Keeping in mind that the 2021 Countryman is never short on charm and doesn’t always offer the best of driver comfort features, yet it is still a force to be reckoned with. It goes against the likes of Kia Soul, Subaru Crosstrek and Audi Q3. Here’s our take on the 2021 Mini Countryman that is soon going to be on sale in the market.
The 2021 Mini Countryman is available in three trims - Classic, Iconic, and Signature, with prices starting at an MSRP of $29,100, with a rise in prices of $100 on the Classic and $500 on the Signature, which is a result of a redesigned face and also new British union jack LED taillights, along with new wheels and interior leather color options. All trims have an AWD version called the ALL4 and cost an additional $2,000 to the price of the car.
However, with the redesign, there have been no changes in dimensions or changes to the bright exterior colors Mini is known for. The Countryman also has three other versions - the Mini Countryman Cooper S, the Mini Countryman JCW, and the plug-in hybrid called the MIni SE Countryman. Having said that the 2021 Mini Countryman comes into competition with the Kia Soul, Subaru Crosstrek, and the Audi Q3.
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The 2021 Mini Countryman comes in three trims - Classic, Signature, and Iconic with prices ranging from $29,100 for the Classic to $38,900 for the Iconic with all-wheel-drive. All trims get a 1.5-liter twin-turbocharged inline-3 engine making 134 hp. Depending on the drivetrain front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive, a 7-speed or 8-speed automatic transmission is equipped.
Mini offers a lot of options - stand-alone and as part of packages, on each of the three trims along with many accessories like exterior color options, mirror caps, roof racks, cargo boxes, stripes, and accent colors. For $36,900, the Iconic trim includes most of the options like leather upholstery, 19" wheels, 8.8-inch touchscreen with the 12-speaker Harmon/Kardon sound system as standard features.
Model |
Classic |
Signature |
Iconic |
---|---|---|---|
MSRP (FWD) |
$29,100 |
$32,100 |
$36,900 |
MSRP (ALL4) (AWD) |
$31,100 |
$34,100 |
$38,900 |
Key Features |
Media system with 6.5-inch Display |
Features in Classic Trim as standard and add on features |
Features in Signature as standard and add on features |
17-inch alloy wheels |
6.5-inch Touchscreen Infotainment system |
6.5-inch Touchscreen Infotainment system with Apple CarPlay |
|
Standard entry with a power tailgate |
Heated Seats |
19-inch alloy wheels |
|
Dual Zone Climate control |
18-inch alloy wheels |
Premium Leather upholstery |
|
Standard seats with Carbon Black Sensatec upholstery |
Comfort Access keyless entry |
The Mini Countryman ALL4 in the Signature trim, priced at $34,100, is the one to get. The trim includes 18" wheels with all-season tires and an 8.8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Navigation. Added to this you get the options of leather upholstery ($1,200), contrast roof and mirror colors (included in the price), 12-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system ($750), and also SiriusXM ($300) if you choose to get it.
Learn about the Warranty, Maintenance Costs, and Reliability Ratings of the 2021 Mini Countryman>>
"The 2021 Mini Countryman is one of the more fun small crossovers to drive, but that’s less a credit to Mini than all the other dullards out there." - The Car Connection
The 2021 Mini Countryman comes with a 1.5-liter Turbo Inline-3 gas engine that churns out 134hp power and 162 lb-ft torque and is mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission. Power from the engine goes directly to the front-wheels. There is the option of all-wheel-drive (ALL4 priced at an MSRP of $31,600) and comes with 8-speed automatic transmission.
The 2021 Mini Countryman does the 0-60 sprint in 9.3 seconds, the slowest of the competition. It will go on to achieve a top speed of 126 mph. However, the base 2021 Mini Countryman ALL4 is a tad slower to 0-60, with a time of 9.5 seconds and a slightly lesser top speed of 124 mph. If you are looking for speed and power, the Countryman comes with a JCW variant (301 hp and 0-60 in 4.9 seconds).
Model |
2021 MINI Countryman |
2021 Kia Soul |
2021 Subaru Crosstrek |
2021 Audi Q3 |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$29,100 |
$27,490 |
$23,195 |
$36,995 |
Engine |
1.5L Turbocharged Inline-3 |
1.6L Turbocharged Inline-4 |
2.0L Naturally Aspirated Flat-4 |
2.0 TFSI 4-cylinder DOHC |
Drivetrain |
FWD |
FWD |
AWD |
AWD |
Transmission |
7-Speed Automatic |
7-Speed Automatic |
6-Speed Manual |
8-speed automatic w/OD |
Power |
134 hp @ 4,400 RPM |
201 hp @ 6,000 RPM |
152 hp @ 6,000 RPM |
228hp@5000rpm |
Torque |
162 lb-ft @ 1,250 RPM |
195 lb-ft @ 1,500 RPM |
145 lb-ft @ 4,000 RPM |
258lb-ft@1700rpm |
0-60 MPH |
9.3 sec |
8.1 sec |
9.0 sec |
7.4 sec |
Quarter Mile |
N/A |
16.4 sec |
16.8 sec |
15.7 sec |
Top Speed |
126 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Audi Q3 leads the way with 228HP and 258lb-ft of torque, Kia Soul comes second with strong and predictable handling. The base model of the Mini Countryman is on the weaker side with 134 hp and the higher variants, on the other hand, get more power under the hood.
The 2021 Mini Countryman has an official EPA fuel economy rating of 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and a combined mpg of 29, these numbers are of the front-wheel-drive version of the car and are better than the Audi Q3 but, 1 mpg behind the Kia Soul and the Subaru Crosstrek in the city.
Model |
2021 MINI Countryman |
2021 Kia Soul |
2021 Subaru Crosstrek |
2021 Audi Q3 |
---|---|---|---|---|
MPG (City) (mpg) |
26 |
27 |
27 |
22 |
MPG (Highway) (mpg) |
33 |
32 |
33 |
30 |
MPG (Combined) (mpg) |
29 |
29 |
30 |
25 |
Fuel Capacity |
16.1 gallons |
14.3 gallons |
16.6 gallons |
15.9 gallons |
Range (City/Hwy/Combined) |
419/531/466 miles |
386/458/414 miles |
448/548/415 miles |
350/477/397 miles |
The 2021 Mini Countryman ALL4 (all-wheel-drive) sees a drop in the mpg figures to 23 in the city, 32 on the highway, and a combined 27 mpg, which is better just the Audi Q3. However, if fuel economy is what you're looking for, the Mini Countryman SE (plug-in hybrid) ALL4, priced at $41,500, gives a combined of 29 mpg and 17 miles of electric-only range.
"The Countryman's interior is typically Mini in its design" - Car And Driver
The 2021 Mini Countryman's interior changes according to the trim. The Classic trim, priced at $29,100 offers standard seats with Carbon Black Sensatec upholstery and comes with the option of adding the heating function to the seats ($500). The Signature trim offers the same as Classic with the heating function and gives the option of sports seats and Chesterfield leather upholstery with a choice of color part of the premium package $2,000.
The Iconic trim, priced at $36,900, comes with sports seats with heating function and Chesterfield leather upholstery as a standard interior option. There comes the option of MINI Your's lounge leather in Black as an optional extra for $500.A standard steering wheel is fitted on the base whereas the JCW sport steering wheel is standard on the above trims. Anthracite headliner is available on all trims ($250).
Model |
2021 MINI Countryman |
2021 Kia Soul |
2021 Subaru Crosstrek |
2021 Audi Q3 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Seating Capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
40.5/ 54.8/ 40.4 |
38.3/ 55.1/ 41.1 |
39.8/ 56.7/ 43.1 |
39.6/56.7/40.0 |
Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
38.3/ 54.0/ 37.6 |
39.5/ 54.7/ 38.8 |
38.0/ 55.6/ 36.5 |
37.6/55.1/36.1 |
Cargo Capacity cu.ft. |
17.6 |
24.2 |
20.8 |
23.7 |
The 2021 Countryman comes with a 6.5-inch touchscreen on the Classic trim with the basics of radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and few more features. The available is SiriusXM Satellite radio for $300. The Signature and Iconic trim come with a 8.8-inch touchscreen fitted as standard which includes Apple CarPlay and Navigation to the mix.
Options for the 2021 Mini Countryman Signature trim in the Infotainment department include SiriusXM satellite radio $300 and a 12-speaker 360 watt Harman/Kardon sound system for $750, both these options come as standard fitment on the iconic trim.
"Based in England, owned by Germans, built in the Netherlands, the bestselling Mini model in the U.S. leans into the small SUV segment while retaining Mini’s hallmark cosmopolitan cues." - The Car Connection
The 2021 Mini Countryman gets a light refreshment as it brings a new front-end style with reshaped front and back bumpers and grille, standard LED headlights and a Union Jack structure for the LED taillights. Being the biggest Mini in terms of dimensions, it is shorter in length than the Crosstrek and Q3. But, like the interior, the exterior also gets a slight difference in standard features.
The Classic trim, priced at $29,100, gets 4 paint options, a panoramic roof, and 17" wheels which are available with all-season tires and one design option (at no extra cost). The Signature trim ($32,100) adds two color options - British Racing Green IV and White silver, the option of contrasting roof and mirrors in white or black, and 18" alloy wheels with all-season tires and two 18" design options.
Model |
2021 MINI Countryman |
2021 Kia Soul |
2021 Subaru Crosstrek |
2021 Audi Q3 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
3422 |
3036 |
3146 |
3916 |
Length (in.) |
169.8 |
165.2 |
175.8 |
176.6 |
Width (in.) |
71.7 |
70.9 |
71.0 |
72.8 |
Height (in.) |
61.3 |
63.0 |
63.6 |
62.9 |
Ground Clearance (in.) |
6.5 |
6.7 |
8.7 |
8.3 |
Wheelbase (in.) |
105.1 |
102.4 |
104.9 |
105.5 |
The Iconic trim ($36,900) comes one new color - Mini Yours Enigmatic Black which changes which adds the option of a silver roof and mirrors, and 19" wheels (option of British Spoke two-tone available) with summer tires, all season's are available but, you will have to select 18" wheels. There are exterior options available which can add union jacks to the mirror caps ($250), bonnet stripes ($100) both available in different colors, privacy glass ($500), and roof rack and box ($322 and $485, respectively), which are also found on the JCW and the S variants.
The NHTSA has not yet given the 2021 Mini Countryman a safety rating yet. Like the NHTSA, the IIHS has also not yet crash-tested the 2021 Countryman. However, the IIHS has crash-tested the 2020 Countryman giving it "good" in all tests with "marginal/poor" in headlights.
The Countryman has a plethora of safety features, for example, a foothold and clarity control, rearview camera, and tire-pressure observing system, in addition to the multiple airbags. standard is also the Dynamic Driving Assistant that includes a forward-crash warning and programmed emergency slow down the procedure. Optional on Signature and Iconic trim is Driver's Assistance package ($1,250) it includes front park distance control and active cruise control.
The Kia Soul has the advantage of being pocket-friendly, fuel-efficient, and having better warranty packages whereas the MINI Countryman justifies its price with a much better styling, standard features, and a stronger engine, not to forget the status of being in a MINI.
To conclude, even the base model of the Countryman feels luxurious and well-equipped rather than the Kia Soul.
The Subaru Crosstrek is good-looking, luxurious as well as spacious making it the most desirable cabin to be in but the base engine and the lack of standard features at a very high price is disappointing.
On the other hand, the Countryman with its sheer luxury, off-road capabilities, and plethora of onboard features, while the acceleration and transmission is kept aside, is a clear winner.
Even though Audi Q3 comes with advanced tech-features, a beast of an engine, and a spacious cabin, the price of the Q3 stands as the main concern as even the base model is so expensive that you would not want to give it a thought.
If the price is not an issue, then the Audi Q3 is an excellent option. The Countryman with its comparatively lower price tag offers luxury styling, high quality, space and every other essentiality you would need.
Some portion of the delight of purchasing a Mini is the capacity to redo it according to your own style and need. So, go ahead and order your Mini. Try not to give in to the concept of paying for stuff you don't need or a color/shading mix that is not actually you. In one to two months, you can have a specific 2021 Mini Countryman that you would always like. What's more, you can even try to get a cheaper price than the one quoted on the glass doors of a showroom. In any case, however, you can opt for getting the Cooper S because of its adequately incredible and powerful motor.