What does the stupor have to do with it? It’s very simple: this machine violated the established canons at least twice. Firstly, the brand itself combines not very compatible characteristics, namely: it is both premium and compact. Still, we are used to the fact that the “premium” is at least the middle class, although there are https://jiji.co.rw/kigali/houses-apartments-for-rent/a-beautiful-4-bedroom-house-for-rent-in-remera-alpha-palace-iIfGXwdTWmoQ8iaQOSx7pgDr.html exceptions. Secondly, the model is positioned as a crossover, while remaining seemingly frivolous and small.
Yes, that’s right – the Countryman was considered the largest of the MINI and from the very beginning was proudly called a crossover, although in fact it was a tiny little car with frankly light ground clearance and a trunk, worthy of a hatchback. In fact, take, for example, the Ford Focus – an average five-door in all respects. So her ground clearance is as much as a centimeter, and the cargo compartment is only 34 liters less – despite the fact that the “Focus” is admittedly scanty.
However, the concept of “crossover” has lately been so vague that it seems that now everything that your heart desires is called this term – the main thing is that the object should combine the qualities of different classes. And the reason is, as always, the Chinese, who completely deny all-wheel drive, which in theory was considered necessary for an SUV in at least one modification.
However, we will not delve into the terminological jungle and move on, finally. directly to the second generation Countryman. Here it is, standing at some distance. I look at him, I look – and, frankly, I do not see any differences from the restyled first generation. Everything is at the level of the finest nuances. It seems that the cutouts around the fog lights and in the front bumper have become wider, the metal horizontal strip from the radiator grill has disappeared, but a double chrome frame has appeared. The embossings on the doors changed their shape, the recess for the rear license plate moved from the bumper to the fifth door. Not much.
Thus, a close inspection of the exterior clearly does not add optimism about the possible approximation of the car to crossover standards. And it’s good that with a closer acquaintance with the car, the visual impression turns out to be deceiving. The ground clearance, which caused earlier teasing, has grown, albeit not much, to only 165 mm, but more than that of the same KIA Soul. In length, the “Countryman” stretched out 200 mm, in width it was heard by 30 mm. The wheelbase has become like the BMW × 1 – 2670 mm.
No wonder, because MINI has changed the platform, and now shares it with the Bavarian compact crossover. This is the old familiar modular UKL – front-wheel drive, but allowing for all-wheel drive designs. By the way, it was originally developed not for the “Bavarians”, but for the MINI hatchback. And, in all honesty, it stuck to BMW cars like a cow’s saddle. Nevertheless, here we have that rare case when the increase in the dimensions of the car is noticeable visually, and this is only a plus for our Countryman.
MINI Clubman: when practicality is not a plus.
MINI Clubman: the guy from the club.
It’s ridiculous to say – earlier in this car (remember – called a crossover), only two people could comfortably fit in the front seats. There was a catastrophic lack of knee space on the couch, and the third passenger of any physique aroused undisguised hatred among the neighbors in the row. It’s not that rear riders are now enjoying the spaciousness, but at least their legs don’t rest on the backs of the seats. By the way, they can move their seats longitudinally up to 13 centimeters. Along the way, I note that the minimum trunk volume has also grown – up to 450 liters. This is noticeably more than that of its predecessor, but 55 liters less than that of the soplatform BMW × 1 – this is due to the shorter rear overhang.
The salon, as expected, did not surprise with anything – it was transformed in the same way as that of a hatchback and a station wagon. That is, there is still raging naively touching style “bubble-gum”, which does not harm ergonomics. Loyalty to traditions is worth a lot. However, the circles still became smaller – the air ducts of the heating system look more like rectangles with rounded corners.
The windows control keys are located on the door armrests, the bubble-shaped speedometer stuck to the top of the steering column, pushing the tachometer aside. The display of the multimedia system is located on a huge plate in the middle of the front panel, although earlier there was a speedometer completely out of place, in which the stub of an arrow ran around the very circle, completely depriving the driver of the opportunity to quickly determine the speed of the car. Not to forget – the materials used in the decoration are more expensive and of higher quality.
Naturally, the Countryman borrowed from the × 1 and a set of engines. There are four of them – gasoline turbocharged with a capacity of 136 and 192 hp. with., as well as a diesel engine in 150 and 190 forces. Even with the smallest one-and-a-half-liter three-cylinder engine in the lineup, the Countryman demonstrates the character of a true MINI.
The only thing that the basic version gives itself out is the rumble, which at idle and when starting off resembles the sound of a diesel engine. And so he, burdened with four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic, accelerates to a hundred in 9.8 seconds. You will say that this is not God knows what an achievement, but at the wheel everything seems much more dynamic: I probably would have thrown off this figure a couple of seconds – purely by sensations. What can we say about the 192-strong unit? He, of course, provides a full opportunity to break off the traffic light with a bullet to the envy of neighbors in the stream – it takes only 7.2 seconds to reach the 100 km / h mark.
Whereas the MINI hatchback has the stiffest suspension on the market, followed by the slightly rougher Clubman station wagon, the Countryman crossover ranks third on that scale. It rolls more noticeably in corners, and the long base does not encourage throwing from row to row. But the car is much better at swallowing road irregularities – from speed bumps to nasty small cracks.
