PLUG & LOVE(some text hidden)

By Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Review word count: 54

MINI's transition to being a full-electric car maker must of course include larger models and this is the first of them, the Countryman Electric. This characterful lower-mid-sized SUV aims to bring a bit of visual and dynamic joie de vivre to its rather sensible segment. You might just end up thinking that it does.

Background word count: 174

The very first electrified production MINI of any kind was a Countryman, the PHEV version launched back in 2017, just before we saw the full-battery MINI Electric hatch in 2019. These were the early signs of the company's intention to transition into being a full-electric brand, underlined by the introduction in late 2023 of the second generation MINI Hatch Electric; and of this car, the marque's first larger EV, the MINI Countryman Electric. This German-built full-battery Countryman doesn't share its lithium-ion cell pack with the smaller EV Hatch because it's a bigger and heavier thing that also needs more power and the option of the company's All4 four-wheel drive system. Actually, almost everything you can't see inside and out is shared with BMW's two smallest electric SUVs, the iX1 and the iX2: but it offers all that technology at a significantly more affordable price. What might also be tempting is that this MK3 Countryman design is no longer a very compact thing, now properly big enough to do battle with family-shaped lower mid-sized EVs.

Driving Experience word count: 235

All-electric Qashqai-class lower-mid-sized SUVs usually sprint forward with the slightest dab on the throttle, but by and large, they offer precious little else to reward the enthusiastic driver, especially when it comes to the twisty stuff. The Countryman Electric does its best to be different. No of course it won't be quite like a MINI Hatch Electric to throw around the corners - the extra weight has to show somewhere - but you can expect quite a few more smiles per mile than you'd get from the vanilla class norm. Especially if you select the most vibrant of the provided 'MINI Experience' drive modes - 'Go-kart'. There are two Countryman full-EV variants, both using a 64.7kWh battery. Things kick off with the single motor Countryman Electric E, which offers 201hp, 62mph in 8.6s and a range of 287 miles. The alternative is the Countryman Electric SE, which adds an extra electric motor on the rear axle, creating a nominal four-wheel drive system. This boosts total output to 308hp with 494Nm of torque and the 62mph sprint time drops to just 5.6s. But range drops too - to 269 miles. Different chassis settings are available depending on the model you choose, including an adaptive suspension option that lowers ride height by 15mm. You can select between eight 'MINI Experience' modes - 'Core', 'Green', 'Go-kart', 'Personal', 'Vibrant', 'Vivid', 'Timeless' and 'Balance' - each with a corresponding soundtrack.