2018 Mini Countryman Hybrid: What's It Like to Live With?
Read about the most recent updates of the 2018 Mini Countryman Hybrid in our long term road test on Edmunds
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Introduction
What Did We Get?
Seven years ago, we asked a simple question: "How big can a Mini get and still be called a Mini?" We added a brand-new 2011 Mini Cooper Countryman S to our long-term fleet to find out. And over the course of a year, we found that, despite a more substantial footprint and a somewhat hefty curb weight, Mini had successfully injected its fun-to-drive DNA into a small SUV.
We were skeptical that lightning would strike twice when the wraps were pulled off a new, even larger model last year. We decided this redesigned Countryman was worth a second go-round in our fleet, but there was some debate over which powertrain to get. A vocal contingent supported the Cooper S for its strong turbocharged four-cylinder, while others rallied for the new Cooper S E plug-in hybrid for a chance to explore its unique powertrain. At the end of the day, the Cooper S E won out, and we ordered a 2018 Mini Countryman Hybrid.
What Options Does It Have?
The 2018 Mini Countryman comes in four trim levels: Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and Cooper S E. All are primarily differentiated by the engines underhood, with most option packages available on all four models.
And, boy, there are a lot of options to make you stray from the Cooper S E's $37,650 base price (including destination). Even though this is a loaner from Mini, we kept the bottom line in mind when we spec'd our top-of-the-line Countryman. We ticked boxes for the supportive sport seats ($300), satellite radio ($300), head-up display ($750), and front and rear parking sensors ($500). And while the idea of a bright blue or deep green Mini appealed to us on an emotional level, we decided to go with the more typical Melting Silver paint ($500). The grand total was an even $40,000.
Note: Due to pricing and equipment changes throughout the 2018 model year, our Mini's as-tested price may be slightly different from models produced at other points during the model year. Using Mini's vehicle configurator, an identical Countryman would cost $40,700.
Why We Got It
Small crossovers have only gotten more popular since the first modern incarnation of the Countryman debuted in 2011. We are interested to see what changes Mini has made to the Countryman to make it more competitive in today's even more aggressive automotive landscape. We'd also like to see how well it skirts the value line between traditional segments. After all, it's too expensive to cross-shop against typical subcompact crossovers and too small to compete against compact SUVs such as the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5. It also doesn't have the brand cachet of rivals Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
On yet another level, we're excited to try the new hybrid powertrain. We've driven the turbocharged three-cylinder in our long-term 2014 Mini Cooper, but we expect it will behave quite differently in this larger car, especially when augmented by the extra power from the battery pack.
Over the next 12 months, we'll be looking to see what strides Mini has made in the area of electrification. After all, the Countryman S E is only the second plug-in Mini since the limited-production, lease-only Mini E electric vehicle of 2009-'10. How exactly does the battery component enhance the Countryman? All-electric mileage is estimated at a middling 12 miles, so is it more fair to consider this a performance-oriented model than a fuel-sipping variant? There are too many questions, but luckily we have 12 months in which to answer them.
Follow updates on our long-term road test for our latest thoughts and impressions of this 2018 Mini Countryman Hybrid.
The manufacturer provided this vehicle for the purpose of evaluation.
Monthly Update for January 2018
Where Did We Drive It?
It's music to my ears when Fleetmaster Mike Schmidt tells me that a long-term test car needs break-in miles because it simplifies the weekend-planning process. I know I'll be driving most of the time, so all I have to do is find some interesting stops along the way. Fortunately, there are plenty of those within a few hours of Edmunds' Santa Monica headquarters. It happened over the holidays with our new long-term 2018 Mini Countryman Hybrid — or the Cooper S E Countryman All4, if you speak Mini.
As is my wont, I settled on a Central Coast destination — Harmony Headlands State Park this time — but I resolved to take the long way, heading north on Interstate 5 and then west across Route 46 to Highway 1. It's a diverse drive, encompassing everything from craggy mountain ridges to the Central Valley's endless rows of crops to the gentle hills that roll toward Paso Robles, with the James Dean Memorial Junction thrown in for good measure.
Not surprisingly, the trip was a great way to get to know our Countryman. Keep reading for detailed logbook comments from both editor Rogers and myself — we recorded them independently and reached similar conclusions. Suffice it to say that this Mini may be an acquired taste. But then, aren't they all?
What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
It's always a challenge to track the energy consumption of a plug-in hybrid, but as usual, we're going to give it the proverbial college try. The electrified Mini's paltry electric range actually simplifies matters somewhat since it means we'll be rolling up most of our miles in gasoline mode. (We're currently at 93.5 percent gas power, as you'll see in the data below.) Still, we've already seen a pure-electric run of more than 21 miles, which beats the EPA's 12-mile estimate by an astonishing margin. Maybe there's more to the EV side of this rig than the official numbers suggest.
Average gasoline-only mpg: 27.6
Best gasoline-only mpg: 32.8
EPA mpg rating: 27 combined
Best gasoline-only range: 244 miles
Best combined gasoline-electric range: 262.7 miles
Average electric range: 13.6 miles
Best electric range: 21.2 miles
EPA electric range rating: 12 miles
Proportion of miles driven in electric mode: 6.5%
Current odometer: 1,661 miles
Maintenance and Upkeep
None.
Logbook Highlights
Performance
"First road trip in the electrified Countryman is in the books, and putting aside the paltry 12-mile EV range, I'd say you've got about 240 miles of real-world highway range in this thing before it's time to refuel. Two simple reasons for that: 1) the 9.5-gallon gas tank is really small (the other Countrymen get a 16.1-gallon tank), and 2) the plug-in Mini's EPA combined rating of 27 mpg isn't great, especially for a hybrid. Notably, the Countryman S All4 gets a nearly identical 26 mpg combined rating from the EPA, which means it should be able to crest 400 highway miles on a single tank. It'll also cost you less upfront and accelerate at roughly the same rate based on the numbers I've seen. In sum, unless that 12-mile EV range is going to be a game-changer somehow in your life, it's hard to make the argument for this Mini." — Josh Sadlier, senior manager of content strategy
"Initially, I was skeptical of the Countryman Hybrid's powertrain. Under the hood is the same three-cylinder as in the standard Cooper, but now it's mated to a battery pack with just 12 miles of electric range. The battery's size requirements meant shrinking the gas tank from 16.1 gallons to 9.5, reducing the maximum range between fill-ups from 403 miles (on an all-wheel-drive, automatic-equipped Cooper) to 270 in our hybrid (or Cooper S E Countryman All4, as Mini calls it). Then there's the fact the hybrid starts at more than $10,000 above the Cooper's base price. What is this thing and why does it exist?
"But I found myself liking the Countryman Hybrid the more I drove it. First, it's not a Cooper competitor. The battery isn't there for providing low-cost EV transportation either. In fact, if you fill up from empty at a charging station that charges by the hour, it could cost you a few bucks just to go 12 miles.
"It's best to think of the battery as a power-assist device, providing more horsepower than the Cooper S and more torque than the high-performance John Cooper Works model, but with minimal fuel consumption. By Mini's own estimates, the Cooper Hybrid will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph quicker than the Cooper S and achieve better fuel economy.
"I've only been in the Countryman Hybrid for a few days, but I'm impressed with how the battery fills the three-cylinder's power gaps, even when the battery isn't fully charged. This might be the right variant for you if you want decent acceleration and live in a state that offers HOV access for plug-ins. If it were my money, I'd still go for the slightly slower — but far less expensive — Cooper S." — Cameron Rogers, staff writer
Monthly Update for February 2018
Where Did We Drive It?
Our 2018 Mini Cooper S E Countryman All4 didn't go on any long trips this month since our editors are getting used to its plug-in electric ways. We did drive it all around Southern California, though, taking advantage of the efficiency of its little turbocharged three-cylinder engine up front and the additional pep from electric drivetrain in the back. From a stop, it accelerates fast and lets you squeeze into traffic without cutting off your lane neighbor.
What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
One of the issues with plug-in hybrids is that editors must record both gas fill-ups and electric charging. Due to the limited electric mileage of the Mini Cooper S E Countryman All4, the record-keeping can get to be bothersome. But as our second month with this plucky wagon comes to an end, we'll continue to log all the data we can while hustling around town.
Average lifetime mpg: 27.1
EPA mpg rating: 27 combined
Average electric range: 14 miles
Best electric range: 21.4 miles
EPA electric range rating: 12 miles
Current odometer: 2,295 miles
Maintenance and Upkeep
None.
Logbook Highlights
Performance
"The Mini plug-in made a solid first impression on me this weekend. I drove it home, fully charged, on my 20-mile commute. The car estimated I had 17 miles of electric range, but it ran out of electrons at around the 14-mile mark. The car would've likely made it the full range if not for the 8-mile hill climb on my way home. From that point on, the Mini was in hybrid mode for the remainder of the weekend since I didn't have a place to plug in. The good news is that the car drove almost like a regular Mini despite not being charged. This makes it a far more fun alternative to a Prius plug-in." — Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor
Technology
"For being a 'green car,' our Mini plug-in doesn't do a good job of communicating its stats up front. Need to see what your average fuel economy is? It's buried under three menu screens. Want to know how long it will take to charge the battery? Don't bother looking anywhere in the car, the charge status (also buried under three menus) only tells you when the charging is complete.
"People who buy EVs and hybrids are into these things. They love to see how they can improve the numbers and tell their friends about the awesome mileage they got. Other plug-ins surface this information much better. On the Mini, it seems like an afterthought." — Ron Montoya
Monthly Update for March 2018
Where Did We Drive It?
On the surface, our long-term 2018 Mini Countryman S E Hybrid is matching expectations set by the EPA estimates. But we're confident we can do better. So far we've used the Mini in a manner that isn't advantageous to a plug-in hybrid, and it would do better as a city car with short commutes and frequent and consistent charges.
In March, Travis drove it to Sacramento and back with no charging. The rest of the time it was commuting with other editors over distances just past the projected EV range.
As one of the few editors on staff within the EPA-rated 12 miles of electric range, I would likely have better results than colleagues with much longer commutes. With any luck, we'll be able to make this happen with me behind the wheel for an extended period. Stay tuned.
On a side note, we produced a video review of the Countryman S E on our YouTube channel. Check it out here.
What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
In March we added 1,537 miles to the Countryman Hybrid's odometer and fed it 55.6 gallons of gas. That figures to 27.6 mpg, which is a bit better than the EPA estimate.
Average lifetime mpg: 27.1
EPA mpg rating: 27 combined
Average electric range: 13.3 miles
Best electric range: 21.4 miles
EPA electric range rating: 12 miles
Current odometer: 3,832 miles
Maintenance and Upkeep
None.
Logbook Highlights
Performance
"There shouldn't be range anxiety with a plug-in hybrid like our S E Countryman, but there is, and it's well after you run out of EV miles. The Countryman's fuel tank is so small that it would be hilarious if it weren't so detrimental to road trips. After the initial 12 miles of EV range has run out, the Countryman only has 9.5 gallons of fuel left.
"The small tank results from accommodating the electric drivetrain and batteries, and it essentially restricts you to 200-mile tanks on the open road. I was able to stretch it to about 260 miles on a recent road trip, but that's almost the limit. I'd be surprised to see a 300-mile tank even once over our year with the Mini. This thing just makes no sense for a road trip." — Travis Langness, staff writer
"Beyond compliance (and people who want to try to get a pass for the HOV lane), the electric system is almost useless for me on my daily commute. I commute 17 miles, and I think I only got 13 out of the fully charged battery when I took it home. I never plugged it in again because there really did not seem to be any point. You really have to love Mini's styling, in general, to plunk down this kind of change for the vehicle. To me, it feels a lot like driving around in a jukebox." — Abigail Bassett, senior director, video and social media
"The Mini EV has the best of intentions. But you just seem to give up a lot for 11 miles of EV range. If they wanted to make an EV for the sake of making one, well, mission accomplished. With a few full EVs that have decent range — Bolt, Leaf, Model 3 — the Mini's goals already seem antiquated. I also wish it would start in EV mode versus switching to it every time you start the car. And unless there's a mode to switch to, the regenerative braking also feels nonexistent. All of that together makes it seem like the electric aspect is an afterthought." — Rich Kuras, creative video strategist
Comfort
"For all the shade I've been throwing at this Mini, it's pretty good on the highway. There always seems to be a bit of extra EV juice in reserve to help with passing maneuvers and it's quiet on the inside. The ride quality is good, too, even over broken surfaces. It's too bad the seats are so heavily bolstered and the road trip range is so abysmal." — Travis Langness
Interior
"Even though it is a bigger Mini (oxymoron), it doesn't drive bigger. The Mini feels like a GTI with a good amount of pep, and it's great for darting through freeway traffic. Nothing feels cheap in the Countryman. The car is sturdy and has a lot of personality and a cool stylized interior. The ambient light reminds me of being on a Virgin flight and it makes me want to play trip hop.
"I do love the seating position. It's like an aggressive bus driver. You're seated nicely perched, but the crank on the seat adjust makes it seem like I'm changing a tire. And on a quick trip to Orange County, seating didn't get uncomfortable. But the overall ride seems too firm for something that's labeled as a crossover. It absorbs potholes the same way glass windows absorb a baseball. Each divot in the road that you hit stops a conversation, and your passengers wonder if something broke on the car. I'm half-expecting to see debris in my rearview mirror every time I hit some road holes. And L.A. roads and freeways are pretty damn bad, so that is constant. Compound that with tight suspension and overall zippiness, and you're going to get road-weary, car-sick passengers." — Rich Kuras
"At first, the Countryman's seats felt like they'd be excellent on a long trip. I drove the Mini around town for a few days and had no problems, but after 1,000 miles behind the wheel, I couldn't stand them any longer. The bolstering on the seat back is too thick and dense to leave me comfortable after 16 hours on the road. Maybe I'm just too wide, but these are definitely not the seats for me." — Travis Langness
"The nonadjustable seat-belt height on the driver's door is a real pet peeve for me in this Mini. With my preferred seating position, the seat belt is always rubbing on my neck, leaving those little lines on a long road trip. Next time I take the Mini out for an extended journey, I'm going to spring for one of those padded seat-belt wrappers." — Travis Langness
Miscellaneous
"I wonder how long Mini is going to keep it up with these tiny circular mirrors. I get the style statement, but they just don't give you much of a sense of what's going on behind you. I say they've committed a bit too long." — Travis Langness
Technology-Audio
"For some reason, the Sirius system in the car consistently cut out for five minutes at a time under all kinds of conditions: sunny, rainy, clear and overcast. And, no, I was not under an overpass or near tall buildings. I've never had that problem in other test cars." — Abigail Bassett
"I also hate that they have inverted the wheel from the iDrive system so that in my mind it works backward. I spent almost a week in the thing and still couldn't get it right." — Abigail Bassett
Monthly Update for April 2018
Where Did We Drive It?
In the last update, I commented that we weren't using our long-term 2018 Mini Countryman SE Hybrid in the intended manner. This is a short-range plug-in hybrid best used for short commutes and occasional longer trips. In the update, I stated that "as one of the few editors on staff within the 12-mile EPA-rated electric range, I would likely be able to achieve better results than my colleagues with much longer commutes."
April was put up or shut up time.
My apartment is a scant 2.7 miles from Edmunds HQ. I signed out the Mini starting April 3 and it remained in my care until the 30th. There were six days in the month where I was on assignment and I entrusted it to Josh Sadlier, whose commute is about 6.7 miles. I made a few trips that were well outside the electric-only range, but otherwise I commuted back and forth to the office with the typical short trips mixed in. The results were telling.
What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
In April, we logged 357 miles on the Mini's odometer but added only 6.3 gallons of gas. That figures to 56.5 mpg if you ignore the electricity we used.
We used nothing but electrons for 185.6 miles, which is more than half of the month's distance. We still had almost a half-tank of gasoline left over at the end of the month, too. The only reason I filled up was to conclude the monthlong experiment with some meaningful data.
Average true gasoline mpg: 27.1
EPA mpg rating: 27 combined
Average electric range: 16
Best electric range: 21.4 miles
EPA electric range rating: 12 miles
Current odometer: 4,353 miles
Maintenance and Upkeep
None.
Logbook Highlights
Performance
"The electrified Countryman is yet another BMW plug-in hybrid that lacks sauce in full EV mode. I previously noticed this in both the 740e and the 330e — keep the turbocharged gasoline out of the mix and acceleration can be downright ponderous, especially above 40 mph or so. More than anything, this reminds me of how awesome the Chevrolet Volt is for delivering robust acceleration no matter what mode you're in. Oh yeah, and it also gives you about 4.5 times the electric range of this Mini, if anyone's counting." — Josh Sadlier, senior manager, content strategy
MPG
"When we drive the Mini, or pretty much any plug-in hybrid, we do our best to note when the powertrain switches over from EV mode to internal combustion. Most hybrid displays will show all of the pertinent information, but the Mini requires you to look at two different displays and in some different menus. I think the engineers could have put all of the info on one screen since there's plenty of real estate. For a good example, I'd point them toward the Prius' dash since it shows what's going on with the drivetrain as well as all other metrics." — Mark Takahashi, senior writer
"This Mini PHEV isn't really great for gas or EV range. It compromises both and I'd rather just have the gas version. However, I think I've figured out a way to make it bearable for me: I go hybrid until I hit gridlock and then switch to pure EV mode. Being conscious of this 'game' made the commute pretty bearable. Now I'll just have to see what kind of actual range I get." — Rex Tokeshi-Torres, vehicle testing technician
"I spent a week driving our plug-in Mini on my daily commute, which covers about 7 miles each way. I don't have a charger at home, so I just charged the car up at Edmunds HQ every day. The idea was to use maximum EV mode as much as possible and see how far I could get. True to its estimated electric range of 12 miles, the Countryman never got me home and back without needing to turn on its gasoline engine. Between the limited range and limited acceleration, there's not a lot to be said for the EV aspect of this vehicle. Once the gas engine kicks in, however, it's a different story as the Countryman plug-in scoots along quite swiftly in hybrid mode, noticeably aided by the electric boost." — Josh Sadlier
Miscellaneous
"They need to move the EV switch farther away from the stop-start button. I accidentally hit that and not the EV switch. Whoops." — Rex Tokeshi-Torres
Maintenance
"As if the Mini knew we'd just pulled up to the charging station, it let out an 'Unable to Charge' alert before we even exited the car. Sure enough, it was accompanied by an ominous flashing red ring around the charge port.
"We gave the car some quiet time and returned 20 minutes later. The warning on the instrument cluster was still there when we opened the door but vanished upon starting the car. For now, this error remains at mogwai status. We'll report back if it changes." — Mike Schmidt, senior manager, vehicle testing
"I arrived at the test track and decided to inhale my In-N-Out Double-Double under the rear liftgate when I saw this little plastic bit in the cargo hold. 'That's an odd place for a bracket,' I thought, just before I realized it had popped off of the cargo cover. I might try to fix it myself when I get back in this car since I've got a pop rivet gun at home." — Mark Takahashi
Interior
"Here's a minor complaint. When you return the rear seats to their locked and upright position from being folded, they don't lock upright. They lock with a forward cant, far too forward for any human to be comfortable. Compounding this issue is the release strap located right at the hinge, making it either a two-hand operation or a really awkward crane with your elbow." — Mark Takahashi
Monthly Update for May 2018
Where Did We Drive It?
This was an "All Brent, All the Time" month for our 2018 Mini Cooper Countryman S E Hybrid. I had it for the entire month and drove it about 1,500 miles. That came about from two road trips to Northern California, including one to San Francisco with my family for Memorial Day, and a fair amount of city driving. Spending a month with the Countryman was a great way to learn its upsides and downsides.
What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
We've standardized the way we drive our Cooper Countryman S E Hybrid. We drive in all-electric mode and use up the hybrid battery pack first (assuming it has power) and then keep driving using regular hybrid operation. This way we can tell how many miles we drive on electricity and how many on gas.
For reasons detailed in the next section, though, I decided to spread out our Countryman's electric charge and didn't use it all up in the beginning of my drives. Alas, this messed with the way we keep track of the car's efficiency, so the economy results in May are a little different.
Miles driven: 1,534
Average fuel economy in May: 30.4 mpg*
EPA mpg rating: 27 mpg combined
Electricity used in May: 55.36 kWh
Current odometer: 6,037 miles
*Note that the 30.4 mpg figure isn't directly comparable to a typical car's mpg. It doesn't take into account my electricity use of 55.4 kWh. I measured the kWh usage at the source, which was a 110-volt power outlet at my house using the Mini's portable charging cable. It turns out that the electricity didn't cost much, though. In May, I was under my utility's lowest tier of usage, which is 21 cents per kWh. So I "spent" about $11.62 on electricity.
Overall, this was not an optimal month to showcase the Countryman S E's potential. I drove a bunch on the freeway and didn't charge it at every opportunity. A plug-in hybrid's fuel economy varies greatly based on how you drive and how often you're able to recharge. On one hand, I'm pleased about getting 30 mpg (with the help of some electricity) for what can potentially be a sporty little crossover wagon or SUV. But I also figure I would have gotten very similar fuel economy from a regular Countryman S All4, which is thousands of dollars cheaper, lighter and less complex.
Maintenance and Upkeep
None.
Logbook Highlights
Performance
"Our Countryman's performance capability depends on what mode is being utilized. When using its all-electric power, the experience is disappointing.
"The Mini displays green-colored bars in a gauge display similar to a tachometer. As you depress the accelerator, a needle moves up through the bars. If the needle passes the top bar, the gas engine switches on. So if you're trying to be green-minded, you need to keep the needle below the top bar. Alas, acceleration under electric motor power is lethargic.
"That's why I couldn't bring myself to drive our Countryman in pure electric mode a lot of the time. Switching to the Sport driving mode engages both power sources, even if you're not driving the Countryman aggressively. I'd use all-electric for heavy traffic situations, or if I was cruising around neighborhoods. Otherwise, I'd use Sport.
"With the gas engine fired up, this car becomes more like the Mini I'd expect. It's pretty quick when you fully mat the accelerator thanks to the combined power of the engine and electric motor. That turbocharged three-cylinder sounds kind of cool, too.
"I soon learned that there was a downside to this driving style, though. I realized that the Countryman S E will recharge its hybrid battery pack if the car is in Sport mode and the battery pack's charge is below 50 percent or so. Now, you might think: 'Oh neat, it recharges the battery for me!' But doing so greatly reduces fuel economy and is not an efficient way to charge the hybrid battery pack. Near as I can tell, there's no way to disable this auto-charging function.
"Plus, the 12-15 miles of all-electric range is just not enough. You're constantly having to plug in to make a difference. A little more power and three times more range would do wonders for making the Countryman S E more appealing. Other than the grabby brake pedal feel (it's hard to make consistently smooth stops), this is a fairly appealing hybrid to drive. Switching between gas and electric is barely noticeable, and the six-speed transmission's traditional shifting is more gratifying than the elasticlike, up-and-down rpm nature of most hybrid cars and their continuously variable automatic transmissions.
"One other note here: I'm not sold on the effectiveness of the S E's all-wheel-drive system. There was one occasion when I exited a car wash, made a turn and pushed on the accelerator. The rear tires were wet, as was the pavement. Because the Countryman was using electric power (the electric motor drives the rear wheels), the rear of the car temporarily lost traction and fishtailed. It wasn't cause for alarm, but it makes me wonder how effective the Countryman S E's AWD is compared to a more conventional system that can automatically and quickly apply power to the other wheels if the system detects a loss of traction. If it's running on electric, and the gas engine isn't fired up, I don't know of a way for the Countryman S E to get power to its front wheels." — Brent Romans, senior editor
Comfort
"Our Countryman S E's manually adjustable front seats are decently comfortable, and I didn't have any complaints after making various drives of about three to five hours long. The ride quality is also smooth enough to not cause problems. Less enjoyable is the noticeable road noise. On the drive to San Francisco with my family, I often found that I had a hard time hearing my kids seated in back, and vice versa." — Brent Romans
Utility
"Mini packaged the S E's hybrid components underneath the car by making the gas tank smaller. As such, there's almost as much cargo space as there is in any other Countryman: 17.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, compared to 17.6 in the others. For a three-day weekend trip to San Francisco with my wife and two children, it proved to be just enough. The two medium-size suitcases we brought fit in back (barely). It's a big Mini, but it's still mini as far as SUVs go." — Brent Romans
Monthly Update for June 2018
Where Did We Drive It?
After a month of "All Brent, All the Time," in which our 2018 Mini Cooper Countryman S E Hybrid spent the bulk of May at our Central California office with editor Brent Romans (and racked up many miles with two road trips and lots of local driving), we tried something different with the Mini in June: We made it an all-gasoline month.
That meant no recharging in the Edmunds HQ garage or at home. Just driving solely on the Mini's tiny 9.5-gallon fuel tank, which meant plenty of trips to the pump. Our driving was limited to local trips and office commuting, and we were pleasantly surprised by the results.
We also formed a few more impressions of the Mini's cargo utility and tech features.
What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
We usually follow a standardized way of driving the Mini electric hybrid, driving in all-electric mode until we consume the hybrid battery pack's charge, then continue driving on gas. Exhausting the battery pack isn't hard; it's only rated at 12 miles of electric-only range, although we've managed to extract more on a few occasions.
In June, we didn't bother with charging. Instead we wanted to see what kind of efficiency we could wring from the 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine. Turns out, you can wring from it about what the EPA says you should. We drove 1,154 miles and averaged 26.9 mpg in combined driving. The EPA estimate is 27 mpg combined. For comparison, the non-hybrid Countryman is rated at 25 mpg combined.
We filled up six times in June, averaging 192 miles of range per tank (farthest range, 237 miles; least, 147 miles).
Miles driven: 1,154
Average fuel economy in June: 26.9 mpg
EPA mpg rating: 27 mpg combined
Electricity used in June: 0
Current odometer: 7,191 miles
Maintenance and Upkeep
None.
Logbook Highlights
Comfort
"Driving at average freeway speeds, you definitely feel all of the bumps. This car might not be a great choice for people with back problems. The headrests lean really far forward. Luckily at 5-foot-5, I'm just short enough to not be too affected by it. If I was any taller, it would have been really uncomfortable." — Laurel Carden, social media manager
Interior
"Got all cozy in the fabulously well-bolstered driver's seat for the slog home and put my Edmunds tumbler full of water in the front cupholder. It didn't exactly fit but sat atop the cupholder insets. All was fine until I took a turn and the cupholder tumbled out of its tenuous hold, dumping water on the floor mat and my pants. Luckily it was just water and not hot coffee." — Kathleen Clonts, copy chief
"The oh-so-Mini ambient lighting really accentuates the center console display in the dark." — Kathleen Clonts
Utility
"This Mini's cargo capacity doesn't seem to be impacted much by the addition of the hybrid battery. I was able to fit two bicycles (not at the same time) into the cargo area with the seats folded down. First was a large-framed mountain bike. I had to remove the front wheel for it to fit. The second time I tried a medium-size road bike. The best part was that I didn't have to remove the wheel." — Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor
Technology
"I had a strange connected app error happen in our Mini. I gave the system permission to stream Amazon Music and Spotify, since those were natively supported apps. But once I did, it always wanted to play songs from Amazon. I switched to a podcast and a few seconds later the system wanted to play the Amazon song again. I got back into the car after running a few errands and despite force-closing the app, it started playing the Amazon Music again. This was so frustrating that I disabled the feature and went back to 'old-fashioned' Bluetooth audio." — Ron Montoya
"Discovered that the Mini won't show you the backup camera if the hatch is ajar. Somehow the hatch opened while I was parked in a grocery store lot as my husband ran inside to grab PopCorners (for the win). Maybe I hit the trunk release button, but I don't recall going anywhere near it. When I put the Countryman in reverse, an icon showing the open trunk popped up in the display instead of the amazingly clear backup camera feed." — Kathleen Clonts
Monthly Update for July 2018
Where Did We Drive It?
It's summer, and that usually means road trips. Kurt took our long-term 2018 Mini Countryman SE Hybrid for a spin around the Southwest, logging almost 1,800 miles. And Caroline took a quick trip to Disneyland. Other than that, it was commuting business as usual.
What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
Our Mini Countryman isn't well-suited for long road trips. As a plug-in hybrid with limited electric range, it's better as a city commuter. But Kurt's road trip improved our overall gasoline-only stats enough to beat the EPA combined estimate. In June, we were just 0.1 mpg shy.
All those miles put the Mini over the 30 mpg threshold for the month in combined driving, averaging 31.8 mpg through July.
Average true gasoline mpg: 28.5
EPA mpg rating: 27 mpg combined
Average electric range: 11.4 miles
Best electric range: 21.4 miles
EPA electric range rating: 12 miles
Current odometer: 9,195 miles
Maintenance and Upkeep
None.
Logbook Highlights
Performance
"The thing I love about driving an electric car is its smooth, quiet acceleration. And with the Mini, even after it switched over to gas mode, it still had that similarly smooth, quiet power. It wasn't super quick, but it didn't seem to accelerate all that differently from its EV mode." — Caroline Pardilla, senior copy editor
MPG
"Highway fuel economy is very dependent on speed. Cruising at or around 65-70 mph can get you a solid 35 mpg. But once the posted speed limits creep up to 75 or 80 in New Mexico and Texas, you'll be lucky to clear 30 mpg. That might seem kind of a no-brainer, but with a fuel tank as small as this SE Countryman's, you need all the highway mileage you can get." — Kurt Niebuhr, road test editor
"While I was driving our Mini to Disneyland (well, really to Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar to acquire a highly coveted Piranha tiki mug), I thought the 45-mile drive would quickly eat up the electric range. But the horrendous stop-and-go traffic really helped prolong the inevitable switchover, which didn't happen until I was more than halfway to my destination. Bonus was that the switchover wasn't jarring at all, but rather seamless with no detectable shudder or engine drone. If I didn't need to keep an eye on the switchover point to accurately log our fuel economy numbers, I wouldn't have known it happened." — Caroline Pardilla
Interior
"A distinctive feature of our Mini, or any Mini for that matter, is its chopped-down-looking greenhouse. Where that comes into play is on the open road, in full sun, where the low roofline and short side windows really help keep the sun out of the cabin. Even at well before, or well after high noon, the sun never made it across the dashboard and onto passengers. That keeps the cabin cooler and the passengers happier." — Kurt Niebuhr
Technology-Audio
"I rarely use a car's native navigation system because (1) I don't usually go anywhere I haven't been before, and (2) I like to know where I'm going and how I'm getting there before I leave. But I found the Mini's system really helpful for on-the-fly instructions, especially when it comes to lane choice for turning or exit ramps." — Kurt Niebuhr
Miscellaneous
"This Countryman is an American-size Mini. I saw one of these on a typically tight European boulevard recently, and it looked gigantic and bloated, completely out of place with all of the assorted Citroëns, VWs and Renaults. For example, here's our Mini parked next to a first-gen Highlander." — Kurt Niebuhr
Monthly Update for October 2018
Where Did We Drive It?
It's been a while since we've posted on the 2018 Mini Countryman S E Hybrid, so this update is a bit more robust than usual. For the most part, the Mini has been performing the typical commuting duties without any notable road trips, but we've still gathered some good input from the staff. We also had some maintenance performed.
What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
Since July, there's been very little change in the Countryman's overall fuel economy. Our average true gasoline fuel consumption has dropped 0.4 mpg. Despite this, we're still outperforming the EPA's combined estimate. Meanwhile, our best electric range has increased by 2 miles.
Average true gasoline mpg: 28.1
EPA mpg rating: 27 mpg combined
Average electric range: 12.3 miles
Best electric range: 23.4 miles
EPA electric range rating: 12 miles
Current odometer: 13,001 miles
Maintenance and Upkeep
None.
Logbook Highlights
Interior
"I generally hate chrome, but the Mini manages to pull off chrome accents with aplomb. There is no tackiness here." — Kathleen Clonts, copy chief
Technology
"As soon as I got ready to parallel park on a neighborhood street, I put the Mini in Reverse and ... no rearview camera. So disconcerting. I went ahead and parked without it. We'll see if it happens again." — Kathleen Clonts
"In the annoying UI category: The first time you lock the Countryman with the key fob, it gives you a visual signal (flashed lights). But if you're the sort, like me, who does it a second time just to make sure (or because you forgot whether you locked it), subsequent 'lock' events have no such visual signal. Maybe it's configurable, but it's definitely a confusing bit of interface. Why not just have the same visual signal each time the lock button is pressed?" — Kathleen Clonts
"You'd think it would be easy to properly power USB ports for people's various device-charging needs. The Mini's center-console USB port makes quick work of charging and takes less than an hour to charge an iPhone 8 Plus from 25 percent to 100 percent, even with multiple apps open and consuming energy. That's not the case with one of the Countryman's competitors, the Mazda CX-5, which hardly makes positive progress on my phone when Waze is running." — Kathleen Clonts
"Someone messed with the HUD settings in our Mini, which meant I couldn't use the steering-wheel controls to skip a song. Yep, because of the needlessly overcomplicated interface, if someone's unchecked 'Entertainment/Telephone' from the HUD Displayed Information menu, you get a message saying simply 'Not possible' when you try to skip a song with the steering wheel button.
"It doesn't help that I already hate the HUD in this car. Pop-up HUDs are already a poor substitute for proper windshield-projection units, and this one seems particularly bad. For whatever reason, the reflection moves much more than I'm accustomed to when I move my head around or change positions. The effective field of view is pretty limited." — Will Kaufman, content strategist and news editor
"Call me archaic, but I still have an iPod Touch to carry around as my jukebox. When using said iPod, I can scroll through all the music in my playlist when plugged in via USB in the Mini. Such a great feature. I wish they did this for everything." — Rex Tokeshi-Torres, vehicle testing technician
Maintenance
"Our Mini S E Countryman went in for service this week. Just a routine engine oil change and regular inspection. There was no cost due to the Countryman being on a complimentary maintenance plan. On a side note, the Mini service department had the coolest delivery elevator." — Rex Tokeshi-Torres
"At the dealer, we also had some service bulletin/recall items handled. They included:
Missing Fuel Pump Crash Protection Plate
Without the crash protection plate, in the event of a crash, the fuel pump can become damaged, causing a fuel leak and increasing the risk of a fire.
NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V557000
Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Potential Number of Units Affected: 9,953
Summary
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Mini Cooper Countryman vehicles. These vehicles may be missing a crash protection plate near the high-pressure fuel pump, which may result in a fuel leak in the event of a crash.
Remedy
Mini will notify owners, and dealers will install a crash protection plate, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 15, 2018. Owners may contact Mini customer service at 1-866-825-1525.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
More info here." — Mike Schmidt, senior manager, vehicle testing operations
Monthly Update for December 2018
Where Did We Drive It?
It's time to say goodbye to our long-term 2018 Mini Countryman S E Hybrid. Judging by the results and comments, it won't be missed by the staff. It didn't get to the targeted 20,000 miles for the 12 months in the fleet, and for most staffers, the EV range didn't fit their commutes. The Countryman spent a week with Brent Romans in Central California, but that didn't help matters since he is without a home charger. Also not helping much is the fact that the Mini had to go back to the dealer for some maintenance issues.
I have the shortest commute of all and the hybrid Mini most certainly worked for me, but I can see how its limitations soured my colleagues' impression of it. Besides the bonkers hypercars from AMG, McLaren and Porsche, I think the hybrid Countryman if one of the most entertaining hybrids out there.
What Kind of Fuel Economy Did It Get?
Since our last update for October, there hasn't been much activity or movement in results. Only 1,347 miles added to the odometer and the average true mpg is unaffected. The average electric range dipped from 12.3 miles to 12, too.
Average true gasoline mpg: 28.1
EPA mpg rating: 27 combined
Average electric range: 12 miles
Best electric range: 23.4 miles
EPA electric range rating: 12 miles
Current odometer: 14,348 miles
Maintenance
"We recently had the Mini in for routine service last month. As of this entry, it was only a few days ago. Now the check engine light (CEL) is on. I wonder why." — Rex Tokeshi-Torres, vehicle testing technician
"Took the Mini into service yesterday. The check engine light (CEL) issue has been resolved, and our friendly service person contacted us to let us know the happy news. What was the fault? It seems that the fuel tank vent valve was defective (along with the venturi nozzle). They replaced both parts and performed system checks to make sure that everything was taken care of. With that handled, we can safely be on our way with no CEL bugging us." — Rex Tokeshi-Torres
"Back to the Mini service department we go! The check engine light is back on and I have no idea why. My hunch is it could be related to the last issue: something to do with the fuel filler area. I promptly called up our friendly neighborhood service adviser, and she apologetically had me come in to drop off the car. They know me by face now. It's not their fault. They didn't build the car. Let's see what the problem is. *start rant* I have to say, it's really frustrating. This check engine light has come on three times during our time with this vehicle. I've already viewed this plug-in Countryman as a thing with many compromises but having reliability issues and things like this pop up a couple of times in one month can get really annoying. *rant over* Let's see if my hunch is correct."
"Picked the Mini back up from service today. Was supposed to yesterday but our service adviser called me to tell me that they were going to run more tests on our Mini because of something that came up and drive it for an additional 50 miles to make sure that the check engine light is remedied. I figured if it gets rid of that infernal light, please go ahead.
"After picking up the car, our adviser and I had a good conversation about the vehicle and how I liked it, etc. I told her that aside from the compromise in gas range (sacrificed for the EV battery), lack of EV range (again, there's a gas tank in this vehicle), and the constant check engine light, I liked it just fine. Maybe the vehicle just likes being in the service bay. Who knows? After a couple of minutes casually chatting, we talked about the issue that had our Countryman head back to them.
"Remember when I had a hunch that it was related to the fuel fill area? It seems like that was the case. This time it was a defective shutoff purge valve. For your reference, the shutoff purge valve controls the amount of fuel vapor that is vented/let out. The usual issue is that the valve either partially closes or doesn't close at all. That's when it trips the check engine light. When your vehicle is off, the purge valve should be closed. They replaced the valve, tested the unit, then drove the car to make sure that everything works as it should.
"I thanked her and her service team for doing their due diligence in this matter and then set off into the sunset. So far, so good. No check engine light. I'm crossing my fingers and toes that it doesn't come back soon." — Rex Tokeshi-Torres
Performance
"I've discovered that the Countryman S E has a built-in generator capability. I suppose this isn't a big surprise. But what is surprising (at least to me) is the variability of when it activates.
"The gas engine normally stays off until the battery capacity drops to about 6 or 7 percent. It then stays that way if you're driving using the normal Drive mode. But if you switch to the manual gear-shifting mode or the Sport mode, the generator starts charging the battery to a higher level. There are limits, though I'm not entirely sure what they are. It might be around 25 percent capacity for manual shifting mode or more for the Sport mode.
"What this means is you can partially charge up the battery while you're driving. I'm sure it's not a very efficient way to do it compared to using the charging port and an external power plug, though." — Brent Romans, senior editor, written content
Miscellaneous
"The lack of all-electric range is a deal-killer for me. In order to make the most of the Mini's plug-in nature, you constantly have to look for opportunities to recharge. It's almost comical how quickly you run out of electric power. It would be great if Mini could figure out a way to give the Countryman S E a bigger battery and 25-30 miles of electric range. As it is, I'd rather own something like a Chevy Volt or a Hyundai Niro Plug-In." — Brent Romans
"Even though I'm not fond of the S E version of the Countryman, it's still evident that the Countryman in general is a pretty enjoyable vehicle. Mostly, I like that it's an antidote to all other bland crossover SUVs out there. It's fun to drive, of course, and there are many ways to customize its styling to make it yours. Heck, Mini even offers a manual transmission. Not even BMW is doing that these days for its similar X2 crossover." — Brent Romans
"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that our staff didn't like the Countryman Hybrid. It didn't even rack up 15,000 miles during its yearlong stay with us, and we try to put at least 20,000 miles on our long-term testers. In fact, the Countryman is the first non-EV in the past five years (and possibly longer) to exit a 12-month test with fewer than 17,000 miles on the odometer." — Cameron Rogers, reviews editor
Wrap-Up
What We Got
Throughout its 60-year history, the Mini name has been synonymous with small cars that offer superb handling and a ton of personality. Mini flipped the script in 2011 when it introduced the Countryman, which, depending on your angle, is either a tall wagon or a small crossover.
We weren't sure if Mini could translate its traditional strengths to a larger package, but the Countryman's fun-to-drive character proved us wrong. We wanted to see if lightning could strike twice with the Countryman's redesign, so we added the new model to our wish list.
But which one to order? The 2017 Countryman carried forward in the previous model's Cooper and Cooper S trims. And from our previous test, we thought the more powerful Cooper S was the one to get. We placed our order for a Cooper S with all kinds of cool features, including three major option packages and a white color scheme with black stripes. You should have seen it.
We waited months. But it turned out that our spec was so cool that a dealer had bought and sold our car. Mini didn't want to leave us in the lurch and instead offered another vehicle: the newly released 2018 Countryman Cooper S E. Motivated by Mini's first-ever hybrid powertrain and all-wheel drive, this plug-in hybrid promised Cooper S-level performance with the base Cooper's fuel efficiency. Intrigued by the new powertrain, we added the S E to our fleet.
After a year, our impressions were mixed. We appreciated the Countryman's greater sense of space, with a cabin large enough to comfortably fit four adults. Thanks to the extra boost afforded by the battery pack, acceleration from the turbocharged three-cylinder is quick. In a 0-60 mph drag race, the hybrid beats the Cooper S' turbocharged four-cylinder by a hair. Interior materials were also substantially nicer than those found in other cars in the class.
But a number of hybrid-specific drawbacks made us question the Cooper S E's appeal. The 7.6-kWh battery pack affords just 12 miles of electric-only range and is too small to qualify for carpool lane stickers. Total range also suffers since the electric components necessitate a smaller gas tank.
The brakes are poorly tuned — mushy at high speeds and grabby at low speeds when the braking force switches from regenerative to friction braking. Finally, the price tag is eye-watering. The Countryman is expensive compared to other small crossovers, and the hybrid is even more so. Our tester offered only a handful of options, yet cost $40,000. A similarly equipped Cooper S model costs thousands less.
Read on for more impressions of our long-term 2018 Mini Countryman Hybrid.
Performance
"Acceleration under electric motor power is lethargic, which is why I couldn't bring myself to drive our Countryman in pure electric mode a lot of the time. Switching to the Sport driving mode engages both power sources, even if you're not driving the Countryman aggressively. With the gas engine fired up, this car becomes more like the Mini I'd expect. It's pretty quick when you fully mat the accelerator thanks to the combined power of the engine and electric motor. That turbocharged three-cylinder sounds kind of cool, too." — Brent Romans, senior editor
"I spent a week driving our plug-in Mini on my daily commute, which covers about 7 miles each way. I don't have a charger at home, so I just charged the car up at Edmunds HQ every day. The idea was to use maximum EV mode as much as possible and see how far I could get. True to its estimated electric range of 12 miles, the Countryman never got me home and back without needing to turn on its gasoline engine. Between the limited range and limited acceleration, there's not a lot to be said for the EV aspect of this vehicle. Once the gas engine kicks in, however, it's a different story as the Countryman plug-in scoots along quite swiftly in hybrid mode, noticeably aided by the electric boost." — Josh Sadlier, senior manager, content strategy
"Other than the grabby brake pedal feel (it's hard to make consistently smooth stops), this is a fairly appealing hybrid to drive. Switching between gas and electric is barely noticeable, and the six-speed transmission's traditional shifting is more gratifying than the elastic-like, up-and-down rpm nature of most hybrid cars and their continuously variable automatic transmissions." — Brent Romans
MPG
"Putting aside the paltry 12-mile EV range, I'd say you've got about 240 miles of real-world highway range in this thing before it's time to refuel. Two simple reasons for that: 1) the 9.5-gallon gas tank is really small (other Countryman models get a 16.1-gallon tank), and 2) the plug-in Mini's EPA combined rating of 27 miles per gallon isn't great, especially for a hybrid. Notably, the Countryman S All4 gets a nearly identical 26 mpg combined rating from the EPA, which means it should be able to crest 400 highway miles on a single tank. It'll also cost you less up front and accelerate at roughly the same rate. In sum, unless that 12-mile EV range is going to be a game-changer somehow in your life, it's hard to make the argument for this Mini." — Josh Sadlier
"The small fuel tank results from accommodating the electric drivetrain and batteries, and it essentially restricts you to 200-mile tanks on the open road. I was able to stretch it to about 260 miles on a recent road trip, but that's almost the limit. I'd be surprised to see a 300-mile tank even once over our year with the Mini. This thing makes no sense for a road trip." — Travis Langness, reviews editor
"Highway fuel economy is very dependent on speed. Cruising at or around 65-70 mph can get you a solid 35 miles per gallon. But once the posted speed limits creep up to 75 or 80 in New Mexico and Texas, you'll be lucky to clear 30 mpg. That might seem kind of a no-brainer, but with a fuel tank as small as this S E Countryman's, you need all the highway mileage you can get." — Kurt Niebuhr, vehicle test editor
Comfort
"Our Countryman S E's manually adjustable front seats are decently comfortable, and I didn't have any complaints after making various drives of about three to five hours long. The ride quality is also smooth enough not to cause problems." — Brent Romans
"At first, the Countryman's seats felt like they'd be excellent on a long trip. I drove the Mini around town for a few days and had no problems, but after 1,000 miles behind the wheel, I couldn't stand them any longer. The bolstering on the seatback is too thick and dense to leave me comfortable after 16 hours on the road. Maybe I'm just too wide, but these are definitely not the seats for me." — Travis Langness
"The overall ride seems too firm for something that's labeled as a crossover. It absorbs potholes the same way a glass window absorbs a baseball. Each divot in the road that you hit stops a conversation, and your passengers wonder if something broke on the car. I'm half-expecting to see debris in my rearview mirror every time I hit some road holes. This seems constant over L.A.'s poorly paved roads and freeways. Compound that with a sporty suspension, and you're going to get road-weary, car-sick passengers." — Rich Kuras, creative video strategist
Cargo Space
"The Countryman hybrid's cargo capacity doesn't seem to be impacted much by the addition of the battery pack. I was able to fit two bicycles (not at the same time) into the cargo area with the seats folded down. First was a large-framed mountain bike. I had to remove the front wheel for it to fit. The second time I tried a medium-size road bike. The best part was that I didn't have to remove the wheel on this one." — Ron Montoya, senior consumer advice editor
"Mini packaged the S E's hybrid components underneath the car by making the gas tank smaller. As such, there's almost as much cargo space as there is in any other Countryman: 17.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, compared to 17.6 in the others. For a three-day weekend trip to San Francisco with my wife and two children, it proved to be just enough. The two medium-size suitcases we brought fit in back (barely). It's a big Mini, but it's still mini as far as SUVs go." — Brent Romans
Interior
"A distinctive feature on our Mini, or any Mini for that matter, is its chopped-down-looking greenhouse. Where that comes into play is on the open road, in full sun, where the low roofline and short side windows really help keep the sun out of the cabin. Even at well before or well after high noon, the sun never made it across the dashboard and onto passengers. That keeps the cabin cooler and the passengers happier." — Kurt Niebuhr
"When you return the rear seats to their locked and upright position from being folded, they don't lock upright. They lock with a forward cant, far too forward for any human to be comfortable. Compounding this issue is the release strap located right at the hinge, making it either a two-hand operation or a really awkward crane with your elbow." — Mark Takahashi, senior reviews editor
"I generally hate chrome, but the Mini manages to pull off chrome accents with aplomb. There is no tackiness here." — Kathleen Clonts, copy chief
Audio and Technology
"I rarely use a car's native navigation system because 1) I don't usually go anywhere I haven't been before, and 2) I like to know where I'm going and how I'm getting there before I leave. But I found the Mini's system really helpful for on-the-fly instructions, especially when it comes to lane choice for turning or exit ramps." — Kurt Niebuhr
"You'd think it would be easy to properly power USB ports for people's various device-charging needs. The Mini's center-console USB port makes quick work of charging and takes less than an hour to charge an iPhone 8 Plus from 25 percent to 100 percent, even with multiple apps open. That's not the case with one of the Countryman's competitors, the Mazda CX-5, which hardly makes positive progress on my phone when Waze is running." — Kathleen Clonts
"For being a 'green' car, our Mini plug-in doesn't do a good job of communicating its stats up front. Need to see what your average fuel economy is? It's buried under three menu screens. Want to know how long it will take to charge the battery? Don't bother looking anywhere in the car, the charge status (also buried under three menus) only tells you when the charging is complete.
"People who buy EVs and hybrids are into these things. They love to see how they can improve the numbers and tell their friends about the awesome mileage they got. Other plug-ins surface this information much better. On the Mini, it seems like an afterthought." — Ron Montoya
Maintenance
"Our Mini S E Countryman went in for service this week. Just a routine engine oil change and regular inspection. There was no cost due to the Countryman being on a complimentary maintenance plan." — Rex Tokeshi-Torres, vehicle testing technician
"Back to the Mini service department we go! The check engine light is back on, and I have no idea why or what it could be. My hunch is it could be related to the last issue: something to do with the fuel filler area ...
"... Picked the Mini back up from service today. Was supposed to yesterday, but our service adviser called to tell me that they were going to run more tests on our Mini because of something that came up, then drive it for an additional 50 miles to make sure that the check engine light is remedied. I figured, if it gets rid of that infernal light, please go ahead.
"Remember when I had a hunch that it was related to the fuel fill area? It seems like that was the case. This time it was a defective shut-off purge valve. For your reference, the shut-off purge valve controls the amount of fuel vapor that is vented/let out. The usual issue is that the valve either partially closes or doesn't close at all. That's when it trips the check engine light. When your vehicle is off, the purge valve should be closed. They replaced the valve, tested the unit, then drove the car to make sure that everything works as it should." — Rex Tokeshi-Torres
Miscellaneous
"In the annoying user interface category: The first time you lock the Countryman with the key fob, it gives you a visual signal (flashed lights). But if you're the sort, like me, who does it a second time just to make sure (or because you forgot whether you locked it), subsequent 'lock' events have no such visual signal. Maybe it's configurable, but it's definitely a confusing bit of interface. Why not just have the same visual signal each time the lock button is pressed?" — Kathleen Clonts
"They need to move the electric driving switch farther away from the stop-start button. I accidentally hit that and not the EV switch. Whoops." — Rex Tokeshi-Torres
"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that our staff didn't like the Countryman Hybrid. It didn't even rack up 15,000 miles during its yearlong stay with us, and we try to put at least 20,000 miles on our long-term testers. In fact, the Countryman is the first non-EV in the past five years (and possibly longer) to exit a 12-month test with fewer than 17,000 miles on the odometer." — Cameron Rogers
Maintenance & Repairs
Regular Maintenance:
The Countryman S E has a performance-based maintenance minder, and ours triggered around the 11,500-mile mark. Though we often take a long-term vehicle to service multiple times over its life with us, the Countryman's popularity — or lack thereof — meant we only went once. The service was a simple oil change and multipoint inspection, and it cost us nothing thanks to Mini's three-year, 36,000-mile complimentary maintenance program.
Service Campaigns:
We were informed of a recall affecting certain 2017-2019 Countryman models that were missing a fuel pump protection plate (NHTSA campaign number: 18V557000). Our Countryman was not one of the roughly 10,000 units affected by the recall.
Fuel Economy and Resale Value
Observed Fuel Economy:
The EPA rates the Countryman at 27 mpg combined. We beat this estimate with an average of 28.1 mpg over 13,476 gas-only miles. Our best gas-only fill was a lofty 37.6 mpg, which is tremendous given the performance potential.
The Countryman is rated at 12 miles of electric-only range from a full charge, which we matched over 867 miles driven solely on electricity. At 23.4 miles, our best electric-only range was nearly double our average.
Our best overall range on a single charge and tank of gas was 357.2 miles.
Resale and Depreciation:
Our 2018 Mini Countryman S E stickered for $40,000. Over the course of a year, we added 14,348 miles to the odometer. In this condition, Edmunds TMV calculator valued the Countryman at $29,689 based on a private-party sale.
That works out to 25.8 percent depreciation, which is worse than our fleet average of 22 percent. Factor in the fact that most of our cars rack up more than 20,000 miles, and the Countryman's depreciation looks especially grim.
Summing Up
Pros:
The Countryman's high-quality interior sets it immediately apart from other pint-size crossovers, and there's no denying its class-leading driving dynamics.
Cons:
With limited electric range, reduced total range and a sky-high price tag, there are few reasons to consider this plug-in hybrid.
Bottom Line:
The Countryman is an exceptional vehicle, even though it costs substantially more than others in its size class. But save a few bucks and go with the Cooper S, which offers the same level of performance with none of the hybrid's drawbacks.
| Total Body Repair Costs: | None |
| Total Routine Maintenance Costs: | None (over 12 months) |
| Additional Maintenance Costs: | None |
| Warranty Repairs: | 2 |
| Non-Warranty Repairs: | 0 |
| Scheduled Dealer Visits: | 1 |
| Unscheduled Dealer Visits: | 2 |
| Days Out of Service: | 3 |
| Breakdowns Stranding Driver: | 0 |
| EPA Fuel Economy Rating: | 27 mpg |
| Best Fuel Economy: | 37.6 mpg |
| Worst Fuel Economy: | 21 mpg |
| Average Fuel Economy: | 28.1 mpg |
| EPA Electric Range Rating: | 12 mpg |
| Best Electric Range: | 23.4 mpg |
| Average Electric Range: | 12 mpg |
| Best Overall Range (Single Charge): | 357.2 miles |
| True Market Value at Service End: | $29,689 (private-party sale) |
| Depreciation: | $10,311 (25.8% of paid price or original MSRP) |
| Final Odometer Reading: | 14,348 miles |
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.