This is not a review on my part, but one of my colleagues just got a new AWD Mini Countryman ALL-4, and I have to say that, even without a test-drive myself (riding as a passenger), I was quite-impressed with it. It's easily the largest, plushest, most solidly-constructed, nicest-looking inside (particularly at night, with everything lit up) Mini product I've ever seen, The doors are solid, substantial, and don't feel like they are going to fall off like in some older Minis. Paint is well-done and impressive. Minis, of course, are now sold through BMW-afflilated dealerships, come (as I understand it) with a BMW warranty, and, in my honest opinion, I liked the Countryman more than any other new BMW I've seen. I've criticized the oversize pie-plate speedometer used in Minis, but, this car is so nice inside, even with some black shiny plastic, that I can easily overlook it. According to both Consumer Reports and J.D. Power, recent Minis now also rank much higher in reliability than they once did, with the typically poor British-car reputation.

Of course, this newfound quality, comfort, sophistication, and plushness inside comes at a cost.....you will not pay a Mini-price any more, particularly since the Countryman ALL-4 is Mini's flagship. Mini Countryman models start at nearly 40K....which, even today, is not cheap. But, IMHO, you get what you pay for.

https://www.miniusa.com/
















(and, in off-white)

 

I like the styling inside and out. But the amount of recent and older Mini's that are spewing huge plumes of smoke in front of me are just a sure "no." One of the most unreliable vehicles for some time.

 

These interior pictures are NOT the current Countryman. These might be as old as 2 generations ago; you haven't been able to get a manual Countryman for a number of years, and the outgoing Countryman did not have an analog speedo--and it's been many years since Mini utilized the center speedometer.

 

I want to like it but that dash is max cringe to me. Lol
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No problem - this is the interior of a Mini 2015 or older.... The Countryman doesn't look anything like this anymore. That center stack has a CD slot....

 

Perhaps it is a goof (I won't deny that).....but if so, that's the way the interior/dash was labeled on Google-Images, as a 2025. I didn't have my camera with me to take actual shots of it myself when I saw it. If I do get actual shots I will post them.

 

It looks like it's still in the center, but the rest of your statements seem true.

 

interior from c&d review: https://www.caranddriver.com/photos/...erior-gallery/

(much better than the button-festooned one above lol)

 

being a lot bigger now it just seems like a quirky artful cuv.

 

Not only size, but it feels like a solid vehicle now....not a cheaply-made econobox like years ago.

 

The Countryman shares a lot with the BMW X1 including underpinnings, engine trans etc. which is a good place to start IMO.

 

I looks good on the outside but that interior dashboard with the big round thing, I don't know.

I don't know why it offends my eyes so much but it does. 🤣

Other than that it's ok to me.

 

Not "perhaps" - it's a goof. If you want definitive pics, go to the official website.

 

The car has HUD instead of an instrument panel in front of the driver - it's in both places.

 

Again -- this is generations ago reputation. You hate it when people bash Hyundai and Buick for its reputation based on cars from years and years ago--this is exactly what you are doing here with Mini. The original Mini revivals in the early 2000s had this reputation; that has not been the case for about 10-15 years.