MINI Countryman Cooper D

I have the skoda yeti 2wd 2.0 l diesel SE version, another crossover, similar to the Countryman. Currently averaging 48-51 mpg, and thats with 3 kids (8, 11 and 13) wife and 2 large dogs in the boot! And no I do not drive like mIss Daisy!

By frenchpress2 on 11 April, 2011, 3:44pm

Not a fuel sipper

My wife has just taken delivery of a Countryman Cooper S and struggling to get over 33 mpg, even on motorway trips

By jonmolyneux on 12 April, 2011, 11:14am

Thirsty motor!

frenchpress2 is spot on.
My Yeti will leave the mini standing in fuel economy, performance and I suspect real life usability.
Mini has a cult following and as usual this one will sell - goodness knows why, have you ever sat in the back of the standard one which is vastly bigger outside than the original, but barely any bigger inside.
The Countryman gives it the internal space it really needs, but its extra weight and bulk seems to be doing unwelcome things to its fuel consumption. And to my eyes, the Countryman is pig ugly!
BMW is trying hard, but I'm not convinced they're anywhere near getting the formula right just yet.

By j_harden on 12 April, 2011, 9:25pm

Not so thirsty for me

I took delivery of my Mini Countryman Cooper Diesel All4 approximately 4 weeks ago. I have now covered 1500 miles and can assure that this has not all been on the motorway. In fact, it has been almost an exact mix of rural and urban driving. I am achieving 41 mpg and assure that I'm not driving like Miss Daisy either. It is also sat on 18" wheels and not the most basic steel ones.

I can not discount the appeal of the Yeti - hence the critical praise heaped on it from every corner, but would completely disagree with anyone who says it is any more attractive than my Countryman - this however is completely subjective.

As well as the looks, the reasons I went for the Mini instead of the Yeti included:
1) Residual value (I don't doubt that the Yeti will do well, but expect the Countryman to do better).
2) It's style, image and is less bland (note that I am not referring to out-of-date Skoda badge snobbery and acknowledge they are very good cars).
3) Surprisingly, it's practicality. I'm not referring to sheer space here, but more how it uses it. For me, the optional flat-load boot floor is a fantastic boot splitter.
4) It's just cooler.

These could all (arguabley) be very subjective points, but they are just my two-pennies-worth.

By mkaiser1 on 13 April, 2011, 12:37pm

hype sells

You too are spot on j_harden.
The New Mini has always sold on a wave of hype that' s clear for all to see.
BMW are now milking the success of the first series but there' s not much left of the mini idea as the new models are constantly growing in size.
Thus making mockery of the Mini nameplate.
Except maybe for the Rocketman concept.

Besides New Minis have always been overpriced, it's really much too expensive for what it is.
Petrol consumption is too high, interior space is very cramped and reliability leaves at times a lot to be desired.
Remember the failing gearboxes of the first series and later the serious steering problems due to faulty components?

But fans of the model are usually not willing to admit that the car is not pefect and that it also has a fair number of flaws.
Also a large part of the motoring press are generally ignoring the car's weak points but just wax enthusiastically over the car's road manners as if this is the only small car in the world that 's entertaining to drive.

But then, we all have our preferences don't we?

By takata on 13 April, 2011, 2:00pm

Hype versus reality

Reality is comparing the Country man to a Honda Jazz.

For the same amount of road space the Jazz gives more passenger room, more luggage capacity, is more economical, costs less money, has a fantastic reliability record, is wonderfully practical, entertaining to drive and in opinion better looking.

I of course am a practical motorist who has been driving for 54 years so what do I know about cars compared to the Auto express and the gullible?

By AlanShaw on 3 May, 2011, 10:25am

Bigger MINI...

... is an oxymoron. Am I the only one who wishes for a smaller MINI? Alec Issigonis must be spinning in his grave...

By etdweasel on 3 May, 2011, 2:46pm

mini, not midi

You're absolutely right etdweasel, Issigonis designed a real minicar just like Dante Giacosa with his FIAT 600 did before him.

Both models were compact in size but had enough room for four passengers, a small amount of luggage and they were also really entertaining to drive.

But what is even more important, they were affordable and that is something which cannot be said about the New Mini.

But of course a company like BMW are too arrogant to admit that in their leaner years they produced the cheap Isetta microcar in order to survive.
That's probably why they now charge premium prices for a car which is no longer Mini apart from it's nameplate.

By takata on 9 May, 2011, 12:07pm

More Mini Nonsense

What a silly car.

By harry7898 on 18 May, 2011, 10:05pm