MINI Countryman

SECOND REPORT Can a MINI really pass muster as a family car?

- Darren Wilson

IT'S funny how things go around, A because this is not the first time that I've run a MINI Countryman long-term test car. Back in 2011, I had a diesel Countryman ALL4 for a nine-month loan and I struggled to give the keys back. I remember that it was refreshing to be able to drive the MINI brand, but in a more usable 'family focused' vehicle with my children (see inset).

Fast forward 13 years and it's now my eldest son's children that populate our Countryman test car on weekends away. A lot has changed in that time, mind you. Child car seats, buggies and, frankly, all of us have grown in size.

Thankfully, this hasn't presented the new Countryman with too many issues. It has 450 litres of boot space, so we've been able to throw pretty much everything at the load bay, while the area beneath the floor has been used recently to store a fold-out sun tent and picnic blanket - handy for days out with the grandchildren - and there's still room for the folded cargo net and the kits for first aid and tyre repairs.

Because the Countryman has a flat rear tailgate, we haven't encountered any problems fitting in heavier, boxier items, either; and the near-vertical rear window means that the car has even been able to accommodate the flight cases that contain my son's heavy musical equipment.