New 2025 MINI Countryman Electric Review

Is the MINI Countryman still actually MINI or should it be called a MAXI?

Exterior – Front

So, starting with the design at the front and the new MINI Countryman uses the latest design language of MINI but has given it a squarer look. Even more than the previous Countryman. This can be seen in the headlights. They do look MINI like though. You can also change the graphic in them just like an Audi and the rest of the MINI range. The grill surround is quite big but is separated into different segments which gives it a similar look to the previous MINI. We do get a decent sized central air vent and some very desecrate side vents but on the John Cooper Works models are more visible. We also get quite a lot of mat black plastic to give it an off roader look too which I quite like. Unfortunately, though we don’t get a clamshell bonnet like before and the headlights don’t have a surround anymore either.

Exterior – Side

Moving round to the side and we get a much more premium look than before. To start with we still get some wheel arch surrounds in Matt black plastic as well as some lower sills in the same colour. The door handles are flush which aren’t the best, but I can get used to it. What I also like is that we get a lot of glass too and we also get this panel on the side to show what mode l you have. I do wish this was useful though like the Defender models or like the one on the Hyundai Santa Fe. We do also get some roof bars and some cool looking wing mirrors and wheel design which suit this car very well.

Exterior – Rear

Moving round to the back and we do get a classical design like the previous Countryman which I do like as it suits MINI much better than the triangle taillights. The boot design is reminiscent of the 1^st generation Countryman as the numberplate has been moved to the bumper. We get some big countryman letters and a big MINi logo too. The taillights don’t have a surround on them but do look quite good especially with the changeable graphics in them. the bumper also looks quite good too with a bit of Matt black plastic and some silver plastic too. Right, let’s have a look and see what battery and motor options you can have with the MINI Countryman electric but also the engine and gearbox options you can have with the regular Countryman.

Car and engine specs and price

So, the MINI Countryman is available with either a petrol engine or an electric engine. Lets start with the electric version first. The first one is called E and this uses a 202 bhp electric motor mounted on the front wheels. This is mated to a 65-kWh battery pack giving this car a 0-62 time of just 8.6 seconds and a 280-mile range which isn’t too bad. The next version is called the SE ALL 4 and this uses a dual motor setup giving this car 310 bhp and 4-wheel drive. This uses the same battery pack at 65 kWh, but the 0-62 time has been reduced to 5.6 seconds which is quite quick. The price for the new MINI Countryman electric starts at £33,005 which isn’t too bad considering it is electric. Now its time for the Petrol models. The first one is called C, and this uses a 1.5 litre turbo petrol engine with 170 bhp. this can do 0-62 within 8.3 seconds and is mated to a 7-speed automatic gearbox powering the front wheels. The next engine is a 2.0 litre turbo petrol which has 218 bhp and a 0-62 time of just 7.1 seconds. This goes through a 7-speed automatic gearbox sending power to all 4 wheels. The final version of the petrol range is the JCW version, and this uses the same 2.0 turbo petrol engine from the S but the power has been increased to 300 bhp. this reduces the 0-62 time down to 5.4 seconds, but the power is still sent through a 7-speed automatic gearbox to all 4 wheels. It would have been nice to of had a manual option but sadly MINI is following trends to get rid of the manual gearbox. Anyway, the price for the Petrol MINI Countryman starts at £29,100 which again isn’t too bad and is very similar to the electric model, so it is nice to see the gap is closing between petrol and electric. Right, lets have a look and see what the interior is like.

Interior – Design

So, climbing inside the new MINI Countryman and you are welcomed with a similar interior to the Cooper Electric. To start with we get this big central 9.4-inch OLED circle screen which runs the latest BMW iDrive OS9. This means MINI owners can finally have Android Auto. Now this screen houses your instrument cluster too just like a Tesla and I am ok with that as older MINIs did have this design. This infotainment system can be a bit laggy at times and a bit confusing to use but once you have it set up it does work quite well. You also get an assistant called Spike which is a little dog. Sadly, the climate controls are on the screen and are a bit fiddly to use. Moving down and we get a row of 5 toggles. These are your volume control, driving modes, of which there are 8 of them. Next to this you have your fake key, which is your start stop, next to that is your gear selector and next to that is your park button. Just below this you also have a few essential buttons too. the dashboard layout is a bit taller because it is an SUV but I am ok with that. The centre console is low down though and does house some useful items but with this being an SUV I would of liked it to be a bit higher. In front of the driver we get the new MINI steering wheel which is smaller than before and we also get the odd indicator stalks which I am not a fan of. The seats are supportive and comfy though and we do get some nice materials but there are still some cheap ones around the cabin. Right, lets have a look and see what the rear seats are like.

Practicality

Climbing into the back of the new MINI countryman and you are welcomed with a decent amount of legroom and headroom. It’s much better than before. You also get a lot of premium material in the back too as well as some USB C ports, an arm rest and air vents. Sadly, there is no option of heated rear seats which would have been nice. There is even room for the middle seat to be used by adults but probably not for long journeys. 3 kids in the back though will be more than fine for a long journey. Let’s have a look and see what the boot space is like.

Boot Size

Opening the boot to the new MINI countryman and you are welcomed with a decent 450 litres of space which is much better than before but not as good as its rivals but with the amount of character you get with this car, we can look past that. Fold the seats down 40:20:40 and this increases to 1,390 litres. You can also slide the rear seat bench forward if you want even more room with the seats up, but you will need to opt for the level 1 pack. You don’t buy a MINI for practicality anyway as it is a MINI. It says it in the name.

Summary

So, in summary then what do I think of the new MINI Countryman. Well it has the style of a MINI and has an interior that suits a MINI and it still has the great MINI engines with the great MINI driving feel. Practicality isn’t the best in its class but that is because it is a MINI. So really then with it being based on a much bigger car it still feels and looks much like any other MINI you can buy so yes it is still a MINI. You buy it with your heart not your head.

Exterior 4/5

Interior 3/5

Practicality 3/5

Total 10/15

Model	MINI Countryman SE ALL 4 Exclusive
Engine	65kWh Battery Pack, Dual Motor, 310bhp, 0-62 = 5.6 Seconds, 260 Mile Range, 4 Wheel Drive
Transmission	Single Speed Electric Motor
Price	£37,505
On Sale	Now