2025 Mini Cooper Countryman Early Review | Consumer Reports

Join CR at CR.org/joinviaYT to access our comprehensive ratings for items you use every day. CR is a mission-driven, independent, nonprofit organization.
The 2025 Mini Countryman is bigger in almost every dimension and tries to compete in the entry-luxury segment. But despite its fashionable interior and unique circular touchscreen, the Countryman feels rough around the edges due to software glitches and odd transmission performance. It’s not bad enough to suggest the car is broken, but disappointing nonetheless.

[@brdnmlna]

Drove one of these as a rental in Spain and the software was indeed a buggy nightmare. Incredibly unintuitive, constantly forgot phone pairings and language. After several pairings it became familiar but can’t imagine experiencing that as an owner

[@cmeluzzi]

I did a long test drive here in Europe and found no issue whatsoever. The car looks better in person, I liked the interior quality and materials. It's spacious and offers a comfortable ride. The screen is big and easy to read. Depending on the trims and colors, it can look nicer than most ordinary SUVs out there. The native navigation was impressively good, with augmented reality and other nice features. This review has a negative vibe and seems a bit unfair, IMHO.

[@cub35guy]

The specialized head up display on this car is done out of necessity. It’s not because of a “look” they were trying. The windshield on the mini is angled so that a head up display wouldn’t work properly. The x1 windshield is angled like most other cars so it can be a traditional head up.

[@davcuts2897]

Just shows why you don't buy a new car the first year it has been remolded. Let the problems get sorted out before you buy one.

[@johnborges5938]

Ick. It's like MINI was completely taken over by a bunch of body-snatcher aliens who have no real understanding of what made MINI special.

[@angusmacdonald5300]

It’s only one model in a range that still has loads of tiny MINIs for you.

[@johnborges5938]

@@angusmacdonald5300 - Yeah, it's not the size of the thing that bothers me. It's everything else.

[@rosemilovalle5232]

I agree, looks nothing like a MINI 😢

[@richh7608]

Wow, I thought the Honda Accord styling was boring. Looks like a frumpier Honda HRV. Lots of better options in that price range (not to mention the Not Ready for Prime-Time issues).

[@Gemini-kl1wn]

The front looks like an older Kia Soul.

[@HondaTiger56]

no standard pwr seats on a $38k car?

[@jamessignorile7110]

Unthinkable.

[@R56Cooper]

How reliable is the lane centering and adaptive cruise for freeway driving?

[@k9killer221]

Questionable durability on the dual clutch tranmission. All that low speed jerkiness is also putting a strain on the transmission.

[@angusmacdonald5300]

In 5000 miles of city and highway driving, I have not experienced any jerky transmission.

[@jefforceone]

When is a mini not mini anymore when it weighs over 3800 pounds🤔🤔🤔

[@darexdarex]

No longer any compelling reason to veer one away from getting an X1 instead.

[@cub35guy]

Except the x1 looks like every other crossover on the road

[@angusmacdonald5300]

8:03 the HUD could not be projected on the windscreen because of the angle of the glass - nod to MINI design over the years and also to give more headroom. Jeez, CR - have you not seen any other reviews months ago that explain this? I’ve had this model for 14 weeks and 5000 miles and have not experienced any of the glitches you did.

[@justinhouston1414]

Only the first 3 modes, Go Kart, Core, and Green change the driving characteristics. All the others are just for aesthetics

[@oldpirate7434]

I drove one and everything you mentioned I found the same

[@theopinionatedbystander]

I think it might sell better if they stop calling it mini.. it’s not a mini. It’s a maxi. But BMW needs to get the design right, they didn’t. Although it’s not ugly, it just does not have anything related to the mini image or brand, they really need to drop mini if they are keeping this size profile. Pay John cooper to use his name “as the brand”… imagine the tagline. “Own the original and amazing “Super Cooper””.

[@angusmacdonald5300]

2:14 you show the previous gen JCW Countryman not the latest - Come on, CR, that’s sloppy.

[@EM.1.]

The head-up display is designed that way due to the curved glass. EVERY new car has SOFTWARE issues when NEW. I didn't have an issue when I test-drove one early last month. CR is always biased if it is not a Toyota Camry.

[@angusmacdonald5300]

Or a Subaru!

[@mrd5024]

You need to warn me before you show it like that. you should blur it.

[@petegalindez9961]

Loved driving it…I own a 2023 (previous Gen). Do agree it’s a little less nostalgic…wasn’t happy they got rid of a lot of the switches inside…just like Porsche when they got rid of buttons…Also, the shortcut button delete is a big miss…they are probably the best BMW function ever made…as for driving it, I didn’t get the lurching you guys talk of…it’s a DCT, so it’s supposed to mimic a stick…there is as delay with a shift when you come off the line, and if you hit the throttle hard, you lurch…no different. There is a sweet spot you need to find (just like you do with your manual); once found, it’s awesome…having had both types of HUDs; the pop up screen in my current Mini, and the on screen one in my Audi Q7 and BMW X5, I prefer this one…it’s easy enough to read; no issues. And, if you need to replace your windshield, much cheaper, as I found out when I had to replace my Q7 windshield…higher cost windshield, and then you need to pay to get in calibrated. Much prefer the pop up screen! Biggest let down for me is the exterior…just looks so milk toast now. At least BMW gets your blood going (usually for the worse) with the beaver teef on the front…this looks like a honda cvcc from 1975 now…

[@angusmacdonald5300]

I totally agree. Opinions on the exterior looks are subjective. I happen to like the design and realize that it’s a compromise between pure MINI albeit less practical MINI design and the limitations imposed by a bigger, more practical, year round daily driver. I’ve driven 5000 miles in mine to date and I really like how it drives and its practicality. It may be around the same size as a Subaru Crosstrek (per this CR reviewer), but it has a lot more headroom and rear seat room, as I can attest as a temporary 2024 Crosstrek owner (bad choice for me at 6’4”!).

[@bigRed90]

😮I like it

[@toronado455]

"fussy steampunk Anglophile" 😂

[@Infelsinave]

$43k for a non-hybrid anonymobile that’s outclassed by a Kia soul 😂

[@cub35guy]

The JCW version is so much better looking. More aggressive.

[@angusmacdonald5300]

The JCW version that they showed here is the precious gen!

[@molskimauler]

Looks like a toaster.

[@johnborges5938]

You've just insulted perfectly lovely toasters everywhere ….

[@peterrao1]

They spoiled the design! Looks like a Kia Soul!

[@mfbikle]

It’s half baked, just like the brand new Volvos..

[@REC1_Productions]

Yea, no! A Hard No!!! Hate the look!!! I own a 2007 S and this design is an insult to the meaning of what the mini world is all about. This is just horrible! It’s moving toward a Japanese Honda etc. I’ll never buy that box.

[@bikebudha01]

Every year, mini keeps making their cars uglier...

[@Supernaut2000]

It sounds half baked. I’ll pass.

[@TacoRob72]

Men?

[@paulm6481]

It doesn’t even look as good as old Minis. The drivetrain is still garbage. All these years later BMW doesn’t put a normal automatic in this. Garbage.

[@geeeter]

As Doug Demuro said, Mini probably won't be around in the US soon.

[@angusmacdonald5300]

Why?

[@scottvickery2057]

I'd rather have a loaded ..anything else..lol

[@nicholasbabeaux2052]

Looks good depending on the color and the rims. These have got to be some of the ugliest rims I've ever seen on a Mini....

[@angusmacdonald5300]

I don’t know how CR ended up with these wheels. The majority have much nicer wheel designs as I can attest to.

[@royfung7350]

That's an ugly designed car 😅

[@WanderlusttheWorld]

Ugly. Mini makes small cars please.

[@angusmacdonald5300]

It’s still a sub compact car!! I know lots of MINI owners here who have tiny MINI Coopers but they’re useless in the wintertime. At least the Countryman has ALL4.

[@plneky1171]

Take the Mini badge off the outside and it looks like an Asian compact hatchback product, generic styling. Interior controls look terrible to me, all style, lousy ergonomics. The unique charm is definitely gone. Nothing wrong with the BMW machinery and suspension. Not so special any more. Buy or better, lease it, as an entry level BMW and you'll be fine.

[@paulm6481]

Lol this is a great review. This Mini should not be even allowed for sale.

[@seanstampley9739]

Yuck. It's too big and awful

[@Tony.in.motion]

Looks terrible

[@robinbell9770]

I hope the review is to the point and we don't get all the old time stories about when I drove my grandad's model A. Its time for new blood at consumers. Let vote these long winded, creeky, old crocks, OUT. Lets make this channel relevant like it was 25 years ago. Give Consumers TEETH, and not the kind in a glass!

[@scott8919]

What crawled up you and died?

[@danielreaves6341]

these “Premiers in 21 hours” things are so fucking annoying. Just posted a video? Heck yeah, let’s watch it. You’re telling me you’re *going* to post a video? Uh ok, don’t really care about that. “Here’s an announcement saying we’re going to make an announcement in 22 hours! 😍🫨”