LET’S GO!
Whatever you’re planning for 2021, the new MINI Countryman has adventure at its core. It’s also a versatile, high performer with great looks, writes Paul Agnew. Photography: Roger Moore
Hands up if you fancy an adventure in 2021 – the chance to pack more into your life? After so many stop-start months, we all need to unshackle ourselves from restriction and drive things forward.
So, if you’re onboard with the quest for greater freedom and more fun, take a closer look at the ‘new’ MINI Countryman – a compact, luxury motor with adventure at its very core.
The original MINI Countryman SUV was the first vehicle of its type to be launched by BMW under the MINI marque, back in 2010. With a facelift or two along the way it has certainly stood the test of time.
But this is the ‘new’ MINI Countryman, the biggest (4.3 metres long) and most versatile member of the MINI family, now with an updated design, additions to the equipment range and some truly innovative technology. Space, versatility, functionality and ride comfort – you’ll find it all right here.
Choose from 134bhp and 176bhp petrol engines, a 176bhp diesel and a 217bhp plug-in hybrid. The latter combines a three-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor, emits just 40g/km of CO2 and returns upwards of 166mpg in official tests. It also features four-wheel drive and can travel for up to 38 miles using electric power alone – so the school run or weekday commute might not require the use of petrol!
There are seven model variants and highlights galore. Take the distinctive front design with newly-designed radiator grille, LED headlights and LED fog lights now as standard, LED rear lights in a Union Jack design, new body finishes including the spectacular Piano Black exterior option, light alloy wheels, new digital dash display with 5-inch colour screen, 8.8-inch information screen, new range of leather trims and interior surfaces and an extended range of original MINI accessories.
Externally, the front section has a precisely modified design with the new structure of the bumper covering, now entirely in body finish, ensuring a clear-cut and high-quality appearance. The redesigned radiator grille has the signature hexagonal contours and is surrounded by a slim, one-piece chrome frame.
Adaptive LED headlights with variable light distribution and matrix function for high beam are available, providing bend lighting which automatically adapts to the traffic and weather conditions. The headlights also feature an automatic selective dip function for the high beam, which can be activated and deactivated independently of each other and adapted to the situation on the road at speeds of over 43mph.
A re-designed bumper trim adds to the contemporary look and upright rear lights with a chrome frame pay homage to the origins of the British brand. Personal choices are limitless. It’s a case of create your own car. There are also two new body colours – White Silver metallic and Sage Green metallic.
The aforementioned and eye-catching ‘Piano Black’ exterior option allows for a high-gloss black finish on the headlight surrounds, rear lights, radiator grille and side scuttles, door handles and the model lettering on the luggage compartment lid. Additional identification features in high-gloss black are available from the range of Original MINI Accessories, including the MINI logo and the Cooper S and ALL4 inscriptions in Piano Black. Matching exterior mirror caps and side scuttles with a grey-black flag pattern in Night Jack are also available for retrofit.
You can have alloy wheels in 16, 17 or 19-inch and, with three fully-fledged rear folding seats (40:20:40 split) storage can rise to 1390 litres. That’s a lot of room!
A permanently fitted SIM card enables use of intelligent emergency call with automatic detection of vehicle location and accident severity, as well as MINI TeleServices. The navigation pack includes a wide range of MINI Connected digital services, access to the Real Time Traffic Information service as well as the internet platform MINI Online and preparation for Apple CarPlay.
MINI Connected can be used to send navigation destinations from the smartphone to the vehicle. The mobile phone connection also means that the vehicle’s navigation map is updated automatically. With Navigation Plus, the new MINI Countryman is always online, with seamless integration of the voice assistant Amazon Alexa.
The new MINI Countryman is a versatile, five-seater Sport Activity Vehicle with great looks and performance. And, as big as it may feel on the inside, this is still a MINI through and through.
So, wherever you’re planning to go – a glide through the town, a trip down the motorway or a coast through the hills, you’ll find pleasure at every turn.
Oh, nearly forgot to mention there’s a three-year warranty on all new MINIs giving you complete protection for almost every eventuality.
Go on, what’s stopping you?
Bowker Blackburn MINI
Trident Way, Blackburn BB1 3NU
01254 274333
bowkerblackburnmini.co.uk
