This is the largest car Mini has ever produced, measuring over five inches longer than the previous Countryman. That being said, it’s still a relatively small crossover at just 175 inches in length. For reference, an Alfa Romeo Tonale is just over 178 inches long, and a BMW X2 surpasses 179 inches.
The latest Countryman is a departure from Minis of old, hardening some of the curvy lines in favor of a boxier shape. Even the round headlights, once a Mini staple, have now become more contemporary polygons. At the back, small rectangular taillights look more mature than the oval units on the outgoing model. Speaking of the lights, Mini has taken its trademark customization that previously included elements like the roof color and wheels into the digital realm. Drivers can now select three modes – Classic, Favoured, and JCW – for the headlights and taillights, changing which parts of the units illuminate to create different patterns.
The Countryman S and JCW have the same colors, including Chili Red, British Racing Green Metallic, Midnight Black, Nanuq White Metallic, Melting Silver Metallic, Blazing Blue, and Smokey Green. Buyers can spice things up with a red, silver, or black roof. 19-inch wheels are standard, but our tester rode on optional 20-inch wheels with little checkered flag-pattern spokes that match the pattern in the grille.