Mini JCW Countryman

A Mini in name only, but there’s fun to be found

MEET the new Mini JCW Countryman, its entrance to the Australian market accompanied by the gnashing of teeth from traditional Mini enthusiasts.

The name Mini might once have described the cars it produced, but now it’s just a brand like any other. After all, your smartphone doesn’t look like a piece of fruit, does it?

And so the Countryman press kit proudly boasts of an extra 17cm in length, 3cm in width and 7.5cm in wheelbase, resulting in a car that’s actually similar in size to the original Renault Espace MPV.

It’s still not a particularly large car by modern standards and its growth spurt has resulted in plenty of room front and rear, though Mini’s claim of a “voluminous” boot, capable of swallowing 450L or 1390L with the rear seats folded, rings hollow when a Volkswagen Tiguan can accept 615L and 1655L respectively.