Autoblog

2011 Mini Countryman: June 2012

Jeff Sabatini — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Mini, Long-Term Garage

When you've been test-driving nearly every new vehicle on the market for as long as I have, you get to the point where you mostly know what to expect. Not that I or most other veteran car reviewers make up our minds about new products before we drive them, but certainly we formulate theories to go about testing once a new car lands in our driveway. More often than not, our experiments confirm our hypotheses. This can be a great triumph or a crushing let-down, but rarely does a vehicle manage to be both so completely as the Mini Countryman.

I expected the jumbo, four-door Countryman to be overkill.

In advance of my stint with our long-termer, I fully expected to be disappointed by its size. I am one of those people who can go on the road for a week with a small duffel bag, and as such, have never found the limitations of the tiny Mini hardtop particularly challenging. The Mini Clubman solved my only problem with the hardtop by affording me a bit more room for my daughter. Thus, I expected the jumbo, four-door Countryman to be overkill.

But if I had a reasonable expectation that the larger size and heavier curb weight would render the Countryman considerably less fun to drive, I also figured that I'd love it anyway. After all, it's a Mini, and I have yet to meet one that didn't charm me with its aesthetics and minimalist focus on driving.

Quite surprisingly, neither of these assumptions proved correct.

Continue reading 2011 Mini Countryman: June 2012

2011 Mini Countryman: June 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Mini Countryman: May 2012

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Mini, Long-Term Garage

Our long-term 2011 Mini Countryman is nearing the end of its year-long stay in the Autoblog Garage, the past six months of which have been spent bouncing back and forth between the various Detroit-based team members (and Cleveland - we mustn't forget about Herr Neff). And while we've all had plenty of time behind the wheel of the biggest Mini, this is one car that always seems to be in high demand, whether its for long road trips or just because we all really like driving the thing.

With the odometer nearing the 20,000-mile mark, I must commend the Countryman for how well it's held up over the past ten months of use. I recently spent a few days in it for a quick jaunt across Michigan, and aside from surface detritus like dust on the IP and an occasional french fry found under the driver's seat, the interior doesn't seem to really show any signs of aging - something we couldn't say about our recently departed long-term Hyundai Equus after only six months of service. There are no rattles or creaks to speak of and the various fabrics and plastics used throughout the cabin look as good as they did on Day One. Then again, we expect nothing less considering our Mini's $38,000 price tag.

The one constant complaint from literally every single person who drives the car is how harsh it rides on the road.

The one constant complaint from literally every single person who drives the car is how harsh it rides on the road, Detroit's horrific street surfaces aside. It's not entirely the fault of our car's optional sport suspension, though - we think it all comes down to its awful run-flat summer tires. The whole car will jolt as you coast over even the most minute of pavement irregularities, and it gets to be very, very annoying. I truly miss the Bridgestone Blizzak WS-70 winter tires that were fitted to the car during the cold months. Yes, the 18-inch Pirelli Cinturato P7 run-flats offer better grip on dry roads, especially when driving the Countryman enthusiastically, but the rubber compound of those Blizzaks was so much more pleasant for everyday driving scenarios.

Brake dust also continues to be an issue, and it makes me wish we had opted for one of the darker alloy wheel choices when ordering our car. (I suppose I'm the one to blame, since you readers picked this Mini in our initial poll, and the car you see here is the one I had configured.) But still, even after just a week of driving, the front wheels become coated in black soot, and even a run through a car wash won't completely do the trick in removing the grossness.

But these are simple fixes. Get yourself a proper set of summer (or all-season) tires and the ride quality will surely improve. And if you build a Countryman with one of the dark alloy wheel options, there are plenty of lighter body colors that look really sharp with contrasting black accents. Even so, these quibbles with our long-term tester won't steer me away from spending more time with the Mini before it leaves, and judging from all the requests from other staffers eager to get another stint behind the wheel, they haven't upset too many of my fellow editors, either.

Keep your eyes locked on the official Autoblog Facebook page for the majority of our updates, as well as the official Autoblog Twitter account (@therealautoblog, look for the #ablongterm hashtag).

2011 Mini Countryman: May 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Mini Countryman: April 2012

Chris Shunk — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Hatchback, Mini, Long-Term Garage

April was a busy month for the long-term 2011 Mini Countryman, with over 2,500 miles added to the odometer and a heaping helping of people and things passing through its doors. When I picked up the Countryman, I was impressed by the fact that all four of its winter tires were neatly stowed behind the front seats. However, the biggest of Mini models didn't fare so well when the rear seats were occupied.

On a shopping day with the kids, a relatively small amount of goods proved to be far too much for the Countryman's diminutive trunk. As a result, I had no choice but to disperse boxes at the feet of my wife and kids, which was a decidedly unpopular move (don't let the smiles fool you). The kids didn't love the lack of roominess, but I can assure you that my 2,500 miles were mostly enjoyable.

I got a huge kick out of the Countryman's spirited handling, even though I didn't find our long-termer to have the same go-kart-like demeanor of its smaller siblings. The good news, however, was that I was able to average 26 miles per gallon during my month with the Mini, with a high of 30 mpg and a very entertaining low of just over 20 mpg. But don't blame the Countryman for that 20 mpg number - that tank of gas was all about exploring the performance limits of our smallest long-term loaner. And even so, my own average fuel economy is higher than the dismal numbers that Editor Ewing brought up in last month's update.

One thing I didn't like about the Countryman was a sometimes jarring ride, which we've attributed, in part, to the dreaded run-flat tires. The throttle was also a bit odd, as the first few degrees of pedal travel felt a bit dead. It took a few days to get used to it, and it helps to always drive in Sport mode.

The Countryman did require a non-scheduled trip to the dealership during its month in my hands. After just a few days with the car, I noticed that the fan kicked on at full blast every time I turned on the car. I didn't think much of it at first, until I came back outside one day and discovered that the fan was still on after about 10 minutes of the vehicle being turned off. The 'check engine' light illuminated the very next day, so off to Motor City Mini we went. As it turned out, the engine's thermometer was on the fritz, and the dealer replaced the part under warranty. That one issue aside, we've enjoyed nearly 15,000 miles of carefree Mini motoring.

Our Mini will spend the month of May shuffling between a number of staffers, with a few road trips planned as warmer weather starts to grace southeast Michigan. Stay tuned to see how the Countryman fares.

Keep your eyes locked on the official Autoblog Facebook page for the majority of our updates, as well as the official Autoblog Twitter account (@therealautoblog, look for the #ablongterm hashtag).

2011 Mini Countryman: April 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 May 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Mini Countryman: March 2012

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Mini, Long-Term Garage

When our friends at The Tire Rack told us they'd be sending over a set of Bridgestone Blizzak WS-70 tires mounted on 17-inch Sport Edition alloy wheels for our long-term Mini Countryman, our minds were immediately filled with images of the little blue hatchback bounding along snowy roads with razor-sharp precision and confidence. Instead, editors Neff, Paukert and myself can literally count on one hand the number of times we actually had to drive the Mini on snowy/slushy roads. So much for winter tire/all-wheel-drive snowy playtime.

To say that we've had an unusually mild winter here in the Midwest is truly an understatement (note: we are absolutely not complaining). In mid-March, we saw record-high temperatures in the mid-80s. As Neff said in last month's update, seriously, what the hell is going on?

So rather than wear down the tread on our Blizzaks even further, we took the Countryman over to Motor City Mini once again to have its stock Pirelli Cinturato 18-inch wheels and run-flat (boo!) tires put back on. Perfect timing, too, since the car was just about to roll over the 12,000-mile mark, meaning its first scheduled maintenance was due. The oil was changed, fluids were topped off and all of the other mechanical elements inspected, and thus, our Mini is now prepped and ready for spring and summer in The D. We griped about the harshness of the run-flat tires combined with our optional sport suspension already, so we'll spare you another round of grumbling. If there's one thing we'll miss about the winter tires, it's the smoother - albeit, slightly louder - ride.

Our observed fuel economy numbers are falling short of what the EPA suggests.

With 12,000 miles now under our belts, the Countryman is plenty broken in. But after a quick math session with the car's logbook, it seems our observed fuel economy numbers are falling short of what the EPA suggests. I'll personally admit to driving the Mini more aggressively than most consumers likely will (hey, this thing is seriously fun to throw around), but even so, the fact that our observed fuel economy is only 24.9 miles per gallon is indeed questionable. The EPA rates the 2011 Cooper S Countryman All4 at 26/32 mpg city/highway and 28 mpg combined when fitted with the six-speed manual transmission, and our best recorded fuel economy is only a dismal 29.3 mpg. Either I'm not the only one with a heavy right foot or something is off here. We'll definitely be keeping a close watch over this as time progresses.

In the next month, associate editor Chris Shunk will put the Countryman to use as a family hauler, so we'll get a better idea of just how kid-and-cargo-friendly the four-passenger interior really is. Stay tuned.

Keep your eyes locked on the official Autoblog Facebook page for the majority of our updates, as well as the official Autoblog Twitter account (@therealautoblog, look for the #ablongterm hashtag).

2011 Mini Countryman: March 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Mini Countryman: February 2012

John Neff — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:44:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Crossover, Mini, Long-Term Garage

I regret to inform you that despite what the image above indicates, Autoblog's long-term Mini Countryman will again be passing hands without having been thoroughly tested in the type of inclement weather for which it's been prepared. While we thought there was no way it would escape a February in Cleveland without slogging through weeks of snowfall, our Countryman's Bridgestone Blizzak WS-70 winter tires only met the cold stuff once, and then for only a day or two before everything melted. As I write this monthly recap on Leap Day, February 29, the temperature outside is 60 degrees and the sunshine is reflecting off my computer screen and into my eyes. What the hell is going on?

Keep your eyes locked on the official Autoblog Facebook page for the majority of our updates, as well as the official Autoblog Twitter account (@therealautoblog, look for the #ablongterm hashtag).

Continue reading 2011 Mini Countryman: February 2012

2011 Mini Countryman: February 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Mini Countryman: January 2012

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Mini, Long-Term Garage

Literally two days after my last update about our long-term Mini Countryman, I found myself trudging through a snowstorm at 30 miles per hour on Interstate 94 along Michigan's west coast. I guess Mother Nature had heard my cries about not being able to test our Mini in the snow, and decided to reward me with super slippery roads and poor visibility for two and a half hours straight. Lovely.

Mile after mile, the Mini dutifully carried on while I watched large SUVs and a host of mid-size sedans slide off into the ditches on either side of I-94. I've lived in southeast Michigan my entire life, and I know how to drive in the slushy, slick stuff, but there's nothing quite like the combination of all-wheel drive and proper winter tires for times like this - it not only helps with driver confidence, but makes the whole process of safely navigating through a snowstorm much less fatiguing. Mini's All4 all-wheel-drive system made sure power was being sent to exactly which wheels needed it most, and our car's Bridgestone Blizzak WS-70 winter tires provided by the folks at Tire Rack kept the rollers from slipping during acceleration or skidding during braking.

After using the Mini to schlep many an Autoblog staff member to and from various Detroit Auto Show happenings, I handed the Countryman off to executive editor Chris Paukert, who turned it back over praising the All4 system and snow tires' handling on split-mu surfaces - even with the driver's side tires on wet asphalt and the passenger-side wheels trudging through ice and slush, the Mini remained confident and steady despite times when traction coefficients differed at every corner.

The Countryman now resides in Cleveland, Ohio, where it will be under Editor-in-Chief John Neff's care for the next month. We haven't had any snow to speak of since sending the Mini to Ohio, but I'm sure if Neff complains enough, Mother Nature will reward him with a big ol' lake-effect dumping to the Lake Erie coast so he can see just how good our All4/Blizzak combo is.

Keep your eyes locked on the official Autoblog Facebook page for the majority of our updates, as well as the official Autoblog Twitter account (@therealautoblog, look for the #ablongterm hashtag).

2011 Mini Countryman: January 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Mini Countryman: December 2011

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:12:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Mini, Long-Term Garage

As much as I detest the winter months here in Detroit, the truth is, I'm kind of bummed that we've only seen about a half-inch of snow so far this season. In fact, I was happy that our most recent snowfall actually started to stick to the parking lot across the street from my loft, simply so I could capture this photo of our long-term Mini Countryman with some powder on the ground. Two hours after I took this picture, it had all melted. Sigh.

So why, if I hate winter so much, do I wish there was snow outside my door? I'm extremely eager to see how our Countryman - now riding on winter tires - will fare in the slushy, wintry sludge. A proper set of snow shoes, relatively short wheelbase, decent ground clearance and all-wheel drive are a perfect combination for winter prowess, and darnit, I want to go play.

Still, in the three weeks that the Countryman has been under my watch here in Detroit, I've learned a lot about the big Mini since my first stint behind the wheel way back in August 2010.

Continue reading 2011 Mini Countryman: December 2011

2011 Mini Countryman: December 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Mini Countryman: November 2011

Michael Harley — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Hatchback, Mini, Long-Term Garage

After spending September in the San Francisco bay area with Senior Editor Damon Lavrinc, our long-term 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman All4 moved to southern California during the month of October to serve our esteemed photographer, Drew Phillips. In early November, I handed Drew the keys to our long-term 2011 Jetta TDI and stole the Countryman from his driveway. He hasn't seen it since.

I like the standard Cooper S hardtop. It is fun to toss the little 2,668-pound two-door around and it delivers decent fuel economy. However, after four weeks of living with this maxi-Mini four-door (a whopping 540 pounds heavier), I have come to the conclusion that bigger isn't necessarily better - there is simply too much sugar in this Mini's sweetly flavored drink.

Continue reading 2011 Mini Countryman: November 2011

2011 Mini Countryman: November 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Mini Countryman: October 2011

Drew Phillips — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Mini, Long-Term Garage

The last time we updated you on our long-term 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman All4, it was in Northern California with senior editor Lavrinc. Since then, we've driving the car down to Southern California, although not before it served as our mode of transportation for the Rennsport Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. We've also taken a trip to Phoenix to check out the Local Motors Rally Fighter (look for a feature soon), and driven the Countryman plenty around Los Angeles, doubling our car's mileage in the process. Thanks to a majority of those miles being on the freeway, we've averaged a solid 27.39 mpg, a number that falls right in line with the official rating of 25/31. Our best stint was 29.3 mpg, all freeway miles, coming back from Phoenix.

If anything, spending spending five-plus hours in the Countryman at once has revealed some new likes and dislikes. Follow the jump to read more about them and what life is like for the Countryman in Southern California.

Continue reading 2011 Mini Countryman: October 2011

2011 Mini Countryman: October 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Getting intimate with Mini Connected

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Hatchback, Mini, Long-Term Garage, Infotainment

We've being living with our long-term Mini Countryman Cooper S All4 for a little over two months, but we haven't spent much time on one of the most often used - and complex - bits of the car.

Mini Connected is essentially a reworked version of BMW iDrive for the Mini line-up. The system uses the same architecture and a tweaked user interface to provide drivers with a range of entertainment, connectivity and infotainment functionalities. Some components from iDrive have carried over, most notably a multidirectional joystick in place of the standard knob found in most BMWs, while others have been completely redone for both the Mini aesthetic and the circular display mounted in the central speedometer.

Drivers can connect their iPhone to the system over either Bluetooth or USB to take phone calls, stream Internet radio stations, play locally-stored music or listen to Pandora, along with using their data connection to see timelines on Twitter, Facebook and customizable RSS feeds. Include Google search and send-to-car functionality, and it's a pretty compelling package. But it's pricy.

If you opt for Mini Connected by itself, it's a $2,000 option, with the navigation functionality commanding an additional $750. That's a lotta scratch, but after using the system day-to-day, we're just about sold.

There's plenty going on with Mini Connected, so rather than assault you with a few thousand words, hit the jump for a detailed video review of the system in action.

Continue reading Getting intimate with Mini Connected

Getting intimate with Mini Connected originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You picked Autoblog's long-term 2011 Mini Countryman, and the winner is...

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Mini, Long-Term Garage

Autoblog's long-term 2011 Mini Countryman - Click above for high-res image gallery

Last week, we presented you with four different 2011 Mini Countrymen and asked you to vote for the one that you want to see as the newest member of Autoblog's long-term test fleet. The poll is now closed, the votes have been tallied, and we've officially sent in our order form to Mini USA. We'll be adding a True Blue Countryman - option #3 for those of you who voted - to the long-term pool in the coming months.

As much as we'd like to say it was a close race, the truth is, Countryman #3 earned a staggering 7,907 votes - 42.7 percent of the 18,446 total votes. The Oxford Green Countryman (#4) came in second place, earning 24.2 percent of your votes, while the Bright Yellow car (#2) garnered 20.1 percent and the Surf Blue Countryman (#1) brought up the rear with 12.9 percent.

We're looking forward to taking delivery of our 2011 Countryman, complete with the 181-horsepower turbocharged inline-four, a six-speed manual transmission and All4 all-wheel drive. We've also outfitted such amenities as the premium package, sport package with additional sport suspension setup and cold weather package - an absolute must for those of us who live in frigid climates.

We'll be sure to post a formal introduction as soon as the vehicle arrives, and thanks to all who participated in the poll. You can see some screen captures of the winning Countryman in our high-resolution gallery below.

Gallery: Long-Term 2011 Mini Countryman Configurator Images

You picked Autoblog's long-term 2011 Mini Countryman, and the winner is... originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reminder: Help pick Autoblog's long-term 2011 Mini Countryman

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 11:20:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Mini, Long-Term Garage

We're placing the order for our long-term 2011 Mini Countryman this week, and we need your help to decide exactly which car will be Autoblog's newest long-termer. Our editors agree that we want to test a turbocharged Countryman S with Mini's All4 all-wheel drive and a manual gearbox, but when it comes to the car's design - both the interior and exterior - we can't seem to agree. Click here to read the full rundown and vote for your favorite of the four finalists. The poll officially closes at 3:00 PM EST today, so hurry up and cast your vote now!

Reminder: Help pick Autoblog's long-term 2011 Mini Countryman originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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YOU pick Autoblog's long-term 2011 Mini Countryman

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Mini, Long-Term Garage

Help pick Autoblog's long-term Mini Countryman - Click each image for high-res version

When we found out that we'd be adding a 2011 Mini Countryman to our long-term test fleet, our editors headed right to the configurator to start building our perfect car. We all agree that we want the turbocharged Countryman S with the automaker's All4 all-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission, and we had no problem ticking the boxes for options like the sport, premium and cold weather packs, not to mention the new Mini Connected infotainment system. But when it came to decide on aesthetic things like interior and exterior color schemes, we hit a wall. With hundreds upon hundreds of possible build combinations, we just couldn't agree on one car.

That's where you come in. Our editors have narrowed down our Countryman configurations to four finalists, and we're asking you, our readers, to decide which one will be invited to spend one year with the Autoblog staff. Again, the only differences between these vehicles are purely visual, consisting only of paint, roof, mirror, stripe and wheel colors on the exterior, and seat fabric, main color and accent color on the interior. It's also important to note that the paint colors you see here appear slightly darker in the Mini configurator than they do in real life. Here's the rundown:

Countryman #1 - Surf Blue, white roof, white mirrors, no bonnet stripes, 18-inch light silver alloy wheels, polar beige leather interior, carbon black interior accents
Countryman #2 - Bright Yellow, black roof, black mirrors, black bonnet stripes, 18-inch dark anthracite alloy wheels, light tobacco cloth/leather interior, carbon black interior accents
Countryman #3 - True Blue, white roof, white mirrors, white bonnet stripes, 18-inch light silver alloy wheels, light tobacco cloth/leather interior, polar beige interior accents
Countryman #4 - Oxford Green, white roof, white mirrors, 18-inch white alloy wheels, no bonnet stripes, polar beige leather interior, carbon black interior accents

We're leaving the final decision up to all of you. Scroll down to vote in our poll for the Countryman that you want to see as Autoblog's next long-term car. This poll will officially close on Monday, February 7 at 3:00 PM EST, at which point we'll let Mini know which car has the most votes. You can also build your own ideal version at Mini's online Countryman configurator; let us know what you come up with in the comments.

Our long-term Countryman order is in your hands. Choose wisely!

View Poll

Gallery: Long-Term Mini Countryman Options

YOU pick Autoblog's long-term 2011 Mini Countryman originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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