In the early days of this stint we are having at car electrification, some EVs made do with petrol specific platforms, just with batteries and a motor replacing what was there before. Fast forward a bit and we now have dedicated EV platforms, and also some new designs that can properly deal with both petrol and EV, including anything in between. And trying them out back to back is a great way to see how the experience can be different. Exit the Mini Countryman S, and enter the Countryman SE.
From the outside, there is very little to differentiate between the two. The design language is as modern as ever, and the exhaust pipe, the usual tell tale sign to spot an ICE powertrain, was hidden in the S to begin with. So, the only obvious change are the badges, that in the SE trim read “S”, but in bright yellow. You really have to know in order to know.
Inside, I was lucky enough to experience what are the two nicest choices you can go for. My S press car had the ‘Dark Petrol’ interior, while the SE showcases the tan ‘Vescin Vintage’, and still works great with the cloth inserts throughout the cabin.
In terms of tech, it is mostly unchanged from the petrol counterpart. You still get the ‘Experience’ drive modes, the circular cluster + HUD combo, and you get a charging specific menu. And I must reiterate: do connect your car to the mobile app, and make use of the features it has. Not only can you use your phone as a key, but the connected services are indeed very handy, even more so in an EV as you can properly set climate from a distance. And there is so much customisation available that having your profile being loaded automatically from the key changes the experience from overwhelming and frustrating to a total breeze – you must do it!
When it is time to get this not-so-mini Mini moving, this is where – expectedly – you notice the most differences. While the petrol’s start-stop and DCT were very smooth, they have no chance against a good EV powertrain, let alone a great one. City driving is buttery smooth, either in Drive with Adaptive regen or using the B, one pedal driving mode. I’m a fan of 4 cylinder turbo, dual clutch equipped cars when in the right package, and while it’s sad to lose that edge in a fun car, the Mini makes up for it with inspired simulated motor sounds. It’s not as otherworldly as BMW’s, and not as weird as a videogame’s, it hits just right.
It is not the most efficient EV out there, however, clocking around 17.3kWh/100km during my combined, mostly civilised driving. I found myself driving this more calmly than the petrol one, which is not how things usually go. That’s mostly because of the shorter possible range, a claimed 432km that I don’t think I’d be able to achieve. When it’s time to charge, the Countryman SE will take 128kW, figures just okay and good for a charge from 10 to 80% in about 29 minutes.
But then, when I actually pushed it a bit further, the same impressions from the “regular S” remain: this is a very fun and competent crossover SUV. Dynamics are very predictable and the limits are quite high, all thanks to the borderline invisible All4 all-wheel-drive system and a super smart stability control system (I cannot confirm nor deny this statement has some foreshadowing in it).
Even with the added weight of the batteries, the riding comfort stays adequate, with a firm but never crashy ride. You can clearly tell this is a car that is rolling on big tyres, with not a lot of sidewall, and with a very European approach to damping, offering firmness without discomfort. It rides like it means business, even if the business in question is just a cheeky city run or the school drop-off.
I might have mentioned this before: many dual-offering cars — those that come in both petrol and electric variants — stand to gain a lot from electrification, often becoming faster, smoother, or more efficient. But in the case of the Mini Countryman, the answer isn’t as one-sided. Electrification didn’t fix a bad car; it simply gave buyers another flavour of something already great.
And this is a statement to how good the car is, as I enjoyed driving both versions very much. The bottomline is that the new Countryman is a massive step forward, regardless of the powertrain you go for. Just pick whichever one suits your lifestyle better and enjoy the full-filled runs to get that Pork Pie! Thanks, Mini, for the opportunity, and thank you for reading this far!
