‘NOT-SO MINI’ MINI COOPER S E COUNTRYMAN ALL4 OFFERS PLUGIN TECHNOLOGY FOR 2018

Maybe the first thing you might notice about the 2018 Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 is that it isn’t quite so mini, and I’m not talking about just the name.

At nearly 170 inches long and with a wheelbase of just over 105 inches, it isn’t exactly reaching “maxi” standards, but it’s nearly the size of a Kia Soul (and with a longer wheelbase) and approaches the standard for classification as a compact rather than a subcompact vehicle as with some other Minis.

It seats five, offering decent legroom up front (40.4 inches) but slightly less in the back (37.6) because of the placement of the electric motor and its battery pack. And it lists cargo capacity as 15.9 cubic feet, which is a bit less than non-hybrid Countryman models but is adequate for most daily hauls.

The all-wheel-drive plugin is new to the Countryman lineup for 2018. The hybrid setup matches a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder with an electric motor for a combined 221 horsepower (134 from the gas engine alone) along with 284 pound-feet of torque.

That’s considerably more oomph than the other Countryman models (especially the base model’s 134/162) and results in a zero-to-60 mph clocking of 6.8 seconds, which is among the quickest any Mini has to offer.

This could be considered further evidence that a plugin hybrid with an electric-only mode doesn’t have to be a dullard when it comes to performance.

The only transmission available on the plugin is a 6-speed shiftable automatic, and it earns a 65 MPGe rating.

Though it has three different driving modes (Auto eDrive, Max eDrive, and Save Battery), which can be confusing, it’s a bit of stretch to call this an “electric” vehicle. Electric-only range is only up to 24 miles depending on the speed driven, and some sources report it at only half that.

With the gasoline engine kicking in seamlessly when the electric charge is depleted, however, the limited electric range is of no real concern. What is a concern is the somewhat small tank of 9.5 gallons, which means many fill-ups of premium fuel if you don’t keep the battery charged to let the electric motor contribute.

In addition to the hybrid-related driving selections you may also engage Sport, Mid, and Green modes to suit your desires. Green dulls performance, Sport jacks it up a bit.

The 2018 Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 carries a starting MSRP of $36,900, which puts near the top of Mini’s price chart. The base Cooper Countryman starts at $10,000 less, however, and the Cooper ALL4 is still under $30,000.

The Cooper S and Cooper S ALL4 start just under $32,000. The John Cooper Works Countryman carries the biggest starting price tag of $37,900.

What I liked about the 2018 Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4: This is a fun car to drive and does so in style, with quality materials throughout the cabin. Seats are comfortable, though getting to the handle to adjust the front-seat backs is kind of tricky.

What I didn’t like about the 2018 Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4: The traditional ring at the top of the center stack is bit too much in-your-face for my tastes and provides a limited view for the navigation map. I know that ring been around a while, but enough is enough! The turn signal’s loud clicking and the chimes that greet you when entering can get annoying.

Would I buy the 2018 Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4? To repeat a common theme with me, I wouldn’t buy any plugin at this stage. I just don’t think this one offers enough electric drive miles to go through the trouble of going through the process of keeping it charged. Also, I’m not sure the $5,000 premium over the cost of the Countryman S ALL4 model is worth it.