Used 2023 MINI Countryman

The 2023 Mini Countryman small SUV mixes practicality with character. While some subcompact SUVs fade into the background, the Countryman takes center stage — because of its styling and the way it moves around. Yet it can also do the usual stuff of transporting people and luggage.

It’s called a Countryman, but this vehicle is the perfect Mini for the city. The slightly raised driving position is great for seeing what’s going on around the car, and the extra suspension travel (compared with a regular Mini) is a boon when dealing with badly-maintained roads. The size makes parking easy. And the somewhat uptown vibe means the Countryman won’t look out of place in the posher areas.

All-wheel drive is available, which is good to have in bad weather. The 2023 Countryman lineup even includes a plug-in hybrid version, the SE ALL4 PHEV. This variant can travel for up to 17 miles on battery power alone.

Mini flair without the mini-dimensions, the 2023 Countryman remains a charming choice among new subcompact SUVs.

Part of the driving appeal with a Mini is the agility, the quick responses to driver inputs. That’s especially true of something like the smaller and lower Hardtop 2 Door model.

When a Mini is larger and heavier and rides higher — like the 2023 Countryman SUV — then that special Mini sharpness becomes blunted somewhat. Even so, the Countryman is still more of a hoot to drive than most subcompact SUVs. It takes something like a BMW X1 or a Mazda CX-30 to compete.

Naturally, the bigger the engine, the bigger the thrills. The base 3-cylinder unit in the Cooper, albeit turbocharged, is no more than adequate. At the other end of this performance spectrum, the John Cooper Works model is undoubtedly entertaining, but its bespoke sport suspension might be too firm for some tastes.

Lots of the usual Mini touches are inside the 2023 Countryman SUV. Like the large circular display in the middle of the dashboard, and the row of switches that look like they came from an airplane. It’s just that these things aren’t all crammed together in a small cabin.

Well, not too small. The Countryman is still a subcompact SUV, after all. But it’s the biggest Mini, if that’s not a contradiction in terms. So there’s room for four adults of average size, five in a pinch.

The rear seats split and fold in the usual 60/40 fashion, as well as slide forward and back. Maximum rear legroom is a reasonable 37.6 inches. Cargo space expands from 15.9 cubic feet behind those back seats to 47.6 cubic feet when they’re folded down.

This year’s Untamed Edition treatment brings some minor cosmetic additions.

You can also find lots of the usual Mini touches outside the 2023 Countryman SUV. Such as the shapes of the grille and the headlights, the British flag (Union Jack) design in the taillights, the optional stripes on the hood, and the similarly optional contrasting-colored roof. However, these are all mixed in with a kind-of SUV design that includes a raised ride height and standard roof rails.

Higher trims have access to more paint colors, so buyers hoping to personalize their new Countryman to an extreme degree should make sure they have the budget for it.

The new-for-2023 Untamed Edition package features Momentum Grey Metallic paintwork, with graphics along the flanks, Untamed accents on the front fenders (that have been 3D-printed), and a set of cool 18-inch alloy wheels.

SECOND-ROW SEATING
It’s not like the NBA is suddenly going to buy a fleet of new Countryman SUVs as a fleet of courtesy vehicles. Still, this particular Mini does have the distinction of offering usable passenger space in the back seats.

COOPER S MODEL
For buyers seeking more muscle than the base Cooper can supply, yet not convinced that the John Cooper Works version is the way to go, the 189-horsepower Cooper S provides respectable muscle at accessible pricing.

Not only are there specific Cooper, Cooper S, SE, and JCW versions, there are also sub-trim levels of Classic, Signature, and Iconic for most variants. Features in these trims can vary according to the drivetrain. For example, the Countryman SE ALL4 PHEV — which comes solely in the Signature and Iconic trims — has navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system in its least expensive iteration.

For a baseline, let’s take the most affordable new Countryman, the Cooper in Classic trim. This comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with cornering lights, rain-sensing wipers, roof rails, panoramic moonroof, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and black simulated leather seating surfaces.

Driver aids include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, rear parking sensors. The infotainment system has an 8.8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and six speakers. Annoyingly, Apple CarPlay smartphone integration is not standard. Users of Android Auto devices may have to finally walk into an Apple store and buy an iPhone, because Mini doesn’t accommodate them at all.

Signature trim typically adds 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry/ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and a powered liftgate.

Iconic trim offers the full gamut of color choices while bringing the availability of 19-inch alloy wheels, a heated steering wheel wrapped in Nappa (that’s nicer) leather, real leather upholstery, navigation, a Harman Kardon audio system, and — at last — Apple CarPlay.

Changes for the 2023 Countryman include reshaping the optional Driver Assistance package. It now consists of parking assistance and a head-up display. The Active Cruise Control element is now a separate, individual option.

The Cooper versions of the 2023 Countryman employ a turbocharged 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine making 134 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque.

A turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder unit propels the Cooper S models with 189 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. This same configuration boosts to 301 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque in the John Cooper Works version.

The SE ALL4 PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) pairs a turbocharged 1.5-liter 3-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor sparked by a lithium-ion battery to develop a total of 221 horsepower and 284 lb-ft of torque.

Front-wheel drive (FWD) and a 7-speed automatic transmission are standard in the Cooper and Cooper S, with all-wheel drive (AWD) coupled to an 8-speed automatic transmission available as an option. All-wheel drive is standard in the SE PHEV and JCW versions. The SE has a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the JCW deploys the 8-speeder.

The fastest charging time for the SE PHEV’s battery is about two hours for a complete replenishment. Electric-only range is 18 miles.

1.5-liter turbocharged inline-3 (Cooper)
134 horsepower @ 4,500 rpm
162 lb-ft of torque @ 1,480 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/32 mpg (FWD), 23/31 mpg (AWD)

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (Cooper S)
189 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm
207 lb-ft of torque @ 1,350 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 25/35 mpg (FWD), 23/32 mpg (AWD)

1.5-liter turbocharged inline-3/electric motor (Cooper SE ALL4 PHEV)
221 horsepower (total system output)
284 lb-ft of torque @ 1,300 rpm (total system output)
EPA combined fuel economy: 73 MPGe (electric & gasoline), 29 MPGe (gas)
Electric-only range: 18 miles

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (John Cooper Works ALL4)
301 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm
331 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/30 mpg