Full Review - Test Drive Of The 2025 MINI Countryman S All4

[@ChrisJones-cn1ew]

THANK YOU !! You’re the first North American reviewer I’ve seen get in and drive the new Countryman. I just wish they kept the exposed exhaust tips and found a better way to implement the gear shifter but overall it looks great.

[@henryhawthorn8849]

I did drive the new 2025 MINI Countryman, and I love it! It doesn’t drive like an SUV but like a MINI Cooper 2 door, nimble, and with quick acceleration. On top of that it’s very utilitarian with plenty of cargo space - what else can someone ask for? If I had the money I would buy it, but I’m still paying for my 2023 MINI Cooper S Convertible.

[@bobgolfs4432]

I presently own my 4th Mini - and now I have test driven the new Countryman. Pros - large improvements in performance, ride and comfort - I was really impressed with that. I’ve gotten past the elimination of the manual shift, but there are several other cons which may be deal breakers. First, to do most anything while driving, one must take their eyes off the road. I hope consumer reports or someone does a basic safety check of this. Note, there are no convenient knob of HVAC and likewise, no easy controls for the sound system including preset buttons. And get this - the single accessory I access every time I take out my mini is a built in garage door opener. The new mini does not offer it, even as an upgrade. What are they thinking? But you do get a seat massager - seriously - I’d trade that for an opener - I wonder how many times one will use that function?! In addition, no forward instrument panel - I guess it’s replaced by the heads up display and center console - I didn’t notice a fuel gauge? To quote the Maniac - there is “so much in here.” How many people are going to play with the screen instead of focusing on the road - the mini has long been touted for the driving experience - why is Mini taking the focus off the experience? Sorry, but it seems like a techno team went nuts on gadgets and forgot what Mini is all about.

[@TheMINIac]

Hard to argue with logic. 👍🏻

[@BigBossMar10]

All I needed was remote start and 360 camera and they did it! Will probably wait a year to get one, but I am definitely getting one!

[@darksideemt]

They definitely look better in person than in pics or video especially if they are a good color. Glad to hear you liked how it drove as we haven't had a chance to do that yet. Was a little worried we would regret not ordering a JCW for the power but sounds like the S is sufficient for my wife to drive as her daily. Obviously a JCW would be even better but we don't need it for the price difference. Now we just wait till her's comes in from across the pond.

[@owowhatsthis555]

I saw a mini today, didn't test drive yet but I fell in love with the car and thank you for your review cuz im definitely joining the mini family in near future!!!

[@mysticmelody]

I went to the 2025 mini countryman JCW unveiling here in Colorado. I really like the size and the width of the new mini. The trunk hatch is a little bulky/round but not too much. I really liked the size and the new grill. The seats were really stiff to me, and the fabric on the dash and doors was like an exfoliating sponge. I still cannot get over how boring the dash is. If it wasn’t for the amazing circle screen, this would give off a Saturn ion vibe. But, I will say, overall, I was impressed.

[@bobgolfs4432]

I wonder if the new dash will be a dirt magnet? How difficult to clean?

[@TheMINIac]

@bobgolfs4432 it’s made from recycled plastic and can be cleaned with a damp cloth so I’ve been told it won’t have issues like that.

[@Sajikibara]

I do wish there was hardware HVAC dials though…that’s a shame

[@dealman3312]

Very thorough video! Can you hear the turbo spool? Can you feel the all4 engage? -I like the overall body look. -the bronzy aluminum is sharp with black -It’s a shame the seats can’t be folded forward from the boot still. -Steering wheel material in prefer the f60. -Finally some nice driving assistance features. -key is huge -it’s a shame you can’t have a mode with the tachometer in the centre. Funny that only go kart mode has A tach at all . The digital HUD tach just isn’t the same

[@TheMINIac]

All4 is great. the B48 engine is amazing. Yea i was puzzled by that with the seats too but I guess its a carry over of the way they operated on the F60.

[@KevinSmolen]

Thank you for a wonderful review. LOVE the new design!

[@TheMINIac]

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@ghutchison1]

I picked up my BRG with the same spec on Friday. I took it on a 500km trip and it was so comfortable and a pleasure to drive. It feels slightly larger, but it is still a mini. The Driver assustance and active cruise is so smooth.

[@rudyfidelino3995]

I love the look of the 2025 Countryman, so glad to hear it doesn't look much larger than the previous gen so it retains some "Mini-ness." I wish Mini would ditch EVs (whose sales have crashed, hello!) and start making hybrids.

[@mach1nefan]

EVs haven’t “crashed” in sales though… these huge corporations would be the first to abandon them if that was true!

[@rudyfidelino3995]

@@mach1nefan EV sales have slowed significantly, despite huge tax incentives. Google "Mercedes rethinks electric vehicles." Government tried shoving EVs down consumers' throats, and the backlash is just getting started.

[@xocomaox]

I really dislike the new look. Too angular and just looks like a different version of an electric BMW (which isn't great!)

[@HiiImChris]

Omg i actually like it, it grew on me. The steering wheel looks incredible

[@mikegirard4388]

Looks similar overall size for out 2015 Audi Q5 inside, Maybe a tad smaller than a 2017 CRV we had, but almost 1000lbs than the Audi lighter and I presume more nimble feeling. Rear truck actually looks bigger than the Audi. I’ll admit, the styling is slowly growing on me.

[@chrisgray4239]

Easier to step into for taller people, saw one in person and was impressed...well done. A BMW X1 is over $100,000 in Australia and JCW $75k, same 2.5l turbo...same factory

[@colinharvey1049]

I’d say about the physical keys you end up locking them away and using the digital key feature which is really cleaver. Had my Countryman S All4 now three weeks. Only down point is MINI want to charge to use Spike (voice assistant) at 90 days, after marketing Spike so much to be told it’s not part of price is a little frustrating.

[@krismoothie110]

Thank you.. I am getting one

[@davcuts2897]

I think it's a more affordable BMW X1 with the new MINI interior. Not that, that is a bad thing. I prefer the looks of the new Aceman. In a perfect world it would have been the new Countryman with a hybrid or petrol engine.

[@dollyandlouismartinez6450]

I am a senior and would like to know if the access into the car is senior friendly. Also the ground clearance. Thnx///

[@TheMINIac]

Ground clearance is pretty good. The seats are height adjustable electric, so you can raise and lower them a lot easier than you would with the manual seats in the older cars. I know several older people who owned this vehicle and seem to like it.

[@MalcolmDewey]

Overall Mini will be fortunate to get a 50% pass mark on this redesign. No exhaust pipes visible. Interior sounds and looks cheap plastic. Red Start switch gone? Why - boy I wish you could sit down with the designers and get answers! Sticking to my 2022 Countryman S forever it seems.

[@TheMINIac]

Oliver Heilmer is on Instagram. Ask him

[@MalcolmDewey]

@@TheMINIac he would make a great guest on your platform. We send in questions. Honestly I do follow Minis Insta and the comments there on these new designs suggest a PR problem to put it mildly. Would be nice to hear from them.

[@darleneelvidge6380]

@@MalcolmDeweyp

[@lheldenbrand9880]

I am concerned about the controls for the dash vents. I can imagine the result of someone’s forehead hitting one of them. Overall, I think that this redesign was a bad choice.

[@darleneelvidge6380]

I like it at the front of this new Mini Countryman. The cloth on the doors and dash will not wear to good I feel. It’ looks more like a Bmw X1 to myself size wise anyways. And in Canada they all start from around $49,999.00 to over $69,999.00 + before all taxes, and all other extra that we all must pay here to get into one of these new mini vehicles. Would be very expensive for most to afford. And a brand new 2024 Mini Cooper, start at $49.000.00 plus all taxes and more here in Canada. All the different new “Mini” vehicles will start to grow on some many young people. But will any of them be able to afford one? But I really do feel that older mini owners will only want to stick with a old models, instead of this newer generation. I will be stick with my 2022 Cooper S Countryman Board Walk, Limited Edition. That I’m in the process of buying right now and I will be take it after I sell my house.

[@foodlover111]

Does it have heated rear seats. How is rear legroom

[@TheMINIac]

No heated rear seats but legroom is good.

[@great_deception]

Kudos to BMW for constantly improving the Mini brand and moving it more upmarket. This new model really brings Land Rover styling cues. I love it.

[@xocomaox]

As always, your video captures great detail with extraordinary commentary. Thanks for giving us your take on the new car!

[@TheMINIac]

🙏

[@mikeolson7557]

No paddle shifters?

[@TheMINIac]

You can manually shift it if you check out the article on Motoringfile.com but only the JCW variants will have paddles.

[@CC-qc2nx]

Simply Amazing

[@moflexmusicinc.6060]

Proper tune is needed on the jcw or mini can just give us a v6 model from the m2 comp bmw lol … gtr sounds I’m in

[@TheMINIac]

Come to the race weekends and go for a hot lap in the new JCW countryman.

[@mandla49]

I really like it since it's a 4WD I can also take it off road

[@joezephyr]

What is the best thing to use to wipe the inside of the doors and the dash?

[@TheMINIac]

From what I was told, a damp cloth

[@joezephyr]

@@TheMINIac I think particles of dirt and dust will get caught in the small holes and will awful after a while

[@TheMINIac]

@joezephyr they’ve said that doesn’t happen. This dash has been finalized for several years. They’ve been running it in test cars long before they launched it

[@texasguy3031]

I went to the launch locally. The outside looked better in person but it is much bigger. The inside is terrible. What a step backward.

[@TheMINIac]

Didn't seem that large to me.

[@BrettReid-b9w]

I just want to own one ☝️ 😊

[@ronireynolds2580]

Not a fan of the new design.

[@Steve-ew5sl]

It almost boxier than my two 21 Nissan Rogue I used to own 2024 Mini Countryman replaced my 21 Rouge was sold in auction salvage I did went out buy 2025 Mini Countryman to replace my second 2021 Nissan Rogue had over only 78,800 miles with broken transmission Least I owned two mini countryman makes me happy air conditioning works well Least I got more room to work in engine bay

[@СергейФилимонов-ж8п]

is it often to see roads made of concrete blocks in the US? can't imagine driving a hatch mini on these.. and starting to understand why Americans love big cars

[@TheMINIac]

It’s why I got taller tires and more robust wheels, lol

[@andymurdoch1346]

Interior looks cheap and down grade from Gen 3. I'm so glad i found a fully loaded JCW F56 LCi2 with a manual box. I'll be keeping this one

[@philipcardin292]

Mr. Miniac, as you explore this new car, and make videos on various features, please take on one subject at a time, and keep each video to 5 minutes. Longer videos on multiple subjects could turn into overload. Good work.

[@TheMINIac]

Already planning that. Lots more to talk about. I’m also going to review the JCW countryman and will get to ride in one on a race track this coming weekend.

[@Kxlwvss]

Can anyone tell me that hows the db, like quietness in the cabin? Compare to japanese car like Camry Accord Civic Corolla?

[@TheMINIac]

@@Kxlwvss i personally can’t. I thought it was very quiet inside. Maybe I should buy a decibel meter.

[@babigirllena]

Excellent review. Thank you!

[@4WHEELBIKER]

It’s lost that “British” feel from previous gens.

[@mattsedcandmore.1290]

German ain't terrible though

[@joezephyr]

A 50 hp increase is not a thing unless we know the weight of the two vehicles being compared.

[@toopoos]

I'm sorry but Mini have lost the plot on this, it looks absolutely awful and has as much style as a streetwise wheelie bin. I could go on however I now have to cut the grass here in the UK.

[@lurcharoni]

I really enjoyed the previews leading up to the release of this car. Looks fantastic in marketing materials. I did go to a dealer to check it out and drive it and felt underwhelmed ultimately. Feels well built and certainly drives nice but the interior, while spacious does not feel like a $40k car.

[@TheMINIac]

Only time will tell how the vehicle wears. So far it’s been pretty impressive, but you never know how things will age over time.

[@xocomaox]

Key FOB is a huge disappointment. It's giant and that is quite a regression. Hopefully third party options will be available for this. My current F60 FOB has a 3d printed replacement for the round piece of plastic that makes it larger than needed. I can't go back, especially seeing this huge new one!

[@TheMINIac]

The Fob is actually not even needed in some instances. I never use mine anyway. I keep it in my pocket

[@stevelouie5928]

This is basically the same size as the previous generation bmw x1.

[@BeerdedMECH]

The mini countryman died to me in 2020 when they got rid of the manual. This is even more in the wrong direction.

[@MarshallC.]

Anyone; this vs Golf GTI?

[@MLion-t2f]

I dont understand the forcing of a blue interior and gold accents. Hate tacky gold and not a fan of blue. I cant paymoney for colors i dislike. They need to make black and silver and option for the inside.

[@vocaloid12776]

There is lol calm down

[@Jocro999]

It's not a mini if it doesn't have round headlights to me.

[@TheMINIac]

Then the R60 and F60 weren’t MINI’s and neither was the 1960’s to early 1970’s Clubman.

[@francobollei3232]

The start engine button is awful. Much more better the old one on the F60

[@kevinhoffman8112]

Why is everything turbo nowadays? Turbo engines put more pressure inside the engine and if you drive them hard they will wear out sooner. I like this car, except for the honking front grill, but they should just put a conventional engine in it instead of the turbo

[@TheMINIac]

@@kevinhoffman8112 turbo engines are actually well built these days and don’t wear out as quickly as you think. You can push them very hard, as evidenced by the racing teams. As for the grill, go look at a 1959 and tell me the entire front end isn’t taken up by a large grill.

[@jeffwilson1023]

Growing on me

[@MarshallC.]

You should be more clear (like all reviewers should) that most of the features you are playing with are NOT standard and will not be in the car.

[@TheMINIac]

The features on this car were standard on it for the US market if you’re getting this specific trim. You don’t have to add anything else to. And if you pay attention to my videos, I do specify if it’s CLASSIC, SIGNATURE, or ICONIC.

[@MarshallC.]

@@TheMINIac I understand that you, as well as all reviewers, identify the "model" of the vehicle at the start, but then proceed to speak & describe all the features that you'll be getting, when in fact they won't be getting (unless they remember to order the precise model with the precise options you may have mentioned at the start). That's why I said "be clear". It's terribly misleading as you focus on the functions of options. People don't remember what "model & options" you may have mentioned at the beginning.

[@LJ-cp6qs]

Vibrant silver trim is not for me. Its a shame Mini is forcing this on us. Should be optional

[@stevelouie5928]

I've seen ones with a black trim. They have a white with black top at the dealer. MSRP 42k.

[@MLion-t2f]

Agree. Yes you can do black trim on the outside but forcing blue and gold on the inside is a definite no. Im not paying for a color way i hate. Im not a blue person. I love black, silver and purple.

[@googoomuc]

I’m still on the fence with the new mini design, but your roads in KCMO are in terrible condition,

[@TheMINIac]

Roads are terrible. Constant suspension work it seems.

[@officerjohns9554]

what an ironic car to be baring the "mini" title lmao

[@TheMINIac]

The name Mini did not have anything to do with the size of the car. It stood for minimalism and simplicity. Hence mini. Stop assuming it has to do with the size of something. Issigonis was going for a simple car. If anything, that ethos is more represented in newer cars than it was in the older ones.

[@officerjohns9554]

@@TheMINIac the word mini means very small. That's just simple reading comprehension. I'd bet you 90% of the world wouldn't know this fact. Its just a misunderstanding because of its shortening.

[@officerjohns9554]

And to be fair, their cars are generally quite small compared to average sedans and SUV's. So that just makes people naturally think the name means small.

[@TheMINIac]

@@officerjohns9554 mini does not mean small in the case of the MINI brand. It stands for minimalism. I have the sources to back up what I say.

[@officerjohns9554]

@@TheMINIac I already know now. You don't have to remind me. But average people would misinterpret mini as very small, and would not know the history and actual meaning of their brand.

[@Grahamplaysgo]

Looks a very cheap plastic interior

[@beastmode2871]

The taillights look good, the headlights look ugly.

[@shaaakings]

Susuki swift

[@TheMINIac]

Toyota Yaris, MINI Countryman, Hyundai Elantra… Car name games are fun. 🤩

[@milesv5352]

It looks like somebody threw up on the door

[@thebiglevski]

It might drive ok but looks wise this is the ugliest model they ever made IMHO... Interior reminds me of FIat Multipla.

[@MasonWood-s5c]

Its so ugly. My gosh I went to trade my 2016 Countryman in, but when I saw this in person I said NO WAY! Dealer tells me that they aren't selling well either. It's lost the charm. The new design is too awkward and it's too BIG! I mean this thing is HUGE compared to my 2016 Countryman. Bye bye Mini. They ruined it.

[@TheMINIac]

They’re selling pretty well from what I have heard. They really aren’t that much bigger compared to the old Countryman, they’re huge compared to the R60 which you have but not the F60.

[@MasonWood-s5c]

@@TheMINIac NO, they are NOT selling well. My gosh, what dealer told you they are? Look at the numbers. My dealer has received a few truck loads in and told me they are lucky to sell 5-10 a month, where they used to sell 20 something a month. YES IT'S HUGE! People aren't liking the looks and while the new interior seems to be cool at first, spending any time in it, you start to realize that it has a cheaper feel and is very much a gimmick, rather than the beautiful, quality, luxury feel of what Mini used to be.

[@barang23]

There’s no exhaust pipes…