New Mini Countryman on sale in South Africa – Pricing and specifications

The new Mini Countryman has officially gone on sale in South Africa, adding several new models to the carmaker’s local arsenal.

The line-up includes four different powertrains, comprising three petrol plants and an all-electric flagship, and prices start at R724,820.

Powertrains

Each of the Countryman units in South Africa is bundled with its own drivetrain, giving customers a varied selection to choose from.

Starting with the base Countryman C this model gets a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that puts out 115kW and 240Nm.

It is front-wheel drive and has a seven-speed automatic gearbox, which contribute towards an average fuel consumption of 6.1l/100km.

It can also accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 8.3 seconds, and reach a top speed of 212km/h.

The mid-range S, meanwhile, benefits from a larger 2.0-litre turbo mill producing 150kW and 300Nm.

This unit features an ALL4 all-wheel-drive (AWD) configuration and averages a slightly thirstier 6.1l/100km.

On the upside, it can sprint to 100km/h in 7.1 seconds and has a higher top speed of 228km/h.

The best of the petrol options is the John Cooper Works (JCW) “hot crossover,” which also uses a 2.0-litre plant and AWD setup but throws down an even greater 233kW and 400Nm.

The result is an acceleration time of 5.4 seconds and a max speed of 250km/h, though this naturally comes with a higher fuel usage of 8.3l/100km.

The sporty Mini also gets adaptive suspension as standard, giving it better handling and comfort when tearing about.

Finally, there’s the all-electric Countryman SE, which is the second battery-powered Mini to appear in South Africa after the smaller Cooper SE, the latter of which is getting its own update in the near future.

It also has an AWD setup thanks to a pair of electric motors, one over each axle, that deliver a combined 230kW and 494Nm.

These e-motors are supplied by a 66.45kWh battery that provides a driving range of 433km.

Performance-wise, the electric Mini can keep up with the JCW with a sprint time of 5.6 seconds, though it caps out at a lower 180km/h.

Charging the battery to 80% takes about 30 minutes when using a 130kW DC fast cable.

Features

All members of the Countryman family come with a generous spec sheet, as the C ships with automatic LED headlights and daytime running lights, rain-sensing wipers, 17-inch alloy wheels, an electric tailgate, push-button start, a multifunction steering wheel, heated Sports seats, two-tone partial artificial leather upholstery, ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, automatic climate control, voice commands, and six speakers.

It also features safety and assistance items comprising cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, a reverse camera, hill-start assist, and six airbags.

As is standard with Mini’s new designs, the cabin opts to use a singular 9.4-inch circular OLED touchscreen screen that pulls double duty as the driver and infotainment displays and can be customized to suit your tastes.

Additions to the Countryman S are relatively minor, encompassing model-specific badges and larger 18-inch wheels, as its mechanical underpinnings are the main selling point.

The John Cooper Works, on the other hand, gets a unique grille, 19-inch rims, red brake calipers, and a black, red, and white paint scheme to convey its sporty intentions.

The dashboard has a unique red textile pattern, and the equipment list is expanded with a 12-speaker stereo, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, driver fatigue monitoring, and a heated steering wheel with paddle shifters.

As for the SE, its electric nature means it comes with a Plug & Charge system that allows the car to automatically start charging supported public outlets without any further authorization, circumventing the need to start the process with a card or payment app.