‘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.

MINI COOPER S E COUNTRYMAN GETS PLUG-IN POWER AS NEW HYBRID MODEL FOR 2018

The MINI Cooper is not yet at the stage where it needs to be upgraded to the “MAXI” Cooper, but it seems to be moving in that direction.

Launched in 1959 as a trend-setting, two-door sub-compact that was 120.25 inches long —not much more than the wheelbase for many large vehicles — and weighed in at just over 1,300 pounds, the MINI now is available as a four-door wagon that is four feet longer and weighs in at twice the original hardtop’s heft.

Yet it still evokes the same carefree, fun attitude of its smaller predecessor.

And now it’s electric.

Well, sort of.

I’m not sure how many points a range of 25 miles or so on a fully charged battery is going to get from the greenies, but that’s what the pairing of the turbo-charged 3-cylinder engine and electric motor in the 2018 MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 will get you at speeds up to 78 mph to earn it an MPGe rating of 65 miles-per-gallon.

A plug-in hybrid, the power train is new for this year as MINI’s first serious dip into the electric world since the limited-production MINI E of 2008. With that kind of limited range, though, it’s kind of like sticking your toes into the pool to test the water temperature before jumping in.

If you are already mentally doing the math to see just how far it’s going to take you on electric juice alone, fear not. After the 7.6 kilowatt, lithium-ion battery poops out, the Countryman S E runs on gas only, drinking fuel at a rate of 27 mpg, and you still have 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque to work with.

When running in tandem, the electric motor and gas engine have a combined 221 hp and 264 lb.-ft. of torque, more than enough oomph for a competitive driving experience.

The SE Countryman ALL 4, as the “4” designation might clue you, is an all-wheel drive vehicle with front wheels getting power from the gas engine and the electric motor delivering its 87 hp and 122 lb.-ft. of power to the rear. A 6-speed automatic transmission is standard.

One of the more surprising things to first-time occupants in the MINI is the amount of interior space it provides. As the largest in the MINI portfolio, the Countryman delivers there.

Even the rear-seat passengers get up to 37.6 inches of legroom. It’s the cargo area that gets the short stick with less than 16 cubic feet of space available, though up to 48.5 cubic feet is available with the second-row folded.

The cabin has a premium feel about it as might be expected of a product out of parent company BMW’s luxury stable. Not that you are going to confuse the MINI with a Bimmer. The large circular display at the top of the center stack keeps you very much aware that you are in a MINI.

The Countryman S E rides on standard 18-inch wheels and gets LED headlights and fog lights as standard along with features like dual-zone climate control, heated front sport seats (which some might find too snug), a rear camera, and more included in the MSRP of $36,800 (plus the $850 destination charge).

There is the usual laundry list of upgraded features available like a premium Harmon Kardon sound system and automatic climate control, but the only extras on my test vehicle that came with a charge were $500 for the melting silver metallic exterior color, $500 for the parking assist system, $750 for the head-up display, and $300 for the SiriusXM satellite radio with a one-year subscription.

That ran the total up to $39,700, which pretty makes the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 the most expensive of its class.

What I liked about the 2018 MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4: It has good interior space for passengers and the hybrid system provides plenty of power. I really wasn’t conscious of any lag. The torque number is impressive for a vehicle of this class.

What I didn’t like about the 2018 MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4: The infotainment system is not particularly complicated, but getting through various functions does take some extra steps at times — not surprising, since BMW models can be annoying in that aspect. The head-up system isn’t worth the cost and the display, with what looks like a piece of plastic sticking up from the dash, detracts from the cabin’s appearance. Oh, and I don’t really get the appeal of going through the hassle of plug-in recharging. 

Would I buy the 2018 MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4? Probably not. It’s a good car, but a bit on the expensive side. It’s fun to drive, yes, but I’m certain you can find competitors that offer a pleasant experience behind the wheel and will look good and save you a few bucks in the process.