They say that growing up is part of life. Finish college, get a job, find someone who makes you feel like life is on turbo, maybe considering to tie the knot and make mini versions of you and your partner. Thus like hermit crabs changing to larger shells as it grows larger, the cabin size of the vehicles we live with needs to reflect this Need for Space.
That said, not everyone needs a huge SUVs to accommodate their small families. A hatchback that seats five with sufficient boot space for the occasional balik-kampung that’s easy to park, navigate and entertaining enough for the occasional Need for Speed could be all you’ll ever need in life.
Well, all you’ll ever need is not entirely true since we can always do with a more powerful MINI Cooper S Countryman but if drag racing is not your thing, then the Pure is quite perfect for singles, couples and small families. Launched on 15 April 2019 alongside its sister variant, the MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid Wired, the Pure is the most affordable Countryman you can buy in Malaysia at RM228,888. For that price and in this hothatch 5-door segment, the closest rival would be the Volkswagen Golf GTI that is RM11k dearer. I asked the question if it was a choice between these two cars, what would be their choice?
Surprisingly, it was almost an equal 50:50 split which means this isn’t as straightforward a choice as some may think.
Let’s explore in detail why the MINI Countryman Pure may very well be the one car that you could not only keep for some time, you might possibly pass on down to your next generation.
Design
Anything that has some semblance of design would eventually go out of season. Not so with the MINI where every generation has it’s small unique quirks that no matter the age or new model launch, each still manages to look attractive and relevant, making each a timeless creation. This in itself is a unique selling point for the Countryman (or any MINI for that matter) because if the value of a product is measured by the price you pay and divided over its use, the MINI would always remain notable since they’re well built and to the everyday layman, doesn’t look that far apart between generations. It’ll always look like it is relevant in today’s fashion. The same cannot be said to other makes where each generation’s design contrast is easily recognizable.
In the current Countryman, the Pure has a rugged look that makes it look as capable going off road as it is on highways. On the bonnet are iconic bonnet stripes and you’ll find an elegant black roof that keeps the overall design simple yet classy. The vehicle is also affixed with LED headlights complemented by cornering lights and features 18” Black Pin spoke rims.
Measuring 1,822mm in width, 4,299mm in length, 1,557mm in height with a wheelbase of 2,670mm, the Countryman Pure is noticeably much larger than the Volkswagen Golf GTI’s 1,799mm width, 4,268mm length, and 1,442mm height with a wheelbase of 2,631mm which obviously means it has more real estate space within. Families with fast growing kids would definitely appreciate this point.
Rounding off the back are twin circular tailpipes and though the Countryman is larger than the regular MINI, the designers have done a good job balancing the upper and lower portions so that it doesn’t look bulky and ungainly.
Performance
A TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder petrol engine propels the Countryman Pure and it’s capable of doing so to a top speed of 224km/h and aces the century sprint in 7.4 seconds. Not a bad figure for a “family car”. Alongside an 8-speed automatic transmission, the New MINI Cooper S Countryman Pure delivers a maximum output of 192hp and 280Nm of torque. All of these are achievable while only consuming an average of 6.5 litres per 100km of fuel. I can’t say much about the FC since I had such a good time chucking it around but if driven sensibly, I feel the claimed fuel consumption is achievable.
Ride and Handling
The first part of what distinguishes a MINI from all others is its ever-green design. The second would be it’s handling.
Frankly it’s not as good as the Golf GTI but it is by no means bad mind you. The Countryman takes sudden changes in direction well despite it being a taller car vs the GTI and it feels very planted in all driving conditions except for very high speed turns in which case you might find the car refusing to turn towards the direction you want sooner compared to the VW. That said unless you’re using it in a hill climb race, there’s no reason for the daily driver to hit this limit.
In the average daily drive, noise and vibration is on the premium side with the hardness just a tad bit on the harsh side (I find the Golf GTI’s Dynamic Chassis Control to be better due to its flexibility in changing the suspension dampening and in Comfort setting, it’s just a little bit less jarring compared to the Countryman) but it is an acceptable level of ride comfort for the family.
Cabin Convenience
Let’s play a game; how many circles do you see in the picture above?
The New MINI Cooper S Countryman Pure’s cabin is where the build quality is thoroughly assessed and it passes with flying colors. It feels very spacious and airy, possibly the best in its segment and this in itself makes it the better family car since children love sunshine. You’ll also find it is elegantly furnished electric seats with Carbon Black upholstery in the sporty Leather Cross Punch design and a Hazy Grey interior trim (that attracts finger prints as you can see in the picture above). All in all, the cabin exudes a modern flair yet staying true to the classic MINI blueprint.
The Countryman also features 6.5-inch Touch Screen Display with Navigation that is very easy to use, testament of BMW iDrive technology though in terms of functionality, it is a little bit basic even if it covers all the necessary vehicle functions. There’s no point using the in-car navigation since we don’t get live traffic updates and sound quality is averagely decent.
Another thing I adore in the Countryman are the switches; the tactile feel is so much better than buttons. And because they’re large and spaced apart, it’s easy to activate the functions once you’re used to the layout – although I rarely fiddle with them aside from the Start Stop and driving mode switches.
Cubicle spaces are just so-so but it’s good enough for your everyday keys, access cards and Smart Tags.
Rear passengers have little to complain since headroom is one of the best in the segment and legroom is good enough for growing kids behind. Kids will also love the rear blowers and USB ports
Boot space is a respectful 450litres that can be expanded to SUV-equivalent 1,390litres with the rear 40:20:40 seats folded down.
Safety
Though it may be the entry level Countryman, the Pure does come with an impressive set of safety features;-
- Front airbags
- Dynamic Stability Control with Dynamic Traction Control, Electronic Differential Lock Control and pull-away assistant
- Side airbags
- Head airbags
- ABS
- BA
- Cornering Brake Control
- Electronic Braking Force Distribution
- Dynamic Braking Light
- Attentive Assist
- front ventilated brake disc and solid rear
- Central locking system with electronic immobiliser and crash sensor
- ISOFIX
- Rear view camera
- Park Distance Control (front & rear)
- Run-flat tyres with flat tyre indicator
Ownership
As mentioned earlier, the Countryman Pure’s asking price is RM228,888 OTR excluding insurance and registration. As an option, owners can opt for Easy Drive financing that has the ownership starting from RM 2,548.00 per month (based on estimates of 80% loan on a three-year tenure, with a mileage capped at 20,000km per year). Easy Drive is offered courtesy of BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia.
The New MINI Cooper S Countryman Pure is covered by MINI Malaysia’s 5 Years Roadside Assistance programme, available for all new MINI vehicles with a comprehensive list of services that include a 24-Hour, 365-days-a-year Accident and Help on the Phone and On the Spot Hotline, Free Towing Services and when needed (over 200KM from residential home), Replacement Vehicle, Seamless Mobility, Accommodation, Mobility Services Solutions as well as Repatriation services.
The MINI Roadside Assistance programme can be accessed by contacting 1800-88-8808
The exterior colour offerings for the New MINI Cooper S Countryman Pure include Chilli Red, Light White, British Racing Green, Thunder Grey, Melting Silver and Island Blue; all paired with Black roof.
Coming back to the question I asked in the beginning of this article; will you get a VW Golf GTI over this?
Well, that depends on how long do you plan to keep it.
Our needs change as we go through phases in life – technology too evolve over a period of time. Yet I can never imagine a Golf being passed on to the next generation in the family but I can with the MINI and I think it has a lot to do with how the MINI’s design has remained pretty much the same as the original sans it’s ever growing size whereas each time a new generation Golf is introduced, it renders its predecessor obsolete. 10-years from now if you ever see a Countryman Pure parked next to a Mk 7.5 Golf GTI, I’d think the Golf would show its age more than the MINI.
In that regard, the MINI may very well be the hatch you’ll need to purchase once and it’ll serve you many decades to come. “May” being the operative word here since without a long term test, we cannot attest to how durable or cost effective its maintenance is in the long run. Still if all cars are considered equal, I’d expect the Countryman Pure to be easy to maintain in years to come.
But some might argue for a little bit more money, why not go for the PHEV? More powerful, better technologies and a few additional features, hey you’d even get free mileage & access to convenient EV charging station/hybrid only parking. I’m guessing it’s a lot more fun to chug around and look forward to reviewing it soon in the future. To answer the question of whether to go for the Pure or the PHEV, my personal preference is dependent on how long I plan to keep the car. Anything more than 8-years, I’d prefer a conventional engine.
So there you have it – with a large airy cabin, a higher-than-sedan sitting position and an ever green design, I’d say the MINI Countryman Pure ticks off almost everything I need in a family car. It all depends on whether my kids in the future minds driving a 10-20-year old MINI in the future.
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