First Drive: 2025 Mini Countryman Is Roomy, but There’s Room for Improvement
Buggy software and a lurchy transmission dampen our enthusiasm toward this otherwise appealing small SUV
We purchased a 2025 Mini Countryman S All4 for our vehicle test fleet. This small SUV is the Mini brand’s largest vehicle, and it has been thoroughly redesigned for 2025.
We know you can’t wait to hear what we think of it, so—as with all the cars we test—we’re sharing our initial hands-on impressions about the Countryman before we put it through our full regimen and give it a road-test score and an Overall Score.
Mini made the Countryman bigger in almost every dimension. It’s the largest Mini ever—about the same size as a Subaru Crosstrek. But unlike the plebeian Subie, the Mini tries to play in the entry-luxury space. It gets an exterior design that looks a bit like a shrunken Land Rover Defender and a fashionable interior with a unique circular touchscreen at the center of the dashboard.
For a model this size, it also boasts a shockingly roomy interior. A 312-hp John Cooper Works performance edition is also available, and an all-electric model is coming soon—we’ll test that as soon as we can purchase one. All three have standard all-wheel drive.
Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports
What we bought: 2025 Mini Countryman S All4
Powertrain: 241-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine; 7-speed dual-clutch transmission; all-wheel drive
MSRP: $38,900
Options: Iconic trim (darkened window glass, power front seats, an interior camera, Harman Kardon surround sound), $3,200; Comfort Package Max (comfort access keyless entry, auto-dimming rearview mirror, parking assistant, adaptive cruise control and lane centering assistance, wireless charging, navigation), $900
Destination fee: $995
Total cost: $43,695
