MINI Countryman SE Malaysia 2024 Photo Gallery – U25 EV with up to 313 PS, 432 km range, priced from RM258,888

Launching in Malaysia in MayThe new MINI Countryman SE is finally here, so we’ve got you covered with a full gallery of the electric SUV. As before, the third-generation model is based on the BMW X1but now there is also an EV variant with the same motor and battery as iX1 xDrive30also.

First, let’s talk about pricing. MINI has announced official pricing for the Countryman in Malaysia and it’s not far off from estimates, with the SE All4 retailing at RM258,888 on the road without insurance. That’s with the standard two-year, unlimited-mileage warranty; add a four-year warranty and service package and the number goes up RM266,288.

That money buys you two motors that provide all-wheel drive and a combined output of 313 PS (230 kW) and 494 Nm of torque – exactly the same as the iX1 xDrive30 that costs RM16,900 more. In fact, the Countryman SE actually accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h a tenth of a second quicker at 5.6 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 180 km/h.

However, despite also sharing a 66.5 kWh battery, its WLTP-rated range is slightly lower than the iX1’s at 432 km. On the other hand, the Countryman not only accepts the same 130 kW DC fast charging (which takes the battery from 10 to 80% in 29 minutes), but also has double the maximum AC charging input at 22 kW, meaning a full charge takes much less time at just 3 hours and 45 minutes.

MINI has clearly designed the U25 Countryman to be much more practical than the outgoing F60, and that shows in its dimensions. At 4,445mm long, the new car is 130mm longer than before and actually just 60mm shorter than the iX1, which is built on the same second-generation UKL2 platform.

As such, the car loses the MINI’s signature four-box look, although there’s some clever sculpting to help reduce the car’s visual bulk. Highlights include square adaptive LED headlights with perimeter daytime running lights, a large hexagonal grille, chunky fenders, pull-up door handles, custom “matrix” LED taillights, and a special C-pillar trim piece that drops from the roof.

Some of MINI’s signature design elements, such as the front fender “side vents” and clamshell hood, have been removed for a more minimalist look. The Malaysian-spec Favoured model comes in a range-topping Favoured trim, which adds Vibrant Silver exterior trim, decorative skid plates and the option of Piano Black or Vibrant Silver door mirrors and roof. It also rides on 20-inch Windmill Spoke two-tone alloy wheels.

The minimalist aesthetic continues inside, with a wraparound dashboard design covered in a 3D-knitted Dark Petrol fabric (ironic, since this car doesn’t have petrol) that fades to Vintage Brown towards the rear doors. You also get a three-spoke sports steering wheel with a fabric lower spoke, vertical air vents, and a wide center console with plenty of storage – including a Qi wireless charger and a lidded box with a zipper to open.

As you might expect from such a large increase in size, MINI promises more passenger space, including a significant increase in shoulder room. Open the hands-free electric tailgate and you’ll find a 460-litre boot, expandable to 1,350 litres with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats folded (sadly, there’s no front boot).

Taking center stage (literally) is a distinctive 9.4-inch circular OLED touchscreen that integrates not only the air-conditioning controls but also the speedometer, much like the Volvo EX30. It runs on the Android-based MINI 9 operating system and comes with the “Hey MINI” voice control system, represented by a dog avatar named Spike. The loss of the instrument cluster is compensated for by the addition of a head-up display.

Behind the screen are two projectors that display patterns on either side of the dashboard, depending on the selected driving mode. You also get augmented reality navigation, a smartphone-based MINI Digital Key Plus, MINI Driving Sounds and a 360-degree camera system with Remote 3D View. Below the screen, the typical switches have been simplified to just two switches for the gear selector and driving mode, along with a volume knob, a parking brake button and a unique key-like ignition knob.

Inside, the Favoured adds JCW sports seats in Vescin Beading leatherette in Classic Brown or Dark Petrol. Other standard features include a smart key with touch-sensitive locking and unlocking, MINI logo projection on the exterior, electrically adjustable front seats with driver’s side memory, lumbar adjustment and massage function, dual-zone climate control and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system.

On the safety front, the Countryman SE comes standard with the Driving Assistant package, which includes autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, rear collision warning and rear cross-traffic alert. It also comes with Parking Assistant Plus, parking assist, Manoeuvring Assistant, Reverses Assistant and a 360-degree camera system with remote 3D view.

The car also comes with all the hardware needed for Driving Assistant Plus, which adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-keeping assist and traffic sign recognition. However, you’ll need to pay a subscription fee to activate it, which is RM202 a month – or you can pay an additional RM4,481 to unlock it for the life of the car.

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