Family-friendly and comfortable in the town or country, the Countryman is a great allrounder, says expert car reviewer Andrew Frankel
MINI COUNTRYMAN COOPER D
This model from £19,370
Mini is now one of the most coveted brands in the world, and the Countryman by far its most family friendly model. The car itself is spacious, fun to drive, frugal in diesel form and guaranteed to get you noticed. However, its greatest appeal lies in the almost inexhaustible number of options you have to tailor it to you own lifestyle needs.
At a basic level, there’s the option of four-wheel drive to consider, but the sheer scope of what’s actually possible becomes clear once you’ve looked online at Mini’s bewildering array of customisation options for the car. You can have something tiny and cosmetic, such as a Union flag painted on the backs of the exterior mirrors, or something that transforms how the car can be used, such as a range of different racks depending on whether you’re carrying skis, surfboards or bicycles. Indeed, a simple search revealed 152 different accessories to be fixed, painted, bolted or snapped on to your Countryman.
Get family breakdown cover today with the RAC.
Performance
- Engine: 1596cc, 112bhp
- Top speed: 115mph
- 0-60mph acceleration: 10.9sec
Costs
- Claimed economy: 64.2mpg
- Insurance Group: 18 (1=low, 50=high)
