The next-generation Mini Countryman will keep the classic bulldog-cute proportions and big-for-a-Mini size. But it will lose the gasoline engines.
Instead, Mini says, “The new generation of the largest Mini model is fully electric and locally emission-free.” The word locally in that sentence is Mini’s acknowledgment that the electricity that powers your electric vehicle (EV) may have resulted in some emissions depending on how the local power company produced it.
This week, Mini released a few details on the upcoming third-generation Countryman and a photo of the car wrapped in adorable pink and purple camouflage like it’s hiding in a pile of stuffed animals.
Parent company BMW plans to take the entire Mini brand electric by the decade’s end.
Third Generation Coming Early
A quick note to clear up confusion about model years — Mini is a bit ahead of the industry norm. The company is already selling 2024 models early in 2023. So Mini says production of the next-generation Mini Countryman will start in November 2023. But that makes it a 2025 model in Mini years.
It’s normal to be able to buy a car with next year’s model number on it. But, if Mini ships quickly, it may briefly be possible to buy a 2025 Countryman in the last few days of 2023.
Whenever you look at it, you’ll have a choice of two powertrains.
191 or 313 Horsepower
The Countryman E will use a single electric motor putting out 191 horsepower. Curiously, Mini doesn’t say whether it powers the front or rear wheels. Most Mini products have historically been front-wheel drive (FWD).
But, with the arrival of electric cars, many manufacturers have returned to rear-wheel-drive (RWD) setups for their EVs. Electric motors are small enough that putting them on either axle is a trivial engineering matter. So, many automakers have opted for the feel of RWD, which enthusiasts traditionally prefer. We’ve asked Mini which wheels are the drive wheels on the Countryman E and will update this story when they answer.
A second option uses a motor on each axle for an all-wheel-drive (AWD) setup. The two motors together are good for 313 horsepower — that’s more than even the high-performance John Cooper Works versions of today’s Countryman. But the added weight of EV components may negate any speed advantage from all that power.
Up to 279 Miles Between Charging Sessions
The 2025 Countryman will have “an estimated range of around 450 kilometers,” or 279 miles. The company doesn’t say which powertrain that number applies to. But it’s likely the 2-wheel-drive edition. Automakers tend to emphasize the longest range figure in advertising, which always refers to the car with the fewest motors draining the battery.
Interestingly, a recent survey found the only electric Mini you can buy today — the Mini Cooper EV — has the most satisfied owners of any mainstream electric car. That’s true despite its tiny 114-mile range. A Mini that can go more than twice as far before recharging should be blissful for some owners.
Classic Proportions, Sustainable Materials
The marshmallow-candy-colored camo limits what we can tell about the look. It seems to have a false grille (EVs don’t need the airflow from an actual grille) up front and keep the classic Countryman shape.
Mini says it has dispensed with “decorative elements in the exterior” in search of aerodynamics to boost range, but there wasn’t much to dispense with. Light alloy wheels are cast with 70% less aluminum than the ones on the 2024 Countryman.
It’s getting bigger. The next Countryman is 13 centimeters (about 5 inches) longer than the current one. Height increases by 6 centimeters (about 2.3 inches). Mini says the added height means more headroom, but we doubt all of it has gone to hat space.
Inside, Mini says, “The surfaces of the dashboards, steering wheel, vehicle headliner and floor, and floor mats are made of recycled polyester” from plastic bottles and carpet remnants.
