Used 2020 Mini Countryman Cooper SE for sale 

The 2020 Mini Countryman has 4 builds but we will be concentrating on the base Cooper build type for the purpose of this review. The car is front-wheel-drive only and the all-wheel-drive variant is also available with a price hike of $2,000. The following are the features that are offered on the Countryman:

The brand offers the car in 3 trims, Classic, Signature and Iconic. These allow you to customize your Mini further. The Classic trim has basic features and rides on 17-inch wheels. The Signature trim has extra features and rides on 18-inch wheels and the Iconic trim has premium leather upholstery along with 19-inch wheels.

Our Recommendation

Among all the trims of the car, we would recommend the Countryman Cooper with the Signature Trim. The Cooper with Signature trim skips the bare necessities car and make the car a true luxury compact SUV crossover. With the trademark bells and whistles of the brand, this trim will offer the best value for money.

The car comes with a 1.5L 3-cylinder twin-turbocharged engine that is not on par with its competitors in the segment. This is coupled to a 7-speed DCT automatic transmission to churn out 134 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. At this configuration, the engine feels very underpowered.

Compared to its competitors, the Countryman stands no chance since the 1.5L engine is clearly outmatched. The other cars’ engines are much more well-tuned and produce much more power and torque comparatively. The transmission upgrade to the DCT is a welcome update as the car feels much smoother than its previous model years. Thought the Mini engine performs but still has miles to go before it can take on its competition in the engine department.

How fast is it?

The car weighs in the ballpark of 3,500 lbs which means the 134 hp engine will have just about enough power to pull the engine from a start to a stop. The car seems to have a slow pickup and takes a long time to reach 60mph. To get a better thrust from the car at a lower price, you will probably have to get the Countryman Cooper S which has a better engine.

*figure from the 2019 year

Claiming a top speed of 155mph, the car is certainly not for people who want bursts of performance from their car. With the given specs, the car comes second to last if the pedal is floored since the Subaru switches to the characteristic AWD slow acceleration. The car does have almost the least amount of emissions which makes it environment-friendly as well.

What about the Stopping power?

The car rides on 17-inch wheels supported by corresponding all-weather tires. The wheels can also be bumped up to 18-inch or 19-inch wheels if you want high riding wheels but make sure you have the cash to splurge. The brakes to stop the combo of weight and big wheels are ventilated disc brakes in the front and rear.

According to the tests conducted over it, the car has one of the longest brake stopping distances in its class. Even with the Mini Active Driving Assist, the car only slowed down by 7mph in emergency braking circumstances. ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist as standard across all trims. Cornering Brake Control helps to maneuver the heavy vehicle on sharp bends by applying brakes when necessary

 How well does it Handle?

While the Mini cars are known for their spritely nature and playfulness, the 2020 Countryman is kept away from that mentality. The car has a very responsible stance while driving and you would not feel that it will just swivel out of your control. The driving posture is aggressive and uptight but still is comfortable enough for drivers of all heights.

With the 17-inch wheels, ride quality is pretty comfortable and responsive. With the bigger 18 or 19-inch wheels, at high speeds, the car might feel unrefined and give very harsh feedback to the driver. This can be attributed to the absence of the adaptive and adjustable suspension system that is available only in the higher JCW and S models. The ALL4 Countryman has better driving dynamics compared to the standard FWD.

The car handles all turns with ease and can respond very quickly and the passengers can find a very comfortable experience for a long ride on the highway or around the city. For people who want a no-nonsense drive experience, better opt for the ALL4 variant.

The fuel economy on the 2020 Mini Countryman is particularly an aspect where its 3-cylinder engine shines. Tied with the Kia Soul in combined fuel economy, the car has better highway mileage and offers best in class fuel economy that makes it a clear winner at this price point.

With a gas tank capacity of 16.1 gallons, the car also has the largest fuel carrying capacity. Couple the majestic fuel tank capacity to top-class mileage and you will get a city mileage of 419 miles and a staggering 531 miles on the highway.

Hop into the front seat and you will see the typical Mini design language all around you. There are a few things that are designed to stick out in your mind. The round housing of the infotainment system is one of the biggest markers of the oddities. Once you get past the quirkiness, the actual usability of the entire car comes into view. High-quality upholstery and ample space for people of almost all heights are just a few of those things.

The Classic trim comes with a 6.5-inch media system with a display that is not touchscreen capable. 4 people can be seated very comfortably with the center armrest double backing as the seat for a fifth person. Even with the front seat adjusted to the rearmost position, the car has just about enough space to seat a tall person very comfortably.

Diamond stitching and various types of trim styles for accentuating the car, the Countryman is downright luxurious. The brand claims that there are over 10 million combinations that you can personalize your Mini Countryman in. Some of the notable features of the car are:

• 5-inch media display with Bluetooth
• Sizeable Boot space
• 40/20/40 foldable rear seats
• Rearview Camera
• Panoramic Sunroof

The shifter of the car has been made to match with its parent the X1, which adds a slight sportlike dimension to the car. There are buttons and controls all around the multifunction steering wheel and the dual Panoramic Sunroof (optional) makes it appear roomier than it actually is. Some of the other upgrades you can get for the Countryman are:

• Signature Upholstery Package
• Convenience Package
• Heated front seats
• JCW inspired Steering wheel
• All-weather floor mats
• Luggage compartment floor mats
• Anthracite Headliner
• Storage Package
• Mini Picnic Cushion (Countryman Only)

The Countryman is the most roomiest and biggest Mini out there and having a comfortable ride is something that it will obviously dazzle you with.

Infotainment System

The infotainment in the Mini Countryman is the classic round shape display as in other Minis. For the base Cooper with Classic trim, the car has a 6.5-inch media system with a display. But that can be upgraded to a touchscreen system with enhanced capabilities by upgrading to the Signature or Iconic trim.

The capabilities of the infotainment system are:

• Bluetooth connectivity
• Adaptive Cruise Control

Considering the premium price you pay for the car, it is a disappointment that the car has such limited functionality at the base level and better features are reserved for its higher and beefier brothers.

Nonetheless, you can add more functionality to it via the Technology Package and other customizations. From the customizations you can add:

• Touchscreen Navigation Package
• 5-inch Touchscreen
• 8-inch Touchscreen Navigation Display
• Mini Click and Drive System with
• Apple CarPlay Compatibility
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio

For music-savvy people, they can also opt for the Premium Package which will add Harman Kardon Stereo System and Sirius XM radio and other functions for exterior mirrors. Or you can add the Harman Kardon System and Sirius XM Satellite Radio as standalone add-ons for $750 and $300 respectively.

What about Cargo Space?

Since the car is marketed as a wagon from the Mini stable, the car has ample cargo space which can store three big suitcases or about 2 months’ worth of household supplies for a family of four people.

If you think that space is running out, then the seats can fold down and offer you more space which will convert the car into a station wagon. The car has a lot of nooks and crannies where you can stow away traveling supplies and Mini has done a marvelous job in incorporating these spaces in its quirky design.

Under the floor, storage is also available if you don’t opt for the space-saver spare tire in the back. Altogether, you might not find any major shortage of space in the 2020 Mini Countryman.

Look at the Mini Countryman and you might see the ghost VW Beetle sneaking through. The Countryman design has not undergone any change from the previous years since its second generational change in 2017. The fish-like look to the car gives it a warmer feeling than it is designed for. That being said, the car does look very bold and stylish with the trademark Mini cuteness.

The front has been updated a little to look more aggressive yet playful like a Mini should. Although a little hard to notice, look closely and you will pick up that the overall roundness of the car has been trimmed down and have been replaced by sleeker lines that have added a bit of masculinity to the car. The outside-rear-view-mirrors have also been made into a round arrowhead design from the old completely circular style.

There are a few additional features that were previously optional add-ons but now come as standard in the car. They are:

• Full adaptive LED headlamps and taillamps
• LED fog lamps with DRL
• Panoramic Sunroof
• Power Liftgate
• Mini Active Driving Assistant

If you think that the Mini is not yet up to your standards in style, you can accentuate it further with add-on accessories. But be advised that the accessories do not come at pocket-friendly costs and the price can escalate very quickly. With that in mind, the following are the accessories you can grace your Countryman with:

• Color combinations
• Different styles of 18-inch wheels
• JCW inspired 19-inch wheels
• Signature Upholstery package
• Headliner options
• Additional features for interiors

Being a Mini and coming from the house of BMW, one of the most reliable and trusted brands out there, the car sure comes equipped with safety features a lot of safety features. Given the price tag of $28k, there are not as many features as there should be, but there are some of the basic ones that you might need.

The other features that come as standard in the car are:

• Dynamic Stability Control
• Parallel Parking Assist
• Rearview Camera
• Mini Driver Assist System
• 8 Dual Stage SRS Airbags
• ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
• Cornering Brake Control
• Brake Assist
• Crash Sensor
• LATCH system
• 3-point Seat Belts

If these are not enough for you, you can always add some features with the Driver Assistance Package during customization. This will add the following features:

• Front Park Distance
• Active Cruise Control
• Parking Assistant
• Mini Heads-Up display

Mini Countryman Cooper Vs Kia Soul

South Korea’s second-largest automaker Kia’s Soul is a worthy competitor for the 2020 Mini Countryman. At the starting price of a Mini Countryman, you can pick up the top-of-the-line Soul GT Turbo which has a much better-performing engine, bigger cargo space, and similar fuel economy with more infotainment features as standard. Though it is a great car, it cannot outmatch the Mini when it comes to craftsmanship, space, and comfort.

Mini Countryman Cooper Vs Fiat 500X

Italian stallion Fiat is also the proud owner of the drool-worthy car brand Ferrari. From its stables, rolls out the 2020 Fiat 500X which is the small size SUV from the brand. Trying to stay relevant in the modern-day, the car’s design is a bit dated and is smaller dimensionally from the 2020 Mini Countryman. Lesser room, smaller cargo, lower fuel economy, and no luxury factor, the car is a step down even in the topmost trim. Go for it if the price is your ultimate driving factor.

Mini Countryman Cooper Vs Subaru Crosstrek

The contender from the east, Subaru also is very much present in the small SUV segment. Subaru’s dominance is well known for its boxer engines and the AWD configuration that comes standard. These cars are made to go offroad while performing on the road as well. The 2020 Crosstrek in comparison to the Countryman is also a step down as the engine is sluggish with a relaxed acceleration time and the fuel economy is also sub-standard. Opt for it only if you want AWD and boxer engine with a bigger cargo.

Luxury and practicality with a side serving of fun and quirkiness, this is probably the best definition for the 2020 Mini Countryman Cooper. No-fuss about setting track records, and being a dependable car, the Mini Countryman is the quintessential family SUV. Elite quality craftsmanship and segment-leading fuel economy all contained in a roomy cabin, this car is an absolute steal if you want to buy a small SUV that can cater to your needs both as a daily driver and as a weekend family getaway vehicle.