Although we usually cover our own travel costs, in this case that was not an option; flights and two nights' accommodation on this trip to Portland were paid for by Mini.

Mini: an adjective "denoting a miniature version of something." When you think of the word in conjunction with cars, the small city car springs to mind. Perhaps it's not quite a description one associates with the crossover or SUV, but those are the vehicles that consumers are demanding, which is why we traveled to Portland, Oregon, to try out the all-new 2017 Mini Cooper Countryman. It's the biggest Mini ever—more of a Maxi, really—but it's also the most practical car in Mini's range. What's more, it's fun to drive, something that can't be said of most of the breed, and a plug-in hybrid version is even on the way, although we won't see that until June.

Jonathan Gitlin





Jonathan Gitlin











A mini-history of time

Way back in the mists of time—OK, 1959 to be accurate—the British Motor Corporation and Sir Alec Issigonis revealed a car that would have a far-reaching effect on the industry. That car was the Mini, and Issigonis's genius was in mounting the four-cylinder engine transversely—i.e. at 90-degrees to the car's longitudinal axis—and having it drive the front wheels. The Mini was the very first mass-production car to use that layout, and its inherent packaging advantages were so obvious that, today, there's a better-than-even chance the car you drive has the same layout.

The original Mini was in production until 2000, by which point it was hopelessly anachronistic and a four-wheeled deathtrap should it hit anything larger than a rabbit. By then, the car was being built by Rover, which was itself owned by BMW. BMW divested itself of most of Rover around that same time but hung on to the Mini name. It relaunched Mini as a standalone brand in 2001; the cars were still petite but much larger than the ur-Mini. Since then, BMW has grown the range, which is now in its third generation. There are convertibles, coupes, a five-door hatchback, and this car, the Mini Cooper Countryman.

This is actually the second generation Countryman to leave Mini's UK factory (ignoring the original 1960-69 version). And it has grown as it has evolved: the new Countryman is 8.1 inches (20.6cm) longer and 5.4 inches (13.7cm) wider than before. Despite that time in the gym, it's still no behemoth and is shorter than just about every other small crossover on the market. The extra volume has been put to good use, giving the rear seats more leg and shoulder room.

The mechanical bits

The Countryman is available in front- or all-wheel drive and comes with a choice of engines. The 134hp (100kW) Cooper Countryman (starting at $26,100) gets a 1.5L three-cylinder turbocharged engine, closely related to the one we love in the BMW i8. Go for the Cooper S Countryman (starting at $30,600) and you get a 2.0L four-cylinder turbocharged engine with 189hp (140kW).

Both models give you a choice of transmissions. The Cooper has either a six-speed manual, a six-speed automatic, or (in the case of the AWD version) an eight-speed automatic. The Cooper S, on the other hand, gets either a six-speed manual (only in the AWD variant), an eight-speed automatic, or an eight-speed sport automatic that comes with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. The AWD system is a Haldex-type, with a propshaft from the front differential to the rear wheels, controlled by a clutch.

Those transmissions are all built by Aisin, which also provides the six-speed automatic in the BMW i8. Mini told us that the six-speed manual is actually the same gearbox used in the Lotus Evora.

Perhaps the most interesting Mini Countryman is a variant that wasn't ready for us to drive in Portland. Arriving later this year, it couples the 1.5L three-cylinder engine—driving the front wheels—with an 87hp (65kW) electric motor that powers the rear wheels. Details about this hybrid remain scarce on the ground, but Mini says to expect Cooper S-levels of performance and up to 75mph (120km/h) on electric power alone. The company also claimed that it will be the cheapest plug-in hybrid on the market when it goes on sale.