Mini Countryman JCW 2017 review
Content
- Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10
- How practical is the interior space? 7/10
- Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 6/10
- What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10
- How much fuel does it consume? 7/10
- What is it like to drive? 7/10
- What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10
- How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10
- Verdict
- Is the Mini Countryman JCW the fun you're looking for? Let us know in the comments.
Back in January (yes, already August) I piloted a second generation Mini Countryman on the back roads of Oxfordshire and I really enjoyed it. Partly because my perverted nature marveled at how capricious this traditionalist machine was, but mostly because it was good. Fine.
Another reason I liked it was that there was clearly more room from the chassis.
Mini agrees, and just as night follows day, the Countryman now has a JCW package that is sure to make it even more moody. Mini put us to work on the new Countryman JCW for the first time on both paved and gravel roads.
| Mini Countryman 2017: Cooper JCW All4 | |
|---|---|
| Safety Rating | |
| engine's type | 1.6 L turbo |
| fuel type | Premium unleaded gasoline |
| Fuel efficiency | 8.3l / 100km |
| Landing | 4 Places |
| Price from | $39,000 |
Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10
The Countryman is one of those cars that produces many inches per column. The Countryman JCW will likely produce a few more. Traditional JCW body kits are a little wild, bloated, but the Countryman has a more relaxed look. You can still tell - red-lined side vents, honeycomb grille, new air intakes (foglights are gone) and red brake calipers, and you can point out the red roof, stripes, etc. Its sheer size compared to the sunroof hard to hide, but I don't think Mini was trying to hide it.
Inside, everything is upgraded from the base Cooper. Combinations of fabric and leather are all that are usually on offer, but you really have to love circles. The Countryman's interior is more restrained than the hatchback and convertible, with vertically aligned rectangular air vents to break up the round theme. Bright LED lights still surround the central media screen and some of the controls, but other than that it's a really brilliantly executed cockpit.
How practical is the interior space? 7/10
Front seat passengers use a pair of cup holders, as do rear seat passengers. All four doors also have a bottle holder.
The five-door Countryman JCW received two-tone 19-inch alloy wheels.
Trunk space is huge for a car of this size: 450 liters fit into the Countryman's frame and expands to 1350 liters with the middle row seats folded down. The trunk floor hides a deep compartment where a spare tire can normally fit, providing even more storage space, and small items can be packed into various compartments and compartments. ISOFIX child seat anchors are mounted outwards, and the rear seats also slide back and forth so you can tweak the space a bit.
Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 6/10
I'll call it the Countryman JCW, but it runs under the name of the Mini Countryman John Cooper Works All4 in the specs, and you can buy it for $57,900, almost $18,000 more than line-opening Cooper. Mini says it offers an extra $10,000 of added value over the old Countryman JCW, so it's tempting.
In case you're wondering, the new Countryman already makes up about a quarter of Mini's sales (the hatchback still leads at around 60%), but Mini thinks there's still a lot to be done from the Countryman. The brand as a whole posted record highs in June and July, with numbers up significantly from last year.
The interior of the Countryman is more restrained than that of the hatch and convertible.
For your nearly sixty thousand, you get a five-door Countryman with two-tone 19-inch alloy wheels, active cruise control, rearview camera, JCW interior trim, leather interior, dual-zone climate control, power tailgate, keyless entry and start, 12-stereo with speakers, Mini Connected (from September), enhanced satellite navigation, adaptive automatic LED headlights, automatic wipers, heated power mirrors, head-up display (with optional JCW features), and front and rear parking sensors.
An eight-speed automatic with paddles is standard, however you can opt for a six-speed manual as a free option if you're willing to wait for them to make it.
The JCW has received an improved "professional" sat-nav that has a larger 8.8-inch touchscreen center screen. Operated by a rotary switch on the console, the system is apparently based on iDrive and - wonder of wonders - comes standard with Apple CarPlay (since September 2017) and some clever integration called Mini Connected. The Harmon Kardon-branded stereo has enough power for a small car, as well as DAB+, two USB ports, and the necessary Bluetooth.
The bright LED lights still surround the central media screen, but otherwise the cabin looks very stylish.
You can specify a series of packages. The $3120 Climate package adds a sunroof, tinted windows, and heated front seats. Convenience ($1105 on JCW) adds an alarm and anti-dazzle automatic mirrors. Road Trip ($650) adds a picnic seat hidden in the trunk, a luggage net, and a tire pressure monitoring system.
Metallic paint costs $1170 (with two colors, Lapis Blue and Rebel Green for $1690), optional sports stripes ($455 per set)… the list goes on.
What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 7/10
As the name suggests, all four wheels are powered via a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission (or a complimentary six-speed manual). Power is provided by BMW's range of modular engines, this time a 2.0-litre four-cylinder with 170kW and 350Nm. 0-100 km/h is reached in 6.5 seconds for a slightly chubby car weighing 1540 kg.
How much fuel does it consume? 7/10
The official combined cycle figure shows the JCW gobbles up the 95RON at 7.8L/100km for the manual and 7.4L/100km for the car. Since this was a starter engine that included track and gravel, our fuel figures don't make sense.
What is it like to drive? 7/10
He is unexpectedly firm. I attribute this to two things - stiff sidewalls, low-profile run-flat tires, and the need to curb body roll due to the higher ground clearance his SUV needs. However, it only really gets hectic on horrendous surfaces, and on loose stuff it soaks up bumps unless you're in sport mode.
Fabric and leather combinations are all in what is usually a range of options.
If you switch the drive mode back to Comfort mode, it irons out the bad stuff with little sacrifice in cornering prowess, but no Mini is a plush racer with the exception of the base trim Countryman. Even on the wet and slippery roads we traveled on, the Countryman changed direction very well and entered corners with great enthusiasm and confidence in safety.
In the gravel section we drove, you could feel the power shuffling around to stop the understeer of the car from mud and dirt in the deep. It feels right at home on a well-maintained gravel road - even in this sporty performance - and handled a couple of nasty washouts pretty well.
The ISOFIX child seat anchors are mounted outwards, and the rear seats also slide back and forth.
The 2.0-litre twin-turbo engine is a significant departure from the Cooper S engine, with a new turbocharger, new pistons and extra cooling behind the lower left bumper air intake to handle the extra grunt and heat. It's a powerful motor, but you always feel like it could take a few more revs before eighth gear shifts with a signature fart. It doesn't have quite the sharp throttle that I wish JCW had, but you can't have everything.
Warranty and safety rating
Basic Warranty
3 years / unlimited mileage
guarantee
ANCAP Safety Rating
What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10
The JCW comes with six airbags, ABS, stability and traction control systems, a rearview camera, speed sign recognition and front AEB. As with the rest of the Countryman models, in May 2017 ANCAP awarded five stars, the highest possible.
How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10
Minis come with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty, and the Countryman JCW is no exception. You will also receive roadside assistance for the duration of the action.
You can also pay a five-year/80,000 km service prepayment with two vehicle tiers - Basic and Plus. Basic covers basic services and work and will set you back $1240 ($248 per year), while Plus covers liquids and other items and costs $3568 ($713.60 per year).
Verdict
The Countryman John Cooper Works was a little odd in its first generation, but with a fundamentally better second generation base it makes more sense. While it's closer to $60,000 than perhaps we'd all like, the extra money goes towards significant engine and chassis upgrades. The cost also goes towards a full-fledged interior that is pleasant to be in and now comfortable for four people and their belongings. Does a mini SUV need to go that fast? Who cares. It's fun, as a car with a Mini badge should be.
Is the Mini Countryman JCW the fun you're looking for? Let us know in the comments.
