Mini One dimensions

There’s no doubt that the Mini Countryman splits opinion. It goes a lot further than the Hatch and Clubman in that it’s a big vehicle by any standards – though still notably more compact than the average 4×4. We love the distinctive look-and-feel. A word of warning however: the Mini One does not option alloy wheels as traditional and they’re crucial to give the vehicle a bit of street cred. Naturally Mini will enable consumers to select from a vast array of colour schemes so very few Countrymans will exterior alike.

The Countryman is the most practical Mini yet. For starters, the back seatings provide decent legroom and the boot is a useful 350 litres. The latter features a deep hidden space under the floor and the back seatings split 40/20/40, folding to create a flat load room. The Nissan Qashqai has a larger boot, at 410 litres, but its seatings don’t fold flat. An high-tech cargo rail runs down the centre of the Countryman, though it’s not very wide. Nor are the door pockets, glovebox and two cup holders. The middle back bench is too slim for most adults too.

As the Mini One is the cheapest Countryman, consumers need to be aware that it’s not as well equipped as some competitors. As mentioned, alloy wheels are not included. Air-con is though, as are electric windows all-round, back parking sensors and a decent CD audio with USB and aux-in connectivity. Most consumers will add to that list to customise their Countryman.