MINI Cooper S Countryman 2014 review - pictures

<span>The MINI Countryman is available in five trim levels: One, Cooper,&nbsp;</span>Cooper S<span>&nbsp;and&nbsp;</span>Cooper D,<span>&nbsp;plus the punchy&nbsp;</span>John Cooper<span>&nbsp;flagship.</span>

<span>The jacked-up suspension and optional&nbsp;</span>ALL4<span>&nbsp;four-wheel-drive system means the Countryman can also be taken for some light off-roading.</span>

The ALL4 four-wheel-drive system is available as an option on Cooper, Cooper S and Cooper D models.

The big wheel arches, sweeping styling and big alloy wheels give it quite a rugged look, so there’s no mistaking a Countryman when you see one.

<span>All cars (bar the One D) can also be ordered with a six-speed automatic gearbox in place of the standard six-speed manual.</span>

<span>Our choice is the Cooper D Countryman with<span>&nbsp;112bhp. In two-wheel-drive form this is the most economical choice, returning 67.3mpg and 111g/km.</span></span>

<span>While its extra ride height and bulkier dimensions mean it's not quite as fun to drive as the MINI hatch, it's still enjoyable and is particularly good in town.</span>

<span>Black light surrounds are available as an optional extra.</span>

<span>Unless the buyer decides to spec theirs with the large 19-inch alloy wheels, the Mini Countryman remains a comfortable car.</span>

<span>MINI’s ‘TLC’ servicing pack covers the first five years/50,000 miles for around £250 and gives plenty of peace of mind.</span>

All MINI Countryman models are quite well specced, with air-conditioning, MP3 compatibility, digital radio, Bluetooth and rear parking sensors as standard.

<span>The Countryman's interior is very similar to the regular MINI hatch&nbsp;<span>thanks to the familiar oversized central speedo, pod-like rev counter and rocker switches for the lights.</span></span>

<span>The seats are comfortable, supportive, and make long journeys easy to handle. The high driving position means visibility is great too, making in town driving easy.</span>

The Mini Countryman is available with either four or five seats. Four adults won't have a problem with getting in and out, and the sliding rear bench is pretty practical.

<span>The larger dimensions over the MINI hatch means that with the seats up, the boot has a 350-litre capacity.</span>

When you fold the rear seats in the MINI Countryman, the load capacity increases to 1,170 litres.