MINI Countryman SUV (2017 - 2024) Cooper Classic Steptronic with double clutch auto 5d Owner Review

1.5 Auto Cooper Classic - Good Points - feels solid and cruises quietly and comfortably at motorway speeds, reasonable fuel economy for size and weight, quite roomy. Bad Points - 1. Front seats hard as a board, only car I have ever had a numb bum in after 2 hours! 2. Auto gearbox refuses to change down, so has ZERO engine braking and that means you have to rely on the hard, jerky over-servoed brakes. 3. start/stop very intrusive, when matched with brakes makes for very uncomfortable city driving 4. Lots of irritating features - e.g. the auto wipers have to be activated EVERY time car is started; when you stop and switch off the car, the doors and boot don't unlock, you have to remember to press the switch on the drivers door....and others 5. kickdown at about 50-60 takes quite a while to wind up the car and provide some acceleration - makes overtaking tricky. Overall not the nippy, characterful small SUV I had hoped for, and I would not recommend the 1.5 Auto to anyone who is a keen driver. Would be so much better if the gearbox was remapped to provide some decent engine braking.