AUTOSBing SearchAutos | WebSearch:POPULAR NOW:chicago auto show|ford & teen driving|chevy camaro ZL1|2011 nissan xterraHOMENEW CARSreviewscomparedealer quotestrade-in valuesfuture carsfinanceparts & accessoriessell your carUSED CARScompareused-car listingstrade-in valuescarfax reportsfinanceparts & accessoriessell your carREVIEWS & ARTICLESreviewspicturesvideo reviewsbuying advicegreenlatest & greatestfuel efficiencycar techVIDEOAUTO SHOWSdetroitgenevafrankfurtparistokyochicagonew yorklos angelessemapebble beach concoursBLOGTRAFFICGAS PRICESINSURANCEFind a car:NewUsedMake:Model:Find by category:Choose a categoryPassenger CarsLuxury CarsSports CarsSport UtilitiesVans & MinivansPickup TrucksHybrid Vehicles2011 MINI Countryman — First DriveIt's definitely a bigger, more useful MINI. But is it just as fun to drive?By Kirk Bell of MSN Autos
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Built on an all-new platform, the 4-door Countryman is 14.7 inches longer than the MINI Cooper hardtop, and is the first MINI with all-wheel drive.
How big can a MINI get without losing its charm and unique appeal?
When it first appeared on our shores, the MINI Cooper was the smallest car offered in the U.S. It wasn't the most versatile, the fastest, the roomiest or even the most fuel-efficient machine on the road. But it was fun to drive and a breath of fresh air in a market filled with homogenous, bigger-is-better designs, which made it an immediate hit with American car buyers looking for something different.
See video related to: eb69d575-352b-4665-8a55-50e9434d1fd7This video requires the Adobe® Flash® Player. Download a free version of the player.But its appeal has waned over the past couple of years — U.S. sales of the Cooper fell from a 2008 peak of 54,000 to 47,000 last year — causing some skeptics to wonder if MINI could continue its winning ways stateside. Looking for a way to not just keep its product fresh but also acknowledge American market realities, the cheeky British automaker decided to bulk up its mighty mite just a bit.
In early 2011, MINI will introduce the Countryman, the brand's first 4-door — well, for the modern MINI brand, anyway. Compared with the Cooper, the Countryman is a giant. It offers more rear cargo space, more room for passengers and, thus, more utility than either the Cooper or Clubman.
While the extra size might make this MINI appeal to more Americans, we were concerned that the Countryman wouldn't have the same fun-to-drive factor as other MINI models. Boy, were we wrong.
Model Lineup
The 2011 MINI Cooper Countryman will be offered in three models: base, S and S ALL4. Standard equipment has yet to be determined, but it should match that of the smaller MINI Cooper Clubman, which comes with vinyl upholstery, tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows, power mirrors, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD stereo, auxiliary input jack, trip computer, cooled glove box and 17-inch alloy wheels. The S model should add sport seats and fog lights. MINI will also offer about 100 factory options and 200 dealer-installed accessories.
Standard safety features will likely consist of dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain side airbags, tire-pressure monitor, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, traction control and electronic stability control.
View Pictures: MINI Countryman
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The Countryman will be offered with two upgraded versions of the 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine found in the current MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper Clubman. The base model will produce 122 horsepower and 118 lb-ft of torque, four more horses and four more lb-ft than the current offering. The Countryman S gets a turbocharged version of the 1.6 that produces 184 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. An overboost feature increases torque to 192 lb-ft for short bursts when accelerating.
Fuel-economy estimates have not yet been released, but they should be slightly less than the numbers for the Clubman, which are 28 mpg city/37 mpg highway for the base model and 26/34 mpg for the S.
The Countryman comes standard with front-wheel drive, but the S ALL4 model gets MINI's first all-wheel-drive system. It runs with a little less than 50 percent of the torque to the rear wheels during normal driving, but it can send up to 100 percent of the power to either axle when it detects slip.
Read: MINI Countryman Ready for On-Road and Off-Road Duty
Continued: Inner SpaceSingle page12Next >Related ContentCompare: CR-V vs. RAV4 vs. Forester2011 Nissan JUKE — First Drive2011 Ford F-150 — First Drive2011 Volkswagen Jetta — First Drive2011 Kia Sportage — First Drive2011 Porsche Cayenne — First DriveRead more reviews 2CommentsNewestOldestBestWorstControversialFuriousZFriday, October 08, 2010 9:22:04 AM
I have a 2004 MINI Cooper S, I'm really interested in test driving the car but in the long run I don't think it will ever replace my MCS. I have been able to see one and even sit in it but until I can drive it and see how it handles I can't make a final decision. I will always own a MINI but I don't think it will be one of these. MOTOR ON! 1 1ReportSpamRanger91Friday, September 24, 2010 1:31:39 PM0 0ReportSpamAdd a commentReportPlease help us to maintain a healthy and vibrant community by reporting any illegal or inappropriate behavior. If you believe a message violates theCode of Conductplease notify us using the Report abuse form below. We will investigate your report and take appropriate action against offenders. We report all illegal activity to authorities.CategoriesSpamChild pornography or exploitationProfanity, vulgarity or obscenityCopyright infringementHarassment or threatThreats of suicideOtherAdditional comments(optional) 100 character limitAre you sure you want to delete this comment?
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The Countryman has 40 cubic feet of cargo room with the rear seats folded down, 10 more cubic feet than the Clubman and about as much as a Mazda3 hatchback.
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The Countryman marks the debut of MINI Connected, an infotainment system that works with customers' Apple iPhones to provide links to Twitter and Internet radio.
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