Same Country. Two Flavors. The MINI Countryman S E ALL4 plug-in hybrid & Cooper S Countryman Sports review!

June 10, 2019 benautobahn Off MINI,

Spending some time behind the wheel in both the MINI Countryman S E ALL4 plug-in hybrid and MINI Cooper S Countryman Sports has changed our perception on the cars. Despite having S badges on them, both Countrymans (Countrymen?) are more capable than your average MINI hatch. Thanks to MINI Malaysia, we have both models to directly compare, and here’s what we think…

MINI Countryman S E ALL4 plug-in hybrid

To simplify things, let’s just call this the Countryman hybrid. When I first took delivery of the Countryman hybrid, I was blown away by the seamless power delivery from the 1.5 litre 3-cylinder engine combined with the rear-powering electric motors.

You will be hard pressed to tell when the drivetrain is switching between pure electric mode and combustion engine, which cannot be said about every hybrids. The main indication of the transition would be from the gauges in front of you.

Depending on how you want to see it, one could say the Countryman has the engine from the i8, or the i8 has a MINI engine. In the case of the Countryman hybrid, its combined system output of 221hp and 385Nm of torque is not only more than the regular Cooper S model, but it also has more torque than the outgoing Countryman JCW that produces 231hp and 350Nm of torque.

This makes it a sleeper when it comes to traffic light launches, as it does the 0-100 kph sprint in only 6.8 seconds. As for charging time, the Countryman hybrid requires a full 8 hours for a full charge from a conventional outlet, which provides an official claimed 39km of pure electric range. In reality however, expect your pure electric range to be much lower.

Besides the performance, the car handled unlike its hefty 1.7 ton would suggest. Having taken the car up to Genting Highlands via the twisty Ulu Yam stretch of roads, the Countryman hybrid provided a rather enjoyable drive with good steering feedback and minimal body roll for its relatively tall body.

Suspension set up on the Countryman hybrid is definitely well sorted as it’s firm yet pliant at the same time. Even with its heavy batteries, it never seemed to bottom-out over uneven terrain at speed.

When it comes to driving aids, equipment and practicality, this is where the Countryman hybrid falls shorts. In terms of practicality, the Countryman loses 45 litres of boot space thanks to the extra batteries. Inside, you get the smaller 6.5 inch infotainment screen without Apple CarPlay nor do you get the Harman Kardon system that is fitted in the cheaper Countryman Sports.

Also not present in the Countryman hybrid is the heads-up display which also can be found in the less expensive Countryman Sports. We suspect this decision to omit these equipment is due to the higher base price of the hybrid, and BMW Malaysia had to find ways to close the price gap between it and the Sports model.

MINI Cooper S Countryman Sports

Having swap over from the Countryman hybrid to the Countryman Sports, the difference I felt was night and day. First difference you will notice is the cheeky exhaust crackles in the Countryman Sports that’s completely absent in the hybrid model. In fact, the Countryman hybrid starts and runs in pure silence (as long there’s enough juice in the batteries).

Performance wise, under the hood of the Countryman Sports lies a 2.0 litre four-cylinder engine that produces a decent 192hp and 280Nm of torque, all through an eight speed transmission that enables the car to sprint from 0-100 kph in 7.4 seconds.

Overall drive of the car is rather nimble and more MINI go-kart-like as it weighs less than its hybrid sibling. The Countryman Sports also rides a tad firmer as it’s fitted with the passive sports suspension system. This translates to minimal body roll, and taking on corners simply puts a smile on your face during spirited drives.

Visually, the Countryman Sports is also fitted with the John Cooper Works Aerodynamic Kit that adds the aggressive front bumper with integrated brake ducts, a rear diffuser, and a spoiler.

To complete the look, there are 19 inch JCW Course Spoke wheels accompanied by run-flat tyres. For the interior, there are stainless steel pedals and JCW door sill finishes and finally the sportier JCW steering wheel with paddle shifters.

Equipment levels in the Countryman Sports is good as it has the upgraded Professional Navigation System with an 8.8 inch touchscreen display and a 12 speaker, 360W Harman Kardon system that sends trembles through the car. There’s also a heads up display as mentioned earlier.

Safety wise, both variants gets six airbags but comes with zero active safety systems. Both cars does come with Parking Assistant which parallel parks for you, just like in the BMW 330e we tested.

Final Thoughts

Prices tend to be a big deciding factor and with the Countryman hybrid starting at RM250,888.00 and RM245,888.00 (as of writing) for the Countryman Sports, there little to differentiate between them in price. However, the Countryman Sports is the clear driver’s choice with its higher-tuned engine and sportier handling and design.

The Countryman hybrid on the other hand is for a different kind of customer. Overlook the lower gadget count, and in exchange you get the benefits of a plug-in hybrid: driving short distances in pure electric, the higher fuel efficiency that comes with it, and the improved off-the-line acceleration. Not to mention that you also get all-wheel-drive thanks to the electric motors powering the rear wheels, while the Sports is only front-wheel-driven.

Ultimately, it depends on your needs. Are you willing to sacrifice a fancier screen and stereo for a plug-in hybrid and all-wheel-drive? Do you prefer a purer driving experience of the Sports?

Heck, if you do not need the extra ground clearance and space, maybe the iconic and even lighter MINI hatchback would suit you better?

No matter which model you prefer, the choices available are far from mini.