Countryman vs X1 in 4x4 battle

February 2010

It's the head-to-head that SUV buyers have been waiting for! Auto Express has brought MINI’s controversial new Countryman together with its stablemate, the BMW X1, in an exclusive compact 4x4 encounter.

So, how does the most radical and largest MINI ever compare with its BMW sibling? Well, the Countryman certainly wins on price – we can exclusively reveal that the entry-level Countryman One will kick off at £16,000, undercutting the X1 by a huge £7,325. In fact, even the range-topping model, the Cooper S ALL4, costs less than the cheapest X1 at £22,030.

The Countryman should be cheap to run, too. The 1.6-litre turbodiesel Cooper D emits only 113g/km of CO2, and should deliver 65mpg, while even the flagship Cooper S’s figure is only 157g/km. It is likely to return 40mpg. Inside, while the BMW has the larger boot – 420 litres versus 350 litres with the rear seats in place – the Countryman aims to offer just as much rear seat space. And it should be a match when it comes to material quality, too.

The Countryman will be well equipped – in addition to a standard CD player and air-con, buyers can opt for a panoramic roof, adaptive headlights and high-end audio and navigation.

Exterior options include alloy wheels ranging from 16 to 19 inches and lowered sports suspension. The Countryman makes its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and is set to go on sale in September.

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