We have ordered that beauty. It`s absolutely great, when you meet him in person. We were skeptical about the new, bigger version of Countryman, but after looking on the other cars, this one is THAT, fun, beautiful, great driving, big but not too big, and not looking like for my father on the inside. It’s a fantastic car for someone, who wants bigger car, but doesn’t want to feel older, than he is.
The round screen is cool. The lack of an instrument cluster is not. That old school head up display is a head scratcher for what should be a new high tech car.
I just got one of these, partly because of this review and a few others. It’s a fabulous car and suits my needs really well. I need a car that’s big enough to transport my bike or my two greyhounds, but no bigger, which means that most electric SUVs are too large. For those who think this can’t be considered a Mini, it should be noted that the Countryman is the largest selling model here in the US and if it hadn’t been scaled up I would have had to look elsewhere. It is still true to the Mini brand in its design language, detailing, and performance. It handles really well and is actually fun to drive, which is much more than one can say about most of its competition.
If you think this new mini looks attractive you definitely need an eye exam 😏. It's a total eyesore butt ass ugly design. However I love the previous design of the mini, because it's coherent and classy, the new one is a piece of 💩.
I’m a big Mini enthusiast. I am in my 4th Mini and I was looking forward for the Countryman EV. For the price is a very hard pill to swallow when you compare the competition. Tesla Model 3, more practicality, room, features, absurd charging network, more range, cheaper, comfortable driving, way better interface. And doesn’t lag with the interface and have the option of upgrade the infotainment in the future with better hardware
The Maxi, like the origial Mini was a wonderful piece of car design. Modern cars with their invasive suspension struts and fat seats tend to have far less interior space. The Moulton designed suspension of the 60's and 70's BL cars made them ride far more comfortably than those on springs, especially with the current obsession with pointless massive cartoon style wheels.
The original Maxi was a terrible car which my family had for a thankfully brief period. It was the original BMC Friday car which did not work very well and could be relied on to break down at critical family moments. I have terrible memories of that Maxi.
Ginny - good review, I saw some of it I was concentrating on other distracting things! It’s a premium brand now, been in to see one and a test drive reveals how good it is, many people trash them but they should visit a dealer and have a look, they are very good and you only get what you pay for. It is of course a BMW X1 with a different body which says a lot.
She has a proper lady voice. Love that. So many le femmes have that deeper gravelly voice like an old smokers voice that i can't stand listening to. Most younger ones put it on deep and it beats me why they do??
Its not perfect but this is certainly on my consider list when I come to renew my lease. it is frustrating that you cannot get any finance figures online and have to go through the tedious process of having someone from a mini centre contact you which is like opening pandoras box for emails, texts and ongoing pointless communications. It would be much simpler if you could get examples of figures for PCP or lease like most other manufacturers do? I've just watched this again and it is one of the more informative reviews. One thing I hope Mini do is offer the option to turn the various sounds off if you don't want them? Still another enjoyable video. Thanks Ginny! Any update on when you might do the longer test and review?
Thank you for this review. Did you, by chance, have an opportunity to listen to the sound system (for music, not sound effects)? how would you rate that? I'll be comparing it to the upcoming Honda Prologue...
While I cannot deny the material quality and build of BMW products, it's still £41k. And it concerns me how it's become normalised talking about new cars in that price bracket - where are the affordable cars? It's not beyond the ability of a manufacturer to make a car with a decent range, without a million bits of kit you'll never use, for a sensible price (thinking £20-30k range). The only car that fits the bill seems to be the MG4.
It’s gorgeous but the backseat is crap. I’m 1,8 m tall and if I put drivers seat in my preferred position I can’t sit comfortably behind myself, or any of my teenagers! Ginny’s height might be ok if she’s the driver! Shame, I really like it.
Ginny. You are a little ray of sunshine in my otherwise drab day. Keep up the good work, girl ! 😁 Being I have never been interested in the Mini, it doesn't worry me at all what the Electric looks like or even how much larger it has become. So long as it does what it says it can do, that's all that matters. Looking forward to our next meeting.
It's why we have just bought one of the last JCW Clubman's, it's too big and after 2 previous Clubmans, and despite also having a Mini SE, we couldn't go for such a large car.
What the hell did they do to Mini? Turning a brand known for its stylish budget friendly and diminutive size into a luxury SUV feels like double speak gone too far. It’s hard to get over the comparison when the name literally means small. Jesus wept
…two totally different cars… Mini is a lot bigger, a lot more Premium, a lot more Power, a lot better everything. I like the 600e too but comparing it to the Mini Countryman seems odd…. You can buy a C3 Citroen e for 10k€ less than your Fiat!😊
A really fun preview, thank you. This is clearly a wonderful car. I like the well thought out mix of real buttons and switches and touch screen UI, and the lunch plate display both looks good and is practical. Cars I would buy as an alternative include either of the Brabus Smarts or, surprisingly, one of the higher spec Nissan Ariyas. On price, I think BMW are pushing it to the absolute limit for this Mini sub brand sector.
Great video and I really like the walk out of frame at the start into the garden with the old Mini so whoever came up with that 👋but a walk back into the new Mini Frame would have been even better. You right it is a 'premium' brand but nearly double the price of the new Renault 5 , that is a hard sell for me.
I doubt you'd get anywhere trying to invoke the Trade Descriptions Act, because car names are often open to imagination and interpretation, and are not always literal. For example, the Bentley Flying Spur doesn't actually fly, and nor does it have spurs. Blackpool isn't actually black..... The solution here is simple. If you feel the Mini Countryman is too large for your vehicular needs, then buy something smaller.
Have to say, the Germans have done an excellent job managing and developing a brand as iconic as British MINI. The Countryman looks so good I would happily drive one myself. Well done BMW!
I listened as far as the range .. 66kw battery just too small for me for a big car. I need to be getting 3 to 4 hours motorway driving in without stopping for cars in this segment.
@@timrothwell33 in 3 to 4 hours of motorway driving I’d be looking at covering 190 to 250 miles. I expect this will achieve close to 150 - 160 on a motorway on a full charge. We’ve had an ID3 for 3 years and that’s fine for a city car but for motorway journeys it’s a pain.
@@stuartscott5136 Okey-dokey. But if this does actually have a 64kWh usable battery (as reported elsewhere) it will go a lot further than 150 miles on the motorway - unless you're a 90mph high flyer or do a lot of miles in the arctic circle. And I've had a 58kWh iD.3 for nearly 2 years now and find it to be great on motorways. It does 170 miles in really cold, wet weather and 200 plus in the summer. Which is further than my bladder can manage. Your mileage may vary of course...
Disappointed that here in Australia, of all places, that the only optional roof colour is black unless you buy an ALL4! I'd much prefer a lighter coloured roof but that's only offered wth the All4 Favoured, and even then I'd Silver, not white :( Otherwise, love it, and looks like an E is going to be parked in our drive later in the year.
I own the new 2024 Countryman EV and I love her! I’m not well off. I travel a lot (between 200-300 miles every other weekend), and I’ve been a mini fan for about 20 odd years. She’s got bags of space, battery is efficient, very reliable, and is a beast to drive! She’s my first car! And I’m grateful for having got her!
I wouldn’t give up my #1 for a countryman because it’s so much more expensive. Also, I was a little hurt to see you giggling at the mini’s avatar but you were so scathing of the #1 ‘s foxy. (Lol). Xxx
No not ever! Made in Leipzig, eastern Germany. My Countryman PHEV was made in the Netherlands not the U.K. At least it’s not another expensive in Europe car built for the price of a bowl of rice in China like the new hatch will.
I think another thing that a lot of us are railing against is losing the definition of words. A Ford Mustang has always been halfway between a muscle car and a small affordable car that a “secretary “would drive. The history channel used to have documentaries about history. When you bought a movie to watch at home, it meant you owned it not rented it (see recent issues with Sony and Discovery who lost their license to some content that people thought they bought). And now, mini. The original new mini was already not really mini. it was smaller than most cars, and only slightly bigger than a Fiat 500 although about twice the size as a smart for two. But that original mini felt like as big as a mini should get. Maybe less noticeably in the United States, but given the sizes of vehicles in Europe and Great Britain, it’s probably pretty glaring that that car is only small by comparison. Now there’s this. Much like the Mustang Mach E, i’m sure it’s a perfectly reasonable vehicle. But also like that car, at a certain point you dilute a brand so far that it loses its meaning. This isn’t exactly what happened with the Cadillac Cimarron. That car was a half baked also ran that stretched believability at a time when people were finally waking up to what cars could really be. it wasn’t a good car. Even if it had been really good, and designed in a way to fit with other Cadillac models, it probably still would’ve failed however, because it just didn’t fit the ethos of Cadillac. The same argument can be made for the Aston Martin city vehicle. Some people do covet that car, because for what it is it was well-made. The interior is very nice. But nobody wanted a compliance Aston Martin. Especially one that barely had any performance in at all. That may happen here as well. It might not, because there is a certain size vehicle that it seems most people want. The SUV/CUV market, which let’s face it is just big station wagons, or you can look at it as restyled minivans, is very hot right now. so perhaps what will happen is the mini brand will lose its meaning. But it’s a sad day, combined with caving into market pressures and safety standards that make it almost impossible to have a truly small car the mini brand is dying one way or the other. Either this car will fail, or it will succeeded and all of the other cars in the mini lineup will be dropped in the same way that all the other small cars in a large number of legacy manufacturers will be dropped as well. I think it’s fine to buy a vehicle that’s the correct size for what you need to do. But I am sad that a brand like mini can’t stay mini
There is only one EV that I think looks anything like the old Mini used to look. And that's the Smart #1. Especially if you get the stunning Brabus version which is still way cheaper than the top ranged Countryman EV and would put to shame the Countryman with its performance. And though the Countryman would go another 10 to 20 miles further, I know which *one* I'd pick. As for this Countryman, it's not bad. I'm just not struck on it's exterior looks. I've also noticed that Mini dealers are now discounting their current crop of ICE Countryman's. _So if you want to save a few quid on a brand new, if not latest model of car, then maybe...._
JCW edition and best possible equipment for electric variant, this costs around 72k€ in Finland. Insane price. However the JCW ICE car is 87k€. Who will buy these, is the question..
I want to like it. But it's a dogs dinner, looks horrible outside, looks cramped inside given it's size. Get rid of those sounds and notifications, and dump 'spike'! Seriously I would disable most of those things right away. Hay ho some folk will love it I guess! Oh the interior looks nice so there's a win.
i like the look of it, but it's a small car (4,433 mm long) that's fairly basic and it ought to be cheaper. maybe GBP 30k to 35k. the 41k price is unrealistic.
Build quality looks excellent, but I would rather see more small and affordable EVs being made available to buyers, rather than cars that appear to be aimed at the higher end of the market. However, having owned a Mini 850 during the early 1980s and also driven an Austin Maxi as a works pool car, I do not share in the nostalgia of older British cars which had serious quality control and reliability problems.
It’s also a shame that mini hasn’t decided to take their name seriously and at least make this a small version of a larger vehicle. For instance, if this vehicle had a seven or eight seat option at this size, then suddenly it becomes a mini seven seater. I suppose that’s really the only strategy that they could use, perhaps they could have made the front seat of bench seat and done a true electric platform or a full front wheel drive platform that would not have the tunnel, and then had a six seater vehicle, a little bit like I think the new VW van is. Or they could’ve had the backseats be folded away flat and had this be the smallest vehicle that has the same caring space as a larger vehicle. In fact, mini is really missing a trick by not doing what some other manufacturers have doneand making the next size up vehicle in a smaller footprint because you don’t need the engine in the front, you just put the motor and batteries on the bottom, which means you can have more internal space better packaged in a smaller external body.
Thing with MINI decided it was. Premium brand over it actually being so and I’m saying that with two on the drive. The design language has just got boring, they call it clean we call it sparse. After fifteen years and five MINI’s in a row that Renault 5 blows MINI out the water and we won’t be getting another. The hatch just looks depressing from behind and all the neat wee touches have been lost. The infotainment system has always been years behind. Why have we lost a digital display right in front of our eyes. That HUD not standard really MINI have you seen how silly your prices have become.
What the hell have they done? The design looks nothing like a mini. They have truly squandered and diluted the brand. I bet Ginny is going to say it’s on a universal Beemer architecture or sumthink. “Premium brand” I laughs.
Other than styling, I’m not sure what this offers over the competition. Mini used to stand for compact, affordable and space efficient transport and it’s now just another heavyweight and expensive SUV. Maybe the hatch can still cling to some of those original brand values but personally, I’m bored with led lights and childish UIs at the cost of practicality, useability and safety.
With the influx of cheaper Chinese evs coming, I wonder how long the established brands will be able to sell 40k cars before they rethink and make them affordable🧐
Doesnt sound like they have done anything to address road noise. I have a 2 series which is built on the same platform as the previous generation countryman and the road noise can only be described as unacceptable for a premium brand !
MINI lost it's way, what was once a brand for affordable nimble small cars for the masses, is now expensive lumbering behemoths for the well to do. Bah.
Having owned a 1969 mini as my first car I can tell you nothing excites me about the prospect of owning one of these BMW knockoffs. After all, it's only the badge you're buying.
The new mini hatchback is affordable and nimble I can assure you having been in one. The mini Aceman arrives next year to replace the 5 door hatch. This is designed for the American market and consequently is bigger than the previous model, it’s very big like the iX1 which share the same platform. Though they are popular in the U.K with mini sales up 35% year on year.
Yeah, you don't see any Minis around. 😂 Most people move on and lease their cars, so they are mostly affordable and very popular. They don't need their customers from then1960s anymore.
Honestly I'd rather skip the nonsense voice assistant, stupid sound effects, modes and Tetris lights. The amount of r&d they would have cost could have been used to either reduce the RRP of the car, or improve other areas. It's a car not a PlayStation...
Mini is no longer a basic nippy city car, its now a massive lump. I agree that its priced well against Stellantis models... but £40k to £45k is a serious chunk of money, especially for a laggy infotainment system.
£5k more than a Niro/Kona which have bigger boots and larger ranges… And why are motoring journalists so obsessed with HUDs? Who struggles to glance down at a speedo or sat nav screen?!?
I know let's create an ev as price it t the standard EV price of 40k for the average user. How ever d they think the average person will switch t electric at here prices
We have ordered that beauty. It`s absolutely great, when you meet him in person. We were skeptical about the new, bigger version of Countryman, but after looking on the other cars, this one is THAT, fun, beautiful, great driving, big but not too big, and not looking like for my father on the inside. It’s a fantastic car for someone, who wants bigger car, but doesn’t want to feel older, than he is.
yes! I also ordered this car. I can't wait till it's delivered :)
Love the look of this. The interior in particular seems like it's finally become what it was trying to be all along. Lovely
The round screen is cool. The lack of an instrument cluster is not. That old school head up display is a head scratcher for what should be a new high tech car.
MINI said that because of the windshield they are unable to do a newer style heads up display.
I just got one of these, partly because of this review and a few others. It’s a fabulous car and suits my needs really well. I need a car that’s big enough to transport my bike or my two greyhounds, but no bigger, which means that most electric SUVs are too large. For those who think this can’t be considered a Mini, it should be noted that the Countryman is the largest selling model here in the US and if it hadn’t been scaled up I would have had to look elsewhere. It is still true to the Mini brand in its design language, detailing, and performance. It handles really well and is actually fun to drive, which is much more than one can say about most of its competition.
If you think this new mini looks attractive you definitely need an eye exam 😏. It's a total eyesore butt ass ugly design. However I love the previous design of the mini, because it's coherent and classy, the new one is a piece of 💩.
I’m a big Mini enthusiast. I am in my 4th Mini and I was looking forward for the Countryman EV. For the price is a very hard pill to swallow when you compare the competition. Tesla Model 3, more practicality, room, features, absurd charging network, more range, cheaper, comfortable driving, way better interface. And doesn’t lag with the interface and have the option of upgrade the infotainment in the future with better hardware
then get the Tesla. After a while you will realise why they are cheaper.
@@Parental92what do you mean??
@@faithosadebe5293 Shit quality compared to mini
Surely it should now be called Maxi.
The Maxi, like the origial Mini was a wonderful piece of car design.
Modern cars with their invasive suspension struts and fat seats tend to have far less interior space. The Moulton designed suspension of the 60's and 70's BL cars made them ride far more comfortably than those on springs, especially with the current obsession with pointless massive cartoon style wheels.
Is it actually bigger than the Maxi?
The original Maxi was a terrible car which my family had for a thankfully brief period. It was the original BMC Friday car which did not work very well and could be relied on to break down at critical family moments. I have terrible memories of that Maxi.
@@PaulMeier-cu3dsfor sure, BL vehicles had a tendency to be built very badly and rust away!
But they were very well designed - just badly executed.
@@FFVoyager
Thank you.
I can assure you we did not care about the design, only whether it was likely to get us from A to B in one piece.
At Portugal, again!!! Welcome back...
Ginny - good review, I saw some of it I was concentrating on other distracting things! It’s a premium brand now, been in to see one and a test drive reveals how good it is, many people trash them but they should visit a dealer and have a look, they are very good and you only get what you pay for. It is of course a BMW X1 with a different body which says a lot.
I'll be honest I don't like the front but the side profile, rear and interior are fantastic. I think it's the headlights which aren't quite right
Agree....I wish they kept the old lights. Price sucks but this might be my first EV. I live in the USA and I certain this will be over $50,000
That car when configured on the mini website in Ireland is €66k+ ... way too dear for a mini!
Soccer mommies will still buy them....
Loving all the comments from the dinosaurs that can’t get their head around Mini making a big car and it’s not the 1960’s anymore. 😂🦖🦕🦖😂
Hot. We just bought one, and the drive is fantastic. We have a Mini Cooper S convertible, and Mini really kept the "Mini" experience on the Countryman
I could listen to Ginny all day 😍
She has a proper lady voice. Love that. So many le femmes have that deeper gravelly voice like an old smokers voice that i can't stand listening to. Most younger ones put it on deep and it beats me why they do??
100% MILF 😂
Its not perfect but this is certainly on my consider list when I come to renew my lease. it is frustrating that you cannot get any finance figures online and have to go through the tedious process of having someone from a mini centre contact you which is like opening pandoras box for emails, texts and ongoing pointless communications. It would be much simpler if you could get examples of figures for PCP or lease like most other manufacturers do?
I've just watched this again and it is one of the more informative reviews. One thing I hope Mini do is offer the option to turn the various sounds off if you don't want them?
Still another enjoyable video. Thanks Ginny!
Any update on when you might do the longer test and review?
Thank you for this review. Did you, by chance, have an opportunity to listen to the sound system (for music, not sound effects)? how would you rate that? I'll be comparing it to the upcoming Honda Prologue...
While I cannot deny the material quality and build of BMW products, it's still £41k. And it concerns me how it's become normalised talking about new cars in that price bracket - where are the affordable cars? It's not beyond the ability of a manufacturer to make a car with a decent range, without a million bits of kit you'll never use, for a sensible price (thinking £20-30k range). The only car that fits the bill seems to be the MG4.
I’ve actually specced one up to £57000!
😳@@RobLevers-gj1dj
@@RobLevers-gj1dj Again, good job.
I had my MG4 delivered last month and I must say I'm quite happy with the decision I made. Build quality is pretty decent too.
This is longer and wider than a series 1 Land Rover if you want something from scale.
It’s gorgeous but the backseat is crap. I’m 1,8 m tall and if I put drivers seat in my preferred position I can’t sit comfortably behind myself, or any of my teenagers! Ginny’s height might be ok if she’s the driver! Shame, I really like it.
I am truly wowed by this! I am seriously considering this to be my next EV.
Thanks for the review. We always liked that old smaller mini and owned one. But not this behemoth 4-door thing, and we dislike the huge price.
This ain't a 4 door. I count 5. FYI a Model 3 or an Accord saloon are 4 doors.
They’ve miss d a trick in the back , there should be a ski hatch between the seats , ideal for stowing your skis , fishing rods etc 😊👍😊
It's there. 4:20 The bigger concern is why you missed it.
I wonder if there’s a reason no one has done a round screen before?
What colour was this?
How is the usefullness of that round screen? Looks cool, not sure about user friendliness though.
Ginny. You are a little ray of sunshine in my otherwise drab day. Keep up the good work, girl ! 😁
Being I have never been interested in the Mini, it doesn't worry me at all what the Electric looks like or even how much larger it has become. So long as it does what it says it can do, that's all that matters. Looking forward to our next meeting.
It's why we have just bought one of the last JCW Clubman's, it's too big and after 2 previous Clubmans, and despite also having a Mini SE, we couldn't go for such a large car.
What the hell did they do to Mini? Turning a brand known for its stylish budget friendly and diminutive size into a luxury SUV feels like double speak gone too far. It’s hard to get over the comparison when the name literally means small. Jesus wept
i like the colour but i have bought the Fiat 600e for £15k less than the Mini Countryman but has a comparable range.
…two totally different cars… Mini is a lot bigger, a lot more Premium, a lot more Power, a lot better everything. I like the 600e too but comparing it to the Mini Countryman seems odd…. You can buy a C3 Citroen e for 10k€ less than your Fiat!😊
Great 4k video, well done.
Ah! Sounds? I thought you said `sands` and was wondering how you'd pack a tonne of rubble, and why?
A really fun preview, thank you.
This is clearly a wonderful car. I like the well thought out mix of real buttons and switches and touch screen UI, and the lunch plate display both looks good and is practical. Cars I would buy as an alternative include either of the Brabus Smarts or, surprisingly, one of the higher spec Nissan Ariyas. On price, I think BMW are pushing it to the absolute limit for this Mini sub brand sector.
Great video and I really like the walk out of frame at the start into the garden with the old Mini so whoever came up with that 👋but a walk back into the new Mini Frame would have been even better. You right it is a 'premium' brand but nearly double the price of the new Renault 5 , that is a hard sell for me.
Can you dget them under the trades description act? That's not a Mini.
It’s a Maxi
I doubt you'd get anywhere trying to invoke the Trade Descriptions Act, because car names are often open to imagination and interpretation, and are not always literal. For example, the Bentley Flying Spur doesn't actually fly, and nor does it have spurs. Blackpool isn't actually black..... The solution here is simple. If you feel the Mini Countryman is too large for your vehicular needs, then buy something smaller.
Mini Oxymoron edition
Have to say, the Germans have done an excellent job managing and developing a brand as iconic as British MINI. The Countryman looks so good I would happily drive one myself. Well done BMW!
Great review. Hearteningly good product. It has to bigger to fit the necessary cells
Tricky market segment for Mini, they need a VERY quick version 5.6s isnt going to compete against EX30 or Fisker's. Like the interior though.
I listened as far as the range .. 66kw battery just too small for me for a big car. I need to be getting 3 to 4 hours motorway driving in without stopping for cars in this segment.
The battery is kWh rather than kW. How far do you think you are driving in the UK in 3 hours?
With a probable real world motorway range of 200 - 220 miles in this, you will be getting 3 to 4 hours without stopping.
@@timrothwell33 in 3 to 4 hours of motorway driving I’d be looking at covering 190 to 250 miles. I expect this will achieve close to 150 - 160 on a motorway on a full charge. We’ve had an ID3 for 3 years and that’s fine for a city car but for motorway journeys it’s a pain.
@@markjackson8035let’s agree to disagree and wait for a proper 70mph range test.
@@stuartscott5136 Okey-dokey. But if this does actually have a 64kWh usable battery (as reported elsewhere) it will go a lot further than 150 miles on the motorway - unless you're a 90mph high flyer or do a lot of miles in the arctic circle.
And I've had a 58kWh iD.3 for nearly 2 years now and find it to be great on motorways. It does 170 miles in really cold, wet weather and 200 plus in the summer. Which is further than my bladder can manage. Your mileage may vary of course...
Disappointed that here in Australia, of all places, that the only optional roof colour is black unless you buy an ALL4! I'd much prefer a lighter coloured roof but that's only offered wth the All4 Favoured, and even then I'd Silver, not white :( Otherwise, love it, and looks like an E is going to be parked in our drive later in the year.
I own the new 2024 Countryman EV and I love her! I’m not well off. I travel a lot (between 200-300 miles every other weekend), and I’ve been a mini fan for about 20 odd years. She’s got bags of space, battery is efficient, very reliable, and is a beast to drive! She’s my first car! And I’m grateful for having got her!
I wouldn’t give up my #1 for a countryman because it’s so much more expensive. Also, I was a little hurt to see you giggling at the mini’s avatar but you were so scathing of the #1 ‘s foxy. (Lol). Xxx
Great review, love the car!
It's just HUGE, isn't it ... ?
When does calling something bigger than a Kona, 'Mini' become misleading ... ?
It's the styling that tricks your mind. Therefore it's hard to appreciate the high price for a "small" car.
Think the new design looks great on it.
Is this one going to be made in Britain?
No not ever! Made in Leipzig, eastern Germany. My Countryman PHEV was made in the Netherlands not the U.K. At least it’s not another expensive in Europe car built for the price of a bowl of rice in China like the new hatch will.
@@timoliver8940the new hatch will eventually (2026) be built in Oxford again.
I think another thing that a lot of us are railing against is losing the definition of words.
A Ford Mustang has always been halfway between a muscle car and a small affordable car that a “secretary “would drive.
The history channel used to have documentaries about history.
When you bought a movie to watch at home, it meant you owned it not rented it (see recent issues with Sony and Discovery who lost their license to some content that people thought they bought).
And now, mini.
The original new mini was already not really mini. it was smaller than most cars, and only slightly bigger than a Fiat 500 although about twice the size as a smart for two. But that original mini felt like as big as a mini should get. Maybe less noticeably in the United States, but given the sizes of vehicles in Europe and Great Britain, it’s probably pretty glaring that that car is only small by comparison.
Now there’s this.
Much like the Mustang Mach E, i’m sure it’s a perfectly reasonable vehicle. But also like that car, at a certain point you dilute a brand so far that it loses its meaning.
This isn’t exactly what happened with the Cadillac Cimarron. That car was a half baked also ran that stretched believability at a time when people were finally waking up to what cars could really be. it wasn’t a good car. Even if it had been really good, and designed in a way to fit with other Cadillac models, it probably still would’ve failed however, because it just didn’t fit the ethos of Cadillac.
The same argument can be made for the Aston Martin city vehicle. Some people do covet that car, because for what it is it was well-made. The interior is very nice. But nobody wanted a compliance Aston Martin. Especially one that barely had any performance in at all.
That may happen here as well. It might not, because there is a certain size vehicle that it seems most people want. The SUV/CUV market, which let’s face it is just big station wagons, or you can look at it as restyled minivans, is very hot right now. so perhaps what will happen is the mini brand will lose its meaning. But it’s a sad day, combined with caving into market pressures and safety standards that make it almost impossible to have a truly small car the mini brand is dying one way or the other. Either this car will fail, or it will succeeded and all of the other cars in the mini lineup will be dropped in the same way that all the other small cars in a large number of legacy manufacturers will be dropped as well.
I think it’s fine to buy a vehicle that’s the correct size for what you need to do. But I am sad that a brand like mini can’t stay mini
Well said.
There is only one EV that I think looks anything like the old Mini used to look. And that's the Smart #1. Especially if you get the stunning Brabus version which is still way cheaper than the top ranged Countryman EV and would put to shame the Countryman with its performance. And though the Countryman would go another 10 to 20 miles further, I know which *one* I'd pick.
As for this Countryman, it's not bad. I'm just not struck on it's exterior looks.
I've also noticed that Mini dealers are now discounting their current crop of ICE Countryman's. _So if you want to save a few quid on a brand new, if not latest model of car, then maybe...._
i Love the new mini electric if i had the money i would get it.👍
I bet it’s bigger than the old Austin Maxi, and at least double the price allowing for inflation.
JCW edition and best possible equipment for electric variant, this costs around 72k€ in Finland. Insane price. However the JCW ICE car is 87k€. Who will buy these, is the question..
I love its looks , its price is a bit unattractive but versus the Astra electric estate it’s the winner
Countryman is a reskinned BMW X1. It's big for a "mini" because to accommodate bigger people
I want to like it. But it's a dogs dinner, looks horrible outside, looks cramped inside given it's size. Get rid of those sounds and notifications, and dump 'spike'! Seriously I would disable most of those things right away. Hay ho some folk will love it I guess! Oh the interior looks nice so there's a win.
i like the look of it, but it's a small car (4,433 mm long) that's fairly basic and it ought to be cheaper. maybe GBP 30k to 35k. the 41k price is unrealistic.
base model is 🚩🚩🚩front-wheel drive🚩🚩🚩
I’d not class 4.4m long as a small car, it’s about the same size as a KIA Niro.
Ive specced it up to £57k!
@@RobLevers-gj1dj Well done.
@@markparker5585 it's smaller than a Model 3 or base BMW 3-Series and yet it costs more. I don't see how that makes sense for consumers.
Build quality looks excellent, but I would rather see more small and affordable EVs being made available to buyers, rather than cars that appear to be aimed at the higher end of the market.
However, having owned a Mini 850 during the early 1980s and also driven an Austin Maxi as a works pool car, I do not share in the nostalgia of older British cars which had serious quality control and reliability problems.
Why do manufacturers insist on black headlining? - without a pano roof its so depressing.
Thank you.
no towing with this
But but I can’t help it I’ll always see the Mini as the lil cut car that gave me the most excitement on a stock racing close circuit track 😢
40k ?
It’s also a shame that mini hasn’t decided to take their name seriously and at least make this a small version of a larger vehicle.
For instance, if this vehicle had a seven or eight seat option at this size, then suddenly it becomes a mini seven seater.
I suppose that’s really the only strategy that they could use, perhaps they could have made the front seat of bench seat and done a true electric platform or a full front wheel drive platform that would not have the tunnel, and then had a six seater vehicle, a little bit like I think the new VW van is.
Or they could’ve had the backseats be folded away flat and had this be the smallest vehicle that has the same caring space as a larger vehicle.
In fact, mini is really missing a trick by not doing what some other manufacturers have doneand making the next size up vehicle in a smaller footprint because you don’t need the engine in the front, you just put the motor and batteries on the bottom, which means you can have more internal space better packaged in a smaller external body.
You had me at parallel parks itself. What sort of wizardry is that? I could do with that feature
My brother had a Ford Focus 10 years ago that could parallel park itself. So wizardry yes, but kinda old wizardry.
I love the mini infotainment
Thing with MINI decided it was. Premium brand over it actually being so and I’m saying that with two on the drive. The design language has just got boring, they call it clean we call it sparse. After fifteen years and five MINI’s in a row that Renault 5 blows MINI out the water and we won’t be getting another.
The hatch just looks depressing from behind and all the neat wee touches have been lost. The infotainment system has always been years behind. Why have we lost a digital display right in front of our eyes. That HUD not standard really MINI have you seen how silly your prices have become.
Try one or own one before you complain! It’s really nice!!!
What the hell have they done? The design looks nothing like a mini. They have truly squandered and diluted the brand. I bet Ginny is going to say it’s on a universal Beemer architecture or sumthink. “Premium brand” I laughs.
Other than styling, I’m not sure what this offers over the competition. Mini used to stand for compact, affordable and space efficient transport and it’s now just another heavyweight and expensive SUV. Maybe the hatch can still cling to some of those original brand values but personally, I’m bored with led lights and childish UIs at the cost of practicality, useability and safety.
With the influx of cheaper Chinese evs coming, I wonder how long the established brands will be able to sell 40k cars before they rethink and make them affordable🧐
Real world range will be interesting to see on the longer tests
Doesnt sound like they have done anything to address road noise. I have a 2 series which is built on the same platform as the previous generation countryman and the road noise can only be described as unacceptable for a premium brand !
Looks like a ssangyong tovoli
MINI lost it's way, what was once a brand for affordable nimble small cars for the masses, is now expensive lumbering behemoths for the well to do. Bah.
Having owned a 1969 mini as my first car I can tell you nothing excites me about the prospect of owning one of these BMW knockoffs. After all, it's only the badge you're buying.
The new mini hatchback is affordable and nimble I can assure you having been in one. The mini Aceman arrives next year to replace the 5 door hatch. This is designed for the American market and consequently is bigger than the previous model, it’s very big like the iX1 which share the same platform. Though they are popular in the U.K with mini sales up 35% year on year.
Yeah, you don't see any Minis around. 😂 Most people move on and lease their cars, so they are mostly affordable and very popular. They don't need their customers from then1960s anymore.
Your aware it’s 2024 not 1959
Needs 300 mile range if it’s a family car, also we need more from the funny woman with personality is it Nicola
Square headlights? WTF?
Fantastic except the price. 🤩
Honestly I'd rather skip the nonsense voice assistant, stupid sound effects, modes and Tetris lights. The amount of r&d they would have cost could have been used to either reduce the RRP of the car, or improve other areas. It's a car not a PlayStation...
i think the smart 3 has much nicer exterior design... also performance should be better.
Cool. Very cool
dust mite nightmare, they get the seats right then put bloody fabric everywhere, facepalm headdesk.
No head-up driver info is a non-starter. Just build me another hatch like the 2022. New screen is a gimmick.
Smart #1 much better value for money.
Looove it!
Why is it called a mini? It's massive! I've seen smaller houses. 🙂
You must live in London.
@@markjackson8035 does the car look smaller in the countryside?
@@jonathanlel9033 It does indeed, but it's purely perspective - one's unimpeded view of it can be further away than it can in The Smoke.
Spike should've been a bulldog with a spiked collar.
Failed when you said the tunnel, old platform with that price, BMW and MB will loose the battle to Chinese and Tesla with this approach!
Is it a winner? NO. Looks like a blown up Smart or something... And that strange plastic bit behind the rear door, what is THAT about?
Mini is no longer a basic nippy city car, its now a massive lump. I agree that its priced well against Stellantis models... but £40k to £45k is a serious chunk of money, especially for a laggy infotainment system.
Is it just me, or does this Mini look like a mini Kia EV9...?
Massive Mini...Maxi was efficient. This is indulgent..
So of the old OEM’s it tells like BMW probably do it best?
Should be re branded "Huge"
£46K really!!
After this week's reveal, all I can think about is the Rivian R3x. Sorry Mini.
£5k more than a Niro/Kona which have bigger boots and larger ranges…
And why are motoring journalists so obsessed with HUDs? Who struggles to glance down at a speedo or sat nav screen?!?
You will be able to buy a used one in two years for about 20 grand👍.
But surely that's a good thing, if it's what you're looking for?
It's great news for us paupers 😁.
The new (misnamed) Mini countryman is bigger than the original Range Rover.
It's slightly lower - but longer and wider!
I know let's create an ev as price it t the standard EV price of 40k for the average user. How ever d they think the average person will switch t electric at here prices
So body for a mini… where are the round edges 😭
Only 66kWh in a car that size is pretty disappointing.
At this point this is just another electric tank on the road, just sad 🤮
Shame the mini is now a maxi. Although im sure it will still sell well as most people lease cars which ive never done.
Beautiful Car, but total mis-direction in the name. It is just another Big Car. SHAME !!! Well delivered though, Ginny.