2020 Mini Cooper Countryman

At its cost, the Mini Cooper Countryman is a little more expensive than your average compact SUV, but it's not entirely unaffordable, with a starting MSRP of $28,400 for the base model. Adding the all-wheel drivetrain increases this to $30,400. The zippier Cooper S is for sale at $31,900, with the ALL4 all-wheel drivetrain adding $2,000 again. At its top sub-trim, the Cooper S will cost you at least $39,900. Every Mini Cooper Country price here excludes tax, registration, licensing, and Mini's $850 handling fee.

While not as spirited as its smaller Hardtop sibling, the Mini Cooper Countryman is far from boring to drive. True, it doesn't have that much punch, taking a fair amount of time to get up to speed, but once going, the Mini doesn't fail to impress.

The steering is well-weighed while still being precise and easy to handle. There is a fair amount of feed, which helps to draw the driver into the experience and give them enough confidence to play with the Countryman's limits. However, the heavier crossover leans a bit into overly enthusiastic turns. The ALL4 variants are even heavier and they lose some of the excitement that the front-wheel drivetrain provides.

Naturally, the brakes on a car designed to perform high-speed maneuvers are good. They are strong but still provide smooth, no-shudder deceleration. But most drivers are unlikely to push the Countryman as hard as they would its Hardtop sibling. The crossover also delivers a much more comfortable ride, especially when traveling at more reasonable speeds.

In terms of sheer practicality, the Countryman falls short of almost all of its rivals in most areas. It's quite spacious inside, but not overly so, and while its trunk is certainly more usable than the shoebox in a Mini Cooper Hardtop, it's dwarfed by the cavernous holds found in many other subcompact SUVs. However, what makes the Countryman so appealing is that it remains moderately utilitarian while still providing a surprising amount of fun.

Once you discard the starter engine and focus on the available turbocharged four-cylinder, you'll start to see what the Mini has to offer. It may not deliver break-neck acceleration, but it's still relatively quick, and it doesn't shy away from corners or spirited driving. The stiffer suspension and multiple driving modes on the Cooper S are definitely a must in this regard.

However, once you get over the initial burst of adrenaline, the Countryman's shortcomings start to show a bit more vividly. The standard list of features is pretty scanty, and if you want even a modicum of what more practical rivals offer, you have to be willing to pay through the nose. The distinct lack of many advanced driver-assistance features is particularly disappointing in a segment aimed towards young families.

After all is said and done, the Mini Countryman simply doesn't stack up well against the competition in the areas that really matter to buyers in this market. If you can afford to spend the money on one, you may as well get a more affordable, practical subcompact for daily driving and a Mini Cooper Hardtop for a bit of fun on the side.

If you have your heart set on a new Mini Cooper Countryman, despite the plethora of affordable and capable subcompact crossovers on the market, then we'd suggest looking at the Cooper S model. The standard Cooper's three-cylinder engine simply isn't strong enough for the larger Mini. The sportier Cooper S also provides a firmer suspension, which improves handling. You can probably pass on the ALL4 drivetrain, though, unless the roads where you live really warrant it. Beyond the model, you also need to think about which sub-trim best suits your needs. The mid-tier Signature is definitely attractive with its keyless entry, heated front seats, and automatic climate control, but if you want smartphone integration and navigation, you'll either have to step up to the Iconic or tack on the Touchscreen Navigation Package.

There isn't all that much difference between the Countryman and the Clubman, although the latter is a little smaller. This also means that it can do a little more with the power delivered by its identical turbocharged four-cylinder engine - it forgoes the three-cylinder completely. However, by still trying to be practical, the Clubman makes some questionable design choices that don't quite cut it. While the trunk is quite spacious, even more so than the Countryman's, the rear seats aren't as comfortable. In terms of quality and feature availability, the two Minis are basically identical, and they even have very similar price tags. With all that in mind, it seems wiser to go for the more practical and better-looking car that is the Mini Cooper Countryman.

While both subcompacts may hail from the same parent company, they each have very different heritages and design philosophies. The X1 may be a bit bigger and heavier, but it has a far more powerful engine to work with - a 228-hp turbocharged four-cylinder. This gives the BMW far better acceleration, almost making the six-second mark with its all-wheel drivetrain. With handling that can rival the Countryman and equally high-quality materials, the X1 is just as fun to be in. On top of that, it's far more practical, with a spacious rear seat and 27.1 cubic feet of standard trunk space. It doesn't get much more in the way of safety features, though, with only lane departure warning and pedestrian detection added over the Countryman's standard features. It may be quite a bit pricier than the Mini, but the BMW X1 comes with more than enough to justify the purchase, and it serves the purpose of a subcompact crossover far better.