Review: 2025 Countryman S Breaks The Core Mini Rule, But Ends Up Better Than Ever

Any Mini owner will tell you that a good Mini must adhere to a strict set of rules. The first, of course, being its size. No, the 2025 Mini Countryman is no longer mini. By any standard, it’s properly large, fitting in the compact category of SUVs rather than the subcompact one where Mini slots it. But that’s because the entire industry has moved upwards in size, forcing carmakers to push the boundaries of the traditional sizing model.

So, while Mini has actually shrunk the overall length of its flagship Cooper, it did the complete opposite with the Countryman, stretching it to dimensions never before seen by this brand. Has this killed the Countryman’s charming qualities? Actually, no.

2025 Mini Countryman S Exterior: A Clear Departure From Its Predecessor

Say what you will about the fact that Mini launched an SUV with the Countryman, it worked for the brand. Sure, Mini only sells about 15,000 of these things in the U.S. and Canada each year, but sales have been steady. The Countryman has also been consistently outselling BMW’s own X2 in the U.S., so it only makes sense to see BMW green-lighting a third-generation for this thing, which is all new for the 2025 model year.

It looks…interesting. I don’t know whether I should like this or not. The Countryman sure carries with it the cute, fun and energetic Mini vibe that defines the brand, but its styling doesn’t really evoke anything from Mini’s past. Then again, the Countryman really only exists to keep the Mini brand alive in North America, so I can see why the designers had a bit of fun with it.

In this S spec – which is halfway between the standard model and the full-fat John Cooper Works (JCW) – the Countryman does at least look fun and purposeful, kind of like a running shoe. There are neat design details like the added bronze tint around the grille, wheels, side blades and even on the roof. A part of that roof droops down aft of the C pillar with the ALL4 logo, breaking up the otherwise station wagon-like greenhouse. It didn’t need to be there, but it does add character to this design. Above all, the Countryman S looks rugged and ready for adventure. It looks like it’s already having fun even when it’s parked, which is precisely what you want from a Mini.

Exterior Dimensions 2025 Versus 2024

2025 Mini Countryman S: Differences Between The U.S. And Canadian Market

In both markets, Mini sells essentially the same Countryman S with the same powertrain. And in both cases, the vehicle comes standard with all-wheel drive. There’s also roughly the same level of customization options. The only main difference is what Mini calls the available trim packages for the S model. In the U.S., you have the choice between Signature Plus and Iconic, while in Canada, the Countryman S can be had in Premier or Premier + trims.

U.S. Versus Canada Lineup Breakdown (model tested in bold)

Driving Impressions And Performance: Punchy Acceleration, Fantastic Steering

The second core Mini rule is how fun the car is to drive. I was a huge fan of the last-generation Countryman because while it was an overblown Mini Cooper with all-wheel drive, it remained immensely fun to toss around in corners and legitimately quick off the line in its sportier S and JCW versions.

And none of this has been lost with this new model. Underneath its body is essentially the same hardware as before. It still rides on BMW’s UKL2 transverse architecture shared with the BMW X1 and X2 crossovers, and it’s still powered by the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (BMW’s B48). But it sees a significant bump in output to 241 horsepower (from 189 hp) and 295 lb-ft of torque (from 206 lb-ft).

Sure, the new Countryman S weighs 160 pounds more than its predecessor, but it picks itself up quickly and with the same sort of vigor you’d expect from BMW’s M-rated small crossovers, sprinting to 60 MPH in six seconds flat, or about the same as a Golf GTI. As a matter of fact, this is almost as quick as the last-generation JCW. Punch the accelerator pedal and this four-cylinder is surprisingly strong in the low ends of the powerband, providing a good amount of torque, getting this bred box going quickly.

Yes, there’s pumped in audio during the process, but it simply adds charm to the punchy powertrain. The chassis feels solid, sturdy and nimble in the corners, another defining Mini trait. The steering is heavy, precise and engaging to operate, and the all-wheel drive system kills the torque steer you normally find in the Cooper S. In every respect, this still drives like a Mini wearing an S badge.

There are, however, a few frustrating bits about this powertrain that made me miss the old model. BMW ditched the eight-speed automatic transmission for a new seven-speed dual-clutch unit. On paper, a dual-clutch shifts faster than a conventional automatic, but in this specific application it somehow doesn’t. Like in the Cooper S, this transmission is slow to react at times, refusing to do what you ask of it. It too often sticks to upper gears, or worse, it hangs onto revs when you don’t need it to, turning the Countryman into a frantic and loud crossover in situations where you’d prefer it remained tame.

But perhaps the most frustrating aspect of this transmission is the total lack of a lever or paddle shifters to manually shift from one gear to the next. So you’re stuck with Mini’s programming. The old Countryman had a long gear lever that allowed you to shuffle between gears like in a rally car. It made the driving experience fun as heck. But that’s all in the past now.

Performance Specifications

2025 Mini Countryman S Fuel Consumption

The EPA rates the Countryman S ALL4 at a decent 27 MPG combined, which is actually a hair under its predecessor. Over 300 miles and a full week with the Countryman S in October, while having a bit of fun with the throttle in the process, I averaged 26 MPG. That’s totally acceptable for a vehicle of this size and weight that does not use hybrid technology.

EPA And As Tested Fuel Consumption

Interior Design And Comfort: Roomy And Beautifully Styled

The third Mini rule is that a Mini’s cabin must be all about styling. It must also be built like a BMW, feeling like a premium item inside. And boy does this new one hit the hammer right on the head.

Like in the Cooper, there’s a clever use of materials and color combinations here that truly makes the experience of sitting inside a Countryman a special one. The dashboard, door cards and even the center console – which is actually a large pencil case – are covered in this warm and attractive wool-like texture. There’s a slick motif on the door cards that goes from blue to brown (in my tester’s case), and the blue Mini logo on the backrests uses a classic Mini font. It’s all attractive and very inviting.

It’s also supremely well put together. The level of quality and attention to detail is actually better than expected. Mini stays true to its circular infotainment system, which now houses more content than ever (more on that later). The Countryman’s dashboard is minimalistic and uncluttered, which creates a non-intimidating and open space. There’s also a neat shelf arrangement on the lower part of the center stack to stow various objects, including a wireless charging tray. It’s all easy and well laid-out.

The Countryman’s bloat obviously helps its rear passenger space. If its predecessor felt a little cramped back there, this new one will seat four tall adults comfortably. Legroom is adequate and headroom is never an issue. The increased width also slightly improved shoulder room back there.

Interior Dimensions 2025 Versus 2024

Technology And Ease Of Use: New Tech Inside Mini’s Familiar Circular Screen

Mini was already cramming a lot of information into that central screen, but now there’s even more happening. The Countryman also got rid of its steering-mounted gauge pod, which is a bit of a letdown. It was replaced by a heads-up-display.

The infotainment itself is very much like BMW’s latest iDrive system as it shares the same basic hardware and interface. Mini simply dressed it up to look funkier, more playful and in tune with its products, but also completely ditched the old knob dial. That said, the Countryman – just like the Cooper – does a fantastic job of utilizing the circular and rather tight real estate. Icons and menus are presented in a carousel manner which you can navigate through using touch controls.

The system is fluid and reacts quickly. Drive modes were replaced by Experiences, which change the car’s ambient lighting, infotainment theme, as well as the transmission’s behavior and steering response. The voice command features are dealt with by a personal assistant presented as a cartoonish interpretation of a Mini. There are more fun features, too, like an onboard camera that both acts as theft prevention, but is also a way to grab snapshots with friends and family and share them on social media. And, no, it’s not some form of data collection ploy, which I discovered when writing my dedicated piece on the matter:

Generally speaking, the technology in the 2025 Mini Countryman S is good and never tries to ruin your day, but like too many systems these days, it’s so rich in content that doing simple tasks can take more time than if you just had a button instead. For instance, if you’re not a fan of adaptive cruise control, you’ll need to dig into the system to remove it each time. The same goes for most of the driving aid technology like lane keep assist.

Cargo And Storage Space: The Dimensions Help

Like passenger space, it’s obvious that the new Countryman’s increased size helps it in the cargo space department. You get a full seven cubes more than before from the trunk when the seats are in place. For reference, the Countryman now has more cargo space than a Mercedes-Benz GLA (15.4 cu-ft / 50.5 cu-ft).

2025 Mini Countryman S Cargo Space Specifications Versus 2024

The BMW X1’s Cooler, More Entertaining Cousin

What’s particularly interesting about the 2025 Mini Countryman is that, from a mechanical standpoint, it’s closer than ever to its mechanical twin, the BMW X1. Yet, it feels more like a Mini than ever before.

What Mini has achieved with this new model is creating a branding exercise like very few carmakers know how to do. After all, this is the essence of a Mini. We never really cared where their engines came from nor who provided the hardware. What we’ve always wanted from this brand were vehicles that take you out of the mundane, and manage to slap a grin on your face in the process. The fact that Mini has managed to do this with a vehicle as homogeneous as a crossover is a testament to the brand’s ability to capitalize on styling and lifestyle. On paper, the Countryman is nothing more than a rebadged BMW X1. But it’s the X1’s cool cousin with whom you’d rather go out with for a drink.