10 Things I Dislike On My 2025 MINI Countryman!

Come on, nothing is perfect! I love my new 2025 MINI Countryman SE, but that doesn't mean there are not a few things I wish could be improved. Here is a top 10 list of things I wish were better.
Top 10 Things I Like - • 10 Things I Like: 2025...
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[@xevilpetex]

#8 is an EPA rule. The car has to start in the drive mode that it’s fuel efficiency rating was tested in. For MINI that is core mode.

[@TheMINIVlog]

Thanks! Did not know there was a legit reason behind it!

[@davegross7014]

Amen to the absurdities of the warnings. Especially the rear seat one. I constantly haul stuff around in mine with those seats down all the time. It’s just ridiculous to be told that those seats aren’t locked when they’re in the full down position.

[@TheMINIVlog]

Agreed.

[@ericschneider7648]

I agree. On weekends I have the seats down all the time for carrying my dogs. I don’t need the warnings, but it may be a regulatory issue.

[@don911donny9]

We’ve lost a whole lotta sound, my 2018 JCW popped and banged but my 2022 JCW is no where near as fruity, that’s progress for you.

[@carcreationsyt]

I wish you could turn the interior excitement lights different colours without changing the driving mode. Thanks for the video!

[@TheMINIVlog]

Dang that's a great point! Make that #11!!!

[@scottsteele765]

Having one myself, you can change the colours

[@kathleencapalbo3508]

I would love to change up excitement colors on the dashboard and have on no matter what mode I’m in.😊

[@BenEngel1961]

In the Netherlands the cubbie is not fitted, the warnings are none existent/less and you can buy the options in stead of pay per month. I think the liability culture in the US can have to do with the first two and greed with the last one ☺️

[@johndej]

Interesting list. Since I have a 2014, it's hard to relate to those. But it makes me think about the 'what if' factor and how that would work in my car. I do think it's pretty sad that what I would consider basic features will go the way of subscriptions. My car was a 'dealer demo' when I bought it so it had all the bells and whistles of that time including the heads-up display. That took some getting used to but I do love it now. When you mentioned the 'downhill' feature, it made me think of something my car does that I've never seen anything written about. I call it 'hill holding' but don't know the official term. When I come to a stop on a hill (or on a flat area), the car holds the brake on for several seconds allowing me to use clutch/gas pedals to take off smoothly. I don't know if this is a normal feature or some extra goody, but I do like it.

[@generationgeek]

We have similar cat photos, lol. I’ve only had mine for a couple of days, but decoupling the front and rear lights is on my wish list, and I’m also not a fan of the side mirrors - not because of shape per se, but because there’s a blind spot now on my left (I’m short) that’s way more pronounced than in my old cooper. I do want more ‘stuff’ in personal mode overall, but it seems like something that’ll be done in an OS update. FWIW, I heard that MINI made an agreement with Tesla and we’re supposed to be getting adapters to use at Tesla fast chargers; not sure the details but that might make a difference for fast charging.

[@TheMINIVlog]

Nice on the cat photo! And yes, that charging is supposed to be coming in 2025!

[@Justutube-we8mz]

I thought it was just me on the steering wheel. Thought maybe they heated where you’re “supposed to” place your hands. I wish the experience you turn the car off in would automatically come up. I hate having to set my experience everytime I log in.

[@ericschneider7648]

My car is only four months old and I had no idea that I would need to subscribe to some of the driving features. That sucks! I just got dinged to subscribe to the Mini connected app, which really annoyed me.

[@johnru1]

Have had eight minis, but not buying a new one until they fix some deal breakers for me. Excite mode you cannot put the suspension in COMFORT. Only the black interior on the JCW. Interior could be corrected by buying an S but no paddles on a car that is absolutely a driver’s sporty car. I don’t think you can turn off the speaker exhaust and the outside exhaust is nowhere near what my 2020 JCW is.

[@MILKYBAR1969]

My top hate the indicators are not shown in the heads up display ok when they self cancel, but when you just changing lane and 5 miles down the road you think why is everyone getting pissed at me ..... Oh shit how long has that been on ?

[@TheMINIVlog]

That is a great one actually! That seems like a software thing they could add!

[@MILKYBAR1969]

@@TheMINIVlog hope so before someone pulls out on us expecting us to be turning in to the street they are pulling out off. Be careful guys.

[@Iamgercornholio]

Great suggestion

[@ben_1970]

Briefly drove a new Countryman S as a loaner for a day and my two biggest nitpicks were: 1. That gear selector switch...maybe I'd get used to it in time but right now muscle memory lets me reach down to the gear stick and go between D and R without looking which is really helpful for the tight curvy driveway into my garage. 2. The six or seven home screen widgets that could not be rearranged with a simple hold and drag. Has this been updated?

[@TheMINIVlog]

You know, I haven't tried reordering them yet. Ill give it a try and see what happens!

[@angusmacdonald5300]

3:25 the robotic southern English navigation is weird. He can’t pronounce the word “road”. It co,e out as “rod” as you showed.

[@ben_1970]

​@@TheMINIVlogPlease do...I thought it was a big oversight since you can only see 3 (or 4?) widgets at a time.

[@OkayJose]

@@ben_1970yes you can rearrange in the latest update

[@ben_1970]

​@@OkayJose Cool. Good to know

[@davids1816]

Wow, that app subscription thing just convinced me not to investigate the brand further. That's terrible.

[@puijob]

I’m a bit surprised interior quality isn’t mentioned. Door panels plastic or vents give you such a cheap feeling

[@TheMINIVlog]

I'm not sure I 100% agree with you there. At least not enough to make my list. But I understand where you are coming from

[@davidbarrett8451]

Fully disagree.

[@e-BikeLife]

You mentioned charging speed, but not range. That kinda surprised me.

[@TheMINIVlog]

Range has really not been an issue. It's a great city car and with that, range is no problem. The quick charging only happens when I go on a longer road trip, and that's when I want to charge faster than it does.

[@RobertLeversyt]

@@TheMINIVlogdoes it do 200+ miles?

[@TheMINIVlog]

Yeah will do 200+ on a full charge

[@RobertLeversyt]

@ oh thats great then, will definitely be considering it 👍

[@ericschneider7648]

Charging speed actually seems okay to me. I wish the range was a bit higher but that being said in four months of ownership we have yet to go on a trip that exceeded the range. I only need to charge at home once a week.

[@SirDiesAlot89]

Nice color

[@TheMINIVlog]

Thank you

[@garyhamilton3337]

I am in the market for a new car and am seriously considering a 2025 Countryman. I am having trouble getting past the fact that Mini removed Homelink. I can't imagine a premium brand without Homelink. I have Homelink on my 2016 Subaru Outback. Really don't want to have to clip a garage opener remote to my visor anymore.

[@TheMINIVlog]

Yeah that is a bummer. The only thing you could potentially do is get s smart garage door opener or smart adapter for your existing one. But both of those solutions cost $.

[@davidbarrett8451]

You can purchase a BMW X1 home link rear view mirror.

[@davidbarrett8451]

Seriously? Our 2025 Mini Countryman EV charged at a public fast charger from 15% to 80% in approximately 17 minutes. Using a L2 charger at home, our CM goes from 15% to full in 3 hours. That is not slow. There are no cold spots on our heated steering wheel. Our side mirrors don’t shake, even at 90mph. Your nitpicks are yours, so fair enough, but seriously - these are not flaws. You can’t put a BMW into Sport mode when you start up, either.

[@Plague_Rat778]

The subscription model goes away is unfortunately unlikely. It's owned by BMW. 5 do everything they can to squeeze every penny out of you. Soon youll be paying a subscription just to be able to turn on the car.

[@ksorsomeplace]

No more Homelink. Auto Start/Stop now in the screen (this should be removed entirely). Loss of all bright exterior trim. No option to get all the exterior black plastic painted body color.

[@patrickburke427]

The fake dual exhaust muffler. One side is fake😮

[@scottsteele765]

No, one side is shut until you switch modes and then it opens

[@patrickburke427]

@ I thought about that. Sport mode? Its just dumb at a red light with modest exhaust tips and some light smoke coming out of on.

[@SherwickMin689]

It is no longer a MINI. The car used to balance all the senses. Sight, hear, feel, smell. Now most cars are similar to a Tesla experience, requiring us to drive like computer programmer. Each screen requires us to memorize and visually select menus, all using the same touchscreen. No more unique knobs and dials in district locations so that you can just drive without looking for them. Heck, even the main dash requires you to turn your head away from the road!

[@mikeolson7557]

MINI really blew it.

[@ericschneider7648]

Not sure while you feel this way. My Countryman SE is the best car I have owned and everyone who rides in it comments on how nice it is. It’s the only Mini that suits my need to carry my large dogs or my bike.

[@mikeolson7557]

@@ericschneider7648 Glad you like it. I’ve owned three different past models and each one put a smile on my face every time I drove them. I’ve tested the new Hardtop and Countryman and both left me disappointed.

[@ericschneider7648]

@@mikeolson7557 I would be curious as to why. This is the third Mini in our family. I had an early Cooper and my wife drives a clubman. All reviews I have read of the current Countryman have been really positive. Yes, it may not have the go cart feeling of my wife’s clubman, but handling and ride are better than most cars in this segment and the platform is essentially that of the BMW iX.

[@mikeolson7557]

@@ericschneider7648 Well I’m not a fan of the BMW DCT, the styling redesign (both exterior and interior), and the need to pony up $2000+ for a JCW styling package just to get paddle shifters. That is just my short list. Like I said before I’m happy that you like it and wish you a happy ownership experience. Happy motoring 😎

[@alonsomendoza1775]

the circle display is an instant no.

[@davidbarrett8451]

I thought so, too - until I tried it. The circular display provides so many more useful data points it’s hard to go back to the standard wide display of my 2024 X1m35.

[@DrilloBone]

You missed the most important bit: never seen an uglier MINI, it’s a disgrace.

[@ericschneider7648]

That’s completely subjective. Every review I have read and watched complemented the appearance inside and out as does everyone who rides in mine.

[@DrilloBone]

@ nope, beauty is not subjective. This car exterior design, unfortunately, is so wrong in so many levels that I don’t know where to start from, but maybe we can start from the complete lack of proportions.