Updated MINI Countryman revealed

The MINI Countryman, the largest model in the company’s range, has been given an overhaul with styling and equipment changes along with improvements to its engine range.

Due to be unveiled to the public at the New York motor show later this month, it will go on sale in the UK in the summer.

Facelifted styling

Starting on the outside, there’s a new grille design (finished in chrome on Cooper S models), with LED foglights and daytime running lights for Cooper models upwards.

Four-wheel-drive ‘ALL4’ models look a bit more rugged than before, with skid plates under the front and rear bumpers and sills.

Rounding off the exterior changes are new alloy wheel designs and a greater range of paint colours than before.

Better on fuel

Both fuel economy and CO2 emissions have been improved across the range. That’s partly down to aerodynamic improvements and new, lower resistance tyres but also thanks to revisions to the engine range.

Most frugal of the range are the diesel Countryman One D and Cooper D models, which average a claimed 67.3mpg.

All engines now meet the tougher Euro 6 emissions regulations, too.

Despite being cleaner and less thirsty than before, however, the Cooper S model is now more powerful with its output raised to 187bhp. It will get from 0-62mph in a really rather quick 7.5 seconds (a tenth of a second quicker than before) and average a claimed 47.1mpg (though probably not at the same time).

A six-speed manual gearbox is standard with a six-speed auto an option.

MINI also says sound-proofing has been improved, so drivers can expect a quieter experience when cruising on the motorway for example.

Equipment upgrades

Air-con, DAB digital radio, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity and tyre pressure monitoring will be standard across the updated Countryman range.

Prices for the facelifted MINI Countryman begin at £16,990 on-the-road. Order books open in late spring.