CASCAIS, Portugal – Everything we’ve said about the sheer size of the the 2025 Mini Countryman in John Cooper Works trim that we recently reviewed applies equally to Mini 2025 compatriot SE ALL4. The former runs on gas and the latter runs on electricity, but both are the same size. What’s interesting is that they both have the same number of foals.
In short, the new Countryman is 5.1 inches longer, 2.4 inches taller and 0.8 inches wider than the second-generation model, which in turn is 8 inches longer and 5 inches wider than the first-generation Countryman fairy. That’s a bit choking.
Our worries may be heightened by the 2025 Countryman’s size, especially since Mini claims it’s the “All-round Minimalist” — whatever that means — but then When we spent a day actually driving the all-electric SE, we blew it. And we think buyers like us interested in the Mini’s illustrious history will get over it, too. It’s not without its faults, but the Mini Countryman is more fun in electrified SE trim than in the suck-squeeze-bang-blow JCW trim.
The Mini Countryman SE boasts two electric motors, one in the front and one in the rear to power all four wheels. Total system output comes in at 313 horsepower (a lone stallion compared to the JCW’s figure) and an impressive 364 pound-feet of torque (the gas model is good for 295 lb-ft). That’s enough for the 0-60 sprint in 5.6 seconds – slightly slower than the top-spec air intake, despite the extra torque, given the nearly 600-pound weight penalty. pounds for a total curb weight of 4,400 lbs, but still fast.
The power supplied to the two motors and which largely contributes to the weight of the pig is 66.5 kilowatt hours battery pack. That’s enough power to provide up to 245 miles of range (depending on factors including wheel size), which isn’t bad, but falls short compared to an electric all-wheel drive system. cross leaders can be confronted with Mini, as Tesla Model Y Long range (up to 310 miles), Kia EV6 (up to 282) and Nissan Ariya (up to 272). As always, actual range will vary based on driving style, weather and use of accessories and climate control.
Mini claims a maximum charging rate of 130 kW. Again, that’s not bad and on par with the Nissan Ariya, but far behind rivals like the Tesla (up to 250 kW), Hyundai And That (up to 235). Considering its newness in the market, you wouldn’t be wrong in expecting some specs that really move the needle instead of being average. However, its top speed is enough to charge from 10-80% in less than 30 minutes in ideal situations, and many owners will charge at home using the Mini’s 22 kW AC charging option.
Sometime in the fall of 2024, the standard Mini Countryman E will arrive in the United States, bringing with it a single 204-horsepower electric motor powering the front wheels, and we expect it to provide provides a significantly wider range of operations. Of course, it won’t be that quick with a 0-60 time of 8.6 seconds.
The dual-motor Countryman SE we drove felt very powerful, with a characteristic burst of power as soon as the pedal was pressed and didn’t seem to slow down until it reached off-road speeds. The extra weight compared to the Countryman JCW we drove the other day but on similar roads means the electric SE feels a little more stable on rough pavement, despite its suspension. still adjusted on the firm side.
Mini has long been committed to creating a car whose ride balance and handling lean toward the sporty side, and that remains true with its electric Countryman SE. In fact, when in the sportiest Go Kart Mini Experience driving mode, the overall experience – which makes a difference in power delivery – is no different to that of the JCW model we drove. That is, until we experimented a bit more with Mini Experience Mode and turned on the fake drive sounds piped into the cabin. In addition to Go Kart, there are Core Modes, Green Modes, Timeless Modes, Balanced Modes, Vivid Modes, and Individual Modes, each of which changes the car’s tuning capabilities, changing changes the look of the large round infotainment screen in the center of the dashboard and can change the mood of the car’s interior lighting and interior sound.
The sound Mini chose for Go Kart Mode is extremely technological and futuristic, and in no way resembles a real electric motor. Think classic Star Trek and you won’t be far off. Fortunately, for those who enjoy the low speed of electronic movement, the sound can be turned off.
In front of the driver there is no traditional gauge cluster. The flip-up head-up display provides most of the essential information, like speed and navigation prompts, but almost all vehicle functions are controlled via the aforementioned circular display. . This is a touch device that we found quite easy to use, although information was annoyingly scattered in different areas depending on the Mini Experience Mode selected. Core mode fits best with the rest of the interior look, and it’s our preferred setting.
Below the large circular screen there’s a shift bar containing the gear selector, a start/stop key that you twist to start the car, an Experience Mode toggle, and volume controls. Gear selector provides reverse, neutral and drive/brake (separate parking). brake button located on the left), with D/B mode providing multiple levels of throttleless braking. As fans of one-pedal electric driving, we put the Countryman SE in its strongest regenerative mode, which also improves efficiency. We didn’t feel any strange sensations when switching from regenerative braking to friction braking.
The rest of the driving experience is pretty much what you’d expect from a Mini. The steering is quick but not quick, and although there isn’t much feel conveying what the tires are doing to the driver via the power rack, everything feels solid and direct. Our tester’s 20-inch wheels looked great but contributed to a busy ride on bumpy roads.
There’s plenty of space inside due to the car’s massive rise, its vertical sides and large amount of glass all around creating a bright and airy cabin. There is more than 5 inches of fore/aft adjustment for the rear seats, and the seat backrest angle can also be adjusted. Mini says both elbow and shoulder room increased by about an inch, although it still feels tight there. The cargo area is also moderately sized at nearly 25 cubic feet with the rear seats secured and pushed forward, and more than 56 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.
The Mini oozes style and personality as well as realistic driving action and we were immediately smitten by the fun interior decor, which in our test car featured blue recycled fabric- The green weave on the panel artfully blends into the light. malt brown to match the leatherette seating surfaces as part of the top-of-the-range Favored Trim trim.
Base cars will get the Essential Trim package starting at $46,195 (including a reasonable $995 destination) which Mini describes as providing “maximum clarity and trim.” ”, but to us it seems pretty simple with black seats, gloss black and silver accents and a lone strip of fabric on the dashboard. The mid-level option is the Classic Trim in black and blue color with perforated sawtooth patterns on the faux leather seats. Either way, you won’t see any chrome inside, a big change from previous Mini models.
Overall, that’s the general character of the 2025 Mini Countryman SE All4: a major change for the brand, combining both gasoline and electric powertrains into one that model larger than ever and equipped with an ever-increasing amount of technology. Mini no longer means minimalism, no matter what the brand’s marketing materials may say, and it doesn’t really seem to mean mini in the literal sense. The brand is growing, and with a reasonable electric range and a spacious yet compact interior, the Mini Countryman SE All4 is well positioned to appeal to buyers looking for a practical electric vehicle but fun and sporty for everyday driving.
