MINI Countryman review - Interior, design and technology

Given that MINIs are designed to appeal to more fashion-conscious buyers, the Countryman has to look good. While this is subjective, the bulkier Countryman Mk2 appears to push the brand’s design language to its limit.

The front-end design, with its gaping front grille and bulbous headlamps, has always looked a bit awkward, while the squared-off rear isn’t much better. The 2020 facelift addressed some of these issues with a new radiator grille, new front and rear bumpers and Union Flag-branded tail lights.

Customers also benefit from adaptive LED headlights with auto-dimming as standard, while MINI’s Piano Black exterior styling package can now be optionally specced in place of the standard car’s exterior brightwork. 

There’s plenty of scope for personalisation, with contrasting roof and mirror colours available. You can team this with bonnet stripes and themes, but these hike the price. 

Inside, things are less controversial. The design is typical MINI, with overstyled yet neat touches like the huge circular display and chrome toggle switches, while the facelift introduced a new five-inch digital instrument binnacle (as seen in the MINI Electric) as standard across the entire model range. There’s also some new Piano Black trim for the dashboard and doors cards, along with two new leather upholstery colours.

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Quality is largely excellent – the materials for the seats feel classy, while a mixture of soft touch plastics on the dash and fabric trim on the door pulls lifts the ambience. The black trim on the dashboard feels solid and looks upmarket, too.

Delve into the huge options list and you’ll find ambient lighting packs, which light up the cupholders, door handles and even shimmer through the black dash inlays in whichever colour you desire.

You can spend thousands speccing up a MINI with all sorts of customisation choices, but standard equipment is good – all cars include LED headlights and taillights, rear parking sensors, cruise control, air-con, a DAB radio and Bluetooth.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The standard infotainment system is now a 8.8-inch colour display with sat-nav and Apple CarPlay functions. Ranging from £1,200 to £1,800 (depending on which model you've chosen), the Premium Plus Pack adds items such as a rear view camera, a Harman Kardon audio system, a head-up display and a wireless smartphone charging function.