NEW MINI SUV FINALLY REVEALED

A choice of three petrol and two diesel engines will be available, ranging in power from 89bhp in the One D Countryman to a far more exciting 181bhp in the Cooper S Countryman. And for the first time in a Mini, the 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in the top model comes with a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct fuel injection, plus fully variable valve management.

A six-speed manual gearbox will be offered as standard, though petrol models will also be available in six-speed automatic guise, all courtesy of parent company BMW's Steptronic system. Economy-boosting technology used in the Countryman comprises the usual BMW-style measures, including brake energy regeneration, a stop-start facility and a gearshift point indicator.
 
The Countryman – the first model in the Mini range to come in five-door guise – comes with the option of 'All4' four-wheel drive, working via an electro-hydraulic differential positioned directly on the final drive, varying the distribution from front to rear in an ‘infinite process’. Under normal driving conditions, up to 50 per cent of the engine’s power goes to the rear wheels, but this can switch to up to 100 per cent.

The Countryman comes as standard with four seats, while a three-seat bench will be available as a no-cost option. The rear seats move backwards and forwards either individually or in a 60/40 split, and the backrests tilt. Boot capacity ranges from 350 to 1170 litres, according to the seat arrangement.

Inside, the car's styling follows usual Mini trends, featuring the inevitable over-sized speedometer – although extra storage spaces have been incorporated throughout to ensure the Countryman is the most family-friendly model in the Mini line-up.

But will 4x4 and SUV fans who are thinking of downsizing really take to a vehicle that is so unashamedly Mini-like in its styling? BMW seems confident, describing the Countryman as a ‘highly innovative model’. As for its looks, the company sees this as a positive advantage, proudly proclaiming the Countryman is ‘…clearly identifiable from the very beginning as a genuine Mini’.

So what do YOU think of the Mini Countryman – and is it likely to be a model you’d seriously consider buying when it goes on sale? Drop us an email and tell us your thoughts.