First Drive: Mini Countryman

The Mini was designed way back in the 1960s by Sir Alec Issigonis as a city runabout. A tiny car for the family that could tackle the streets of a bygone era. A pot-load of clever antics were incorporated like a transverse engine layout that would free up space for the cabin was just one of them. Plenty of variants came later, which included a wagon. But the dimensions of the Mini remained diminutive. However, years later after BMW took over the reins and reinvented the Mini, something changed. Much to the disbelief of the purists, the Mini had grown in size. Finally, with the Countryman, BMW introduced a whole new genre of Minis. The Countryman has won accolades and brickbats around the world, and now it’s time for Indians to respond to this new Mini. That’s exactly what we are going to do in these pages. 

   


Mini Countryman CS
Engine:  1.6 turbo petrol with direct injection
Max power: 184bhp@5500rpm
Max torque: 240Nm@1600rpm
Gearbox: 6-speed auto
Wheelbase (mm): 2595
LxWxH (mm): 4110x1789x1561
Top Speed: 210kmph
0-100kmph: 7.9s
Price: Rs 35.90 lakh