Mini Countryman S E-Hybrid Test Drive
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of test-driving a new Mini Cooper Countryman S E-Hybrid ALL4. Thank you to Mini of Grand Rapids for allowing me to borrow the car! It is a blast to drive, and the front seats are VERY comfortable. With our forward facing car seat in place, there was still enough room to allow 2 more passengers in the rear seat. This was my first time behind the wheel of the redesigned Countryman, and it is a major step forward from the original Mini crossover.
As I said, it is a very enjoyable vehicle to drive, between the immediate torque from the electric motor, and the turbocharged engine, it feels very punchy! I tried all three drive modes (Green, Normal, and Sport). As a sporty crossover, it can get very pricey, but has style and handling in spades. It definitely falls into the category of plug-in hybrid (PHEV), rather than that of an extended range electric vehicle (EREV). My Volt is a prime example of an EREV, it will run solely on electricity until the battery is run dry. The Mini, even in EV only mode, can be coaxed into firing up the gas engine by merely pushing the throttle past 3/4s of its travel. The cabin is very retro, but in a good way, and still packs in all of the modern conveniences expected in a $40,000+ vehicle. It is worth mentioning again how great the seats are! Base price starts at $36,900, but the vehicle I drove was optioned up to $43,750 with the Signature Premium Package, Signature Trim Package, and optional TurboCord charger. So lets call the car I drove mid-level equipped. Checking every option box will get you all the way to a list price of $49,600 with the TurboCord, but before any additional accessories or delivery charge.
If you are looking for a sporty, all wheel drive hatchback that happens to put out less CO2 than its competition, and can be used as an EV for brief stints, the Countryman is worth a look. If you are more interested in the EV-ness of your next vehicle, you'll want to look elsewhere. For me personally, I am spoiled by my Volt's 60-ish miles of all electric range, and find the 11 miles (if driven tamely) of the Mini to be severely lacking. If you like the looks (I do), and your goal isn't to drive the majority of your miles in electric only mode, it's worth a look. However, when the lease is up on my Volt, this won't be contending for a spot in my garage. Having said that, I realize that I may be the only person cross-shopping a Mini Cooper Countryman S E-Hybrid ALL4 (what a name) with a Chevrolet Volt.
