It’s big news at Mini with an all-new Countryman!
We’ve always been fans of the Mini brand. Since 2003, it’s brought charm, style and joy to buyers in a cheeky, fun-size package. Along the way, (and along with just about every other brand) vehicles have gotten larger. And now we have the all-new 2025 Mini Countryman, a small SUV that is the largest the brand has made.
So, while it’s the biggest and most powerful Mini ever, does it still have that Mini charm? Let’s find out!
Bigger, Bolder, Cheekier
Even from the first glance you know this is something new. Of course, you can’t get away from our tester’s British Racing Green IV Metallic paint. You either love it or you hate it – we love it – but it certainly grabs your eye.
Once your eye is grabbed, there’s plenty to see. It’s noticeably larger than the previous model – five inches longer, an inch wider, and almost four inches taller.
Up front it’s familiar Mini, despite a new octagonal front grille, with squared-off LED headlamps that remind us of the previous model. Like much of the Countryman, you feel you’ve got something special – the headlights feature individual driver-selectable signature modes. Cool! A contrasting lower fascia gives a bit of SUV/off-road cred to finish off the look.
The profile immediately tells you this is a larger vehicle, and while it has some of the blocky lines carried over, it also looks more aero and sportier, with a sharply raked windshield and muscular bulges in the fenders. Our favorite part of the sideview has to be the massive-looking 20-inch Windmill Spoke 2-tone wheels. Very cool!
At the rear you sense the width of the vehicle, while new vertical rear lights also make the Countryman look taller. Those LED lights not only have a Union Jack design that’s veddy British, but also does a little light show as you approach – just delightful.
Keeping with the Mini tradition, you have an incredible amount of customization available to make your vehicle uniquely your own. The Countryman features three distinct available styles – Classic, Favoured (like our tester) and John Cooper Works, each with their own unique interior and exterior elements.
Fun, Upscale and Unique
You can’t help but smile when you get inside – the interior is as special as the exterior.
Open the door and you get sensory overload – there’s a lot going on here. Let’s start with the color. You have a very nubbly fabric cover on the dashboard made from 100% recycled polyester, blue on our tester. Hidden in that fabric are LED’s that light up and create a cool vibe. That same blue fades to orange on the door panels creating a very cool and modern look.
Offering a great contrast are the Vescin (vegan leather) Vintage Brown seats, and the fronts are multi-adjustable, super comfy and you can even get a massage in the driver’s seat! The rear seat is an adult friendly, if a little tight on legroom. Headroom is fine, and you realize this is not a huge SUV by any means.
The rear seats have a cool 40/20/40 split that gives you plenty of flexibility in seating choices, and cargo space is good with the seats up, and the rears fold easily to create a very spacious cargo hold. The power lifting tailgate makes loading a snap as well.
Ok, the driver’s seat is calling us back, and it’s a wonderful place to be. There’s a fat, very sporty leather wrapped steering wheel, and a handy heads-up display that you use for most of your key information when you’re on the move.
But you can’t help but loving that monstrous 9.4-inch OLED pie-plate display in the center of the dash – a longtime Mini tradition. This really brings tainment to the info-tainment moniker, with a toggle-through of 8 different Mini experience modes, including good old analog gauge displays, to vintage looking screens and more. Customization means you can make it uniquely your own – you can even upload photos to be your background. It’s just plain fun to check them out.
Along with the fun, there’s all the given goodies, like wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Wi-Fi hotspot, and a nice slot for wireless charging and more. Being an Icon trim, we also had nice features like augmented reality navigation and a thumping Harmon Kardon audio system.
Below that big screen is a secondary row of controls – another Mini tradition – including a gear selection toggle, twist-to-start fob, experiences toggle, and ta dah! a separate volume knob. With no paddle shifters you really can’t have that involved sporty experience, but that’s the only negative we could find.
Big Mini Fun
Driving the Countryman reminds us why we love the brand so much.
Under the hood is a turbo 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder pumping out a strong 241 horsepower and impressive 295 ft-lbs. of torque. Those playing at home will note that this is the same engine in the new BMW X1. Those are great numbers for a small vehicle, and you feel the BMW-ness in the engine, it’s smooth, revs quickly, and sounds tasty and sporty. Mini claims 0-60 in 6 seconds and we think it easily does that.
Hooked up to a seven-speed dual clutch automatic shifts are very quick and intuitive and it gives the Countryman a “Hey let’s play!” attitude. Standard All4 all-wheel drive means plenty of grip in all conditions, and we love the steering’s light, but accurate feel. Very modern BMW!
The largest Mini ever is still a relatively small vehicle, and that means it’s also fun to toss around on a twisty road, yet the tall ride height still gives a nice comfortable ride. So, we guess it’s a win-win here. More comfort and room in the new package, but still that Mini charm and driving joy that is the hallmark of the brand.
Mini Price?
Well, it is an all-new model, but let’s run the numbers. The Mini Countryman S ALL4 is your entry level model and starts at $38,900. For a premium European SUV with loads of charm and performance, that’s pretty great value. A comparable 2024 model started at $32,900 so you are paying more for what is a larger, more livable vehicle.
Our tester showed how you can make a Mini your own with an extensive options list. Our tester included the Iconic Trim ($3,200) which also included the Premium Sound Package. The Favoured Style was a bargain at $600, considering it included those 20” alloy wheels and John Cooper Works Sport Seats. We also enjoyed the Comfort Package Max ($900). Add in $995 for destination, and we rang the bell at $44,295.
Competitors would include the sexy Swede Volvo XC40 at a bit over $51,000. It’s a slightly larger vehicle, but also charming. The question is do you feel British or Swedish? Those wanting a bit more traditional SUV but still all the fun should look at the all-new BMW X1 – the Mini’s sibling. Comparably equipped at $50,725, the BMW is significantly more expensive, though.
Loads of charm, performance and one-of-a-kind goodness makes the all-new 2025 Mini Countryman S ALL4 a highly desirable and enjoyable premium SUV!
Ben Lewis grew up in Chicago, and after spending his formative years driving sideways in the winter – often intentionally – moved to sunny Southern California. He now enjoys sunny weather year-round — whether it is autocross driving, aerobatics, and learning to surf.