2016 MINI Cooper Countryman Review

Other than minor revisions to optional packages, the 2016 Mini Cooper Countryman returns unchanged.

The 2016 Mini Cooper Countryman is one of the most distinctive and entertaining small crossover wagons out there. It's hardly the most practical option in this price range, though, as other crossovers boast more room and comfort.

When this squared-off little crossover with unmistakable Mini styling cues debuted a few years back, it came as a relief to everyone who used to grumble: "If only that Mini Cooper were a little bit bigger!" Although it's still a pint-sized vehicle by crossover SUV standards, the 2016 Mini Countryman still offers the practicality of four doors and an adult-sized backseat without giving up the charm that drew people to the Mini brand in the first place. The Countryman's elevated ride height and available all-wheel drive also shoot down another potential "if only" for shoppers in snowy climes.

There are newer crossover rivals to consider, but none can match the 2016 Countryman's quirky curb appeal.

Behind the Countryman's rear seatbacks, you'll find about twice the luggage space of the automaker's regular Cooper hatchback, notwithstanding the latter's growth spurt in current third-generation form. Although the standard 121-horsepower engine is pretty feeble, the spicier S and John Cooper Works (JCW) models feature strong turbocharged engines that we recommend stepping up to. The Countryman's sport-oriented suspension delivers the responsive handling you'd expect from a model wearing the Mini badge, albeit at the cost of the usual cushy crossover ride quality. As with all Mini models, the options list is long and deep, offering a seemingly endless array of customization possibilities.

If you're after a smooth ride and a truly spacious interior, we'd suggest looking at more traditional small crossovers like the 2016 Ford Escape or 2016 Mazda CX-5, which still handle quite well when pushed. Is your heart still set on a Mini? In that case, don't miss the all-new 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman, which now has four proper doors and lacks only the Countryman's commanding ride height and optional AWD. If you're prepared to spring for the top-of-the-line Countryman, you might also consider the all-new 2016 BMW X1. But for classic Mini character in a roomy, all-season package, the 2016 Mini Cooper Countryman is bound to hit the spot.

Under the hood, the entry-level version of the 2016 Mini Cooper Countryman gets a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine that produces 121 hp and 114 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, while a six-speed automatic is available as an option, with power flowing to the front wheels either way.

Mini estimates that the base Countryman accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 9.8 seconds with a manual transmission and 10.9 seconds with an automatic, which is subpar for a small wagon or crossover in this price range. On the other hand, according to EPA estimates, the manual base Countryman gets a laudable 29 mpg combined (27 city/32 highway); with the automatic, fuel economy drops a bit to 27 mpg combined (25/30).

Whichever engine you choose in the 2016 Countryman, you can have that rarest of features among compact crossovers: a manual transmission.

For more satisfying performance, you can move up to the Cooper S Countryman, which uses a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder that delivers 181 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive comes on the Cooper S ALL4 version. The same two transmissions are available with either configuration.

In Edmunds testing, a manual Cooper S ALL4 accelerated from zero to 60 mph in a much more engaging 7.6 seconds.

EPA-estimated fuel economy for the Cooper S Countryman is virtually unchanged with this gutsier powertrain. A front-wheel-drive Cooper S is rated at 29 mpg combined (26/32) with the manual transmission, and the automatic version gets 28 mpg combined (25/32). Fuel economy drops slightly with ALL4: 27 mpg combined (25/31) for the manual and 26 combined (23/30) for the automatic.

The John Cooper Works model raises the performance ante further with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder that generates 208 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive is standard. In Edmunds testing, a JCW Countryman with the automatic reached 60 mph in 7 seconds flat. Fuel economy ratings are the same as for the Countryman S ALL4 model.

The 2016 Mini Cooper Countryman's list of standard safety equipment includes antilock disc brakes, stability control, front seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and a front-passenger knee airbag. Dynamic traction control is standard on the S and JCW models and optional on the base Countryman. Rear parking sensors are optional.

In Edmunds brake testing, a Countryman S stopped from 60 mph in 117 feet, which is excellent for a small wagon. The John Cooper Works Countryman was even better at 112 feet.

In safety tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Countryman earned the top rating of "Good" in the moderate-overlap and small-overlap frontal-offset crash tests, as well as in the side-impact, roof-strength and head restraints/seats (whiplash protection) tests.

The 2016 Mini Cooper Countryman may be the big one in the family, but it shares many of its smaller relatives' endearing traits. With its higher center of gravity, it'll never feel as quick and nimble as a Mini two-door hatchback, but the responsive handling and precise steering still make it plenty fun to drive. The ride quality may be too firm for some people's taste, however, especially with the amped-up JCW suspension tune.

The 2016 Countryman is a hoot to drive, but the base engine is a bit of a drag. We recommend one of the turbocharged options

In the acceleration department, the 121-hp engine in the base model simply lacks the power to authoritatively move the Countryman along. All but the most price-conscious buyer should consider the more powerful turbocharged engine in the S model. As an added incentive, the Cooper S model with the automatic even earns a higher EPA combined fuel economy rating than the base engine with the same transmission.

Buyers looking to extract maximum performance from their Countryman will appreciate the extra oomph delivered by the John Cooper Works model's 208-hp engine. Ultimately, this model's principal downside is a price tag that's right up there with bigger and more powerful models like the BMW X1.

Inside the 2016 Mini Cooper Countryman you'll find seating that's much roomier than in the hardtop hatchback. The rear seat feels positively cavernous by comparison, and it slides and reclines for greater comfort. Until the arrival of the second-generation Cooper Clubman, the Countryman was the only Mini model that could carry four 6-footers in genuine comfort. That's still a strong selling point given how cramped the Countryman's size peers tend to be.

The Countryman's cargo capacity isn't a strong suit by segment standards.

When it comes to cargo capacity, there are 42.2 cubic feet of space available with the Countryman's split-folding rear seatbacks folded down. With the seatbacks in place and the seats slid back all the way, storage shrinks dramatically, though it should still be enough for a grocery run. Either way, the Countryman's cargo hold is noticeably less spacious than other small crossovers; it's the price you pay for the car's tiny footprint.

From an aesthetic standpoint, the Countryman's interior is pure Mini, with all the distinctive elements made famous by the previous-generation lineup, including the oversized center-mounted speedometer and the shiny toggle switches. The downside, of course, is that the functionality of this layout often leaves something to be desired. The current, third-generation Mini cars have overhauled interiors with relatively straightforward ergonomics and improved materials, so the Countryman is a throwback, for better or worse.