MINI Countryman (2010 – 2016) Review

MINI Countryman (2010 – 2016) At A Glance

4/5

+Golf sized MINI has five seats and a 350-litre boot. Available with BMW's chain cam 1.6 diesel engine. Option of diesel automatic with 4WD.

-Styling isn't a universal success and divides opinion. Top models are expensive. Handling of 2WD versions is unexciting.

Insurance Groups are between 8–30
On average it achieves 75% of the official MPG figure

The 'MAXI' sized Countryman is a major new chapter in the MINI success story. In a nutshell, it offers four or five-seat practicality and a 350-litre boot in addition to the usual MINI trademarks such as sharp steering, fun handling and that all-important quirkiness.

It's impossible to think of this as any other car than a MINI. The Countryman might well be Golf-sized but the styling shares many MINI hatchback details, such as its large, round(ish) headlamps, floating roofline, and down-in-the-dumps radiator shape. That might make it easy to accept for existing owners, but those looking for an alternative to their Qashqai they may well find it a little too wacky.

The Countryman is actually considered to be a crossover by MINI and as such, there is also a four-wheel drive option, otherwise it's powered by the same low emission chain-cam diesel and petrol engines as the standard MINI hatchback. There are no shortage of versions to choose from - it's offered in One, Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper versions with 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre engines.

The big news for MINI owners looking to trade up is that the Countryman has a large and usable boot. There is plenty of room for four adults and thanks to plenty of carried-over controls and shared styling, they will feel very much a home. In 2010, the Countryman received a new centre console and - for the first time - electric window switches mounted in the doors.

MINI Countryman ALL4 2010 Road Test and Video

Real MPG average for a MINI Countryman (2010 – 2016)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

75%

Real MPG

23–55 mpg

MPGs submitted

682

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

How often should I replace the fuel filter on my car?

"How often does the fuel filter on my MINI Countryman 1.6d 2013 need changing? "
Given that the engine oil is changed at 12,000 miles ( or every 2 years) we would recommend that the fuel fliter is changed every second oil change.
Answered by Alan Ross

Does my manual MINI need a gearbox service?

"Does my MINI Countryman manual 2013 1.6D need a gearbox service?"
Manual transmission MINIs have 'lifetime' transmission oil, so this should not be required. However, if you plan to own the vehicle long-term you may wish to consider having the oil changed as a precautionary measure.
Answered by David Ross

I need a used automatic small SUV, what are my options?

"I want to buy a secondhand automatic compact SUV for my daughter. She likes the Nissan Juke but have seen bad reviews for automatic problems. Our budget is £8000. "
The Nissan Juke is good choice but the CVT automatic is known for being troublesome, so we would suggest looking elsewhere. Some alternative SUVs similar in size to the Juke are the Peugeot 2008, Mitsubishi ASX, BMW X1 and MINI Countryman, all of which are available with automatic gearboxes and can be found within your budget.
Answered by David Ross

Is there room for negotiation when buying a used car from a dealer?

"My wife's lease car comes to an end next month. As a fan of MINI, having leased for the last decade or so, she would like to stick with the brand. I've seen 2012 diesel Countryman with 75,000 miles, one owner and full service history for £6295. Would this be a good option and is there room for negotiation? Thanks in advance."
You might find that a petrol model will be more reliable - particularly if your wife doesn't cover many miles. Dealers are struggling to source good stock at the moment (people haven't been trading in cars during lockdown and auctions haven't been running), so discounts are hard to come by.
Answered by Andrew Brady
More Questions

What does a MINI Countryman (2010 – 2016) cost?