaded and climbing a slope, the power feels slightly strained, requiring a prior downshift to increase the revs.

In terms of handling performance, the Countryman public retains MINI’s precise steering feel, with minimal slack in the steering wheel and clear directional accuracy, giving drivers sufficient confidence during cornering. The suspension system adopts a front MacPherson independent suspension and a rear multi-link independent suspension, tuned towards firmness, but it effectively filters out most vibrations when passing speed bumps or uneven roads, without transmitting excessive harsh impacts into the cabin. The chassis has a strong overall integrity, and the body remains stable at high speeds, with no noticeable floating sensation.

The tested 1.5T gasoline version of the model recorded a combined fuel consumption of approximately 7.8L per 100km under mixed road conditions (urban congestion + highway cruising), which is an average performance within the same class of compact SUVs. In terms of braking, the brake pedal feels linear, with responsive initial braking in the early stage. During emergency braking, the body posture remains stable without significant nose-diving. Noise control is well executed, with tire and wind noise being negligible below 100km/h. It’s only when the engine speed exceeds 3000 rpm that the engine noise slightly penetrates the cabin, but it does not affect normal conversation.

To sum up, the core advantage of the 2017 MINI Countryman public lies in its “balance”: it retains MINI’s iconic driving pleasure and retro design while meeting the practical needs of family users through extended wheelbase and optimized space. Compared to competitors in the same class, such as the Audi Q2L and BMW X1, its design is more distinctive, its space performance is close to that of the X1, but it offers a lower price threshold. In contrast to traditional family SUVs like the Honda CR-V, its handling and branding style stand out, making it more suitable for families seeking individuality.

This car is most suitable for people who want both MINI’s unique design and driving pleasure and an SUV that meets the needs of daily commuting and short family trips. Whether it’s young couples or families with children, it can balance individuality and practicality. If you don’t want to choose between “personality” and “family use,” the 2017 MINI Countryman public might be a good option for you.