2018 Mini John Cooper Works Countryman All4 Full Tour & Review

We have fun driving our very first Mini, and go super in-depth with this 2018 Mini John Cooper Works Countryman All4. Read our full review: goo.gl/MAQksE
2018 brings a lot of firsts for us on TestDrive, this 2018 Mini John Cooper Works Countryman All4 being one of them. It's our first official feature from BMW Group, as well as the first Mini we've ever driven. We're going super-in-depth with this episode, covering everything you'd ever want to know about this vehicle and what Mini has to offer.
We go over all the important details buyers would be interested to learn, such as the LED front headlights, LED cornering lamps, Comfort Access, Mini illuminated welcome light, rear park distance control, power lift-gate, and backup camera on the exterior of this car.
Interior features are plentiful, including front heated seats, Mini Yours leather interior, iDrive with wireless Apple CarPlay, 12 colour ambient lighting, colour heads up display, dual zone automatic climate control, haman/kardon audio system, dual panoramic moonroof, and much much more. We do spend a considerable amount of time on the interior features of this car in order to cover everything we can about it.
We also take this car on a pretty comprehensive road test, talking about the exhaust and performance brought to you buy the John Cooper Works performance version, along with the ride feel and handling. We even had the chance to film some of the exhaust note which we aren't normally able to capture.
Our full tour & review is the most comprehensive we've published to date, and we feel this covers as much as humanly possible given the longer runtime for a typical episode of TestDrive Spotlight.
Follow PRN on Facebook: / perpetualradio
Follow PRN on Twitter: / perpetualradio
Follow Nile on Twitter: / nilelivesey
Follow Nile on Instagram: / nilelivesey
Visit our website: www.perpetualradio.ca/
TestDrive is proudly produced in Acton, Québec, Canada.

[@mohamedelrayes31]

Thanks for the review. I truly appreciate when people put some decent effort into something useful. Sick of all the robot voice and still pictures I get on KZbin! Wonderful review👍👍👍

[@PRNTestDrive]

Tell me about it! We find way too many 'reviews' out there with manufacturer B-Roll and press photos strung together with some music. We're glad you found our episode on this Countryman, we've got a lot of other cars lined up for the rest of the year!

[@liyah7901]

Lmfao. So true!

[@ThisGuysAnimation]

Love this review simply because you're not an average size man and it actually looked as though you were very comfortable in that car which says a lot about what this car can handle and the type of comfort you'll get

[@PRNTestDrive]

I was surprised how comfortable I fit in this, although it’s one of the few Minis I can actually drive comfortably. I’ve driven a regular Cooper 3 door and it’s a bit tight.

[@kolibriflyer2759]

So far, I'm enjoying my drives on my new Mini S Countryman All4.. LOVE IT!!!!! It has quite an unusual color, Chestnut.. with black rims, and trimmings.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Chestnut! Very nice, and congrats! We really loved driving this car around, a lot more than some other performance-oriented vehicles.

[@rickrickrick5317]

Hi there, I’m seriously considering getting this but the 2019 version of it. I’m 5 9 so I don’t think it would be much of a problem to fit me into the drivers seats, but I do wonder how much space is left in the backseats? Is there enough space for the passenger to stretch their legs comfortably and is it tall enough to not hit their heads? Thank you!

[@colinstu]

Doug Demuro would have a field day with the quirks and features on this car.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I'm surprised he hasn't made a video on one already! I guess it needs to be $100k+, he could always get three of them!

[@TheJustin1979]

I love mine but I wish it would have had the air blowing seats as a added option. Also wish it had the auto high beam feature along with the auto wipers. Would be nice for blind spot sensors also. I should add that the H.U.D option is well worth it!

[@PRNTestDrive]

A few extras is always good, especially if you plan on keeping the car for a long time. Helps to keep the feel modern.

[@brianej3500]

I'd say you're in LaValle (sp?) That's the only place I remember from when I was there, so long ago now … oh ya and "Rawdon in the Country" as it was called back in the day … with all its clubs. What a fun time!!! Then I had to hitch hike back to Van Isle in BC. C'est la vie.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Not quite, but to be fair most of the communities here in Quebec look the same. Another viewer pointed out we were south of Montreal in a town called Chambly. We're hoping to do some more trivia type questions like this, but for the most part we end up filming everything around our studio in Acton.

[@Lizard31]

Hi there! Thanks for the detailed video! Really nice JCW’s you have. My question is, Does the Countryman feel like you are driving a bus? I know you are taller. Let’s say I’m 5’ 3, Would the dashboard feel higher up then in other vehicles? When you sit in the drivers seat would I be able to look over the hood? Or would I have the sense that I am being swallowed up the dashboard? Again I know you are tall. Is there a way to pump the bottom cushion up higher? I just don’t want to feel like I am driving a bus. Ha! I would go sit in one, I am 150 miles from the nearest mini dealer in the US. I would appreciate your feedback. Thank you.

[@Rovr2010]

Hi Liz - thought I would answer this as I am 5'4" and own a JCW Countryman. The seat may be adjusted so that you sit higher and I have no problem seeing out over the hood. It's (feels) only fractionally bigger than sitting in a standard MINI (just roughly add a couple of inches in each direction around you) - and feel quite comfortable and not at all like driving a bus - much like a standard MINI but with a nice back seat. Also, the instrument cluster and steering wheel are adjustable so that you may lower them if need be, so overall quite adjustable for us smaller folk.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Josh has made some good points! We'd agree, you can adjust the seating higher up and doesn't feel overly bulky, in fact we really liked the size of this vehicle quite a bit.

[@teknomanning]

There are sunroof shades on amazon

[@azaz911c]

Hi Nile, I like this car. I think it's interesting in that it offers a taste of the bespoke customization at the $30-$45K price, typically reserved for very expensive vehicles. Tired of seeing too many silver, grey, and black BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and Lexus compact sedans and SUVs, etc.? Order a MINI with an interesting colour combo, and interior! I'd go for the Clubman All4 in "pure burgundy".

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's why we really liked this car too, it's different. Very different! Sure it might not be the 'same' as Minis from 10 years ago, but it was a tonne of fun. I'd probably go for the Clubman also, while the crossover form factor was great, I still do prefer a car/wagon. Burgundy is also a fantastic colour, can't go wrong with it!

[@MrDruid47]

Hello! Have you done a review of a more current model JCW Countryman? Thank you.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We drove a 2019 in an episode of TestDrive Showdown. Unfortunately we did have a 2020 booked last year but it was cancelled due to the pandemic. We’ll see if another one will be offered on the press fleet later this year.

[@laurenkolligs978]

Did you ride this on rough road surfaces? If so, how was the ride? Thanks. Great review.

[@PRNTestDrive]

As rough as our typical roads are here, you do feel the pot holes and imperfections more on this than you would from another subcompact crossover luxury-esque vehicle, but not so much that you’re going to need a chiropractor after.

[@drnh4444]

Nice and honest review buddy. Well done. I'll tell ya, they give you some nasty alloy rims on the JCW in the states. The ones here in the UK are really nice

[@PRNTestDrive]

BMW Canada seems to swap the winter rims off with some old set, that might be what happened with this JCW, as the rest of the cars we've had from BMW all came with the wrong set of rims. Either way, we've got the 2019 JCW Countryman Midnight Edition booked in April, looking forward to that!

[@drnh4444]

@@PRNTestDrive aah sorry, Canada. I didn't pick up on your accent properly. That would make total sense to have smaller rims fitted for winter use there. Looking forward to the 2019 review 👍

[@PRNTestDrive]

So am I! I really enjoyed this one, the 2019 should give an equal amount of smiles!

[@blbsmajikrambls6847]

I need one i wish 😍😍😍

[@PRNTestDrive]

Don't we all!

[@miko3937]

Are you going to present new 306hp countryman? If yes, when? Thanks.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We don't have anything scheduled yet, we did the 2019 Countryman JCW earlier this year in an episode of TestDrive Showdown but it remained pretty much unchanged from this one.

[@decoupling81]

why broken front sencer?

[@PRNTestDrive]

That would be the tow hook cover, for some reason it was missing when we picked it up.

[@Tonyx.yt.]

This video has been shoot around Chambly Quebec, now i'm expect a prize, right Nile?

[@PRNTestDrive]

You do win! There was one shot in the video that was a dead giveaway, can I assume that’s how you figured it out! Also if you make a trip out this way we’ll buy you a drink for winning!

[@Tonyx.yt.]

Perpetual Radio Networks i detected the town by Sema Pizza, so i search Sema Pizza on Google maps and i found the same blue roof for Sema Pizza in Chambly :D Maybe we see in future, for now i'm in Italy

[@PRNTestDrive]

Good detective work! Chambly Mazda was also visible near the start of our road test, we figured that might have given it away. There are some pretty fun little towns in this area, I think we'll use this quick segment in future episodes!

[@benjibatch]

OMG ffs it is real god damn it, the backfiring IS REAL!!!

[@PRNTestDrive]

I know right! They definitely have to pump some extra sound into the cabin through the speakers, but there's some real noise happening from the exhaust. We were impressed!

[@benjibatch]

Thats the thing, I don't think Mini would do that, I think its genuinely that loud... Have you seen the flaps in the exhaust open when you push it hard? You caught it in the video actually when all that liquid came out 13:54

[@PRNTestDrive]

We tried to look into it as best we could, and we did find some articles from 2014 that talked about a Mini engineer talking about the audio engine noises, which is why we mentioned it in the video. I don't think the manufacturers would necessarily come out and admit it, but I believe the Ford Mustang is using that sort of tech also.

[@benjibatch]

Ahh right ok, slightly disappointing but it still sounds great either way

[@khuzairi4509]

hi bro .. how tall are you in cm

[@PRNTestDrive]

183cm.

[@EnchantedWhispers25]

Dude, you are sooo cute! Also, the car is beautiful, can't wait to test drive it one day!

[@PRNTestDrive]

We really enjoyed the drive of this Mini quite a lot!

[@princetonsiluangkhot841]

The look reminds me of the KIA soul

[@PRNTestDrive]

I think Kia copied the design of Mini. Kia even offers a similar black with red accent paint job on the Soul now.

[@princetonsiluangkhot841]

Exactly what I was thinking when I first commented.

[@PRNTestDrive]

At least Ford was super honest about the Flex copying the design of old Minis.

[@Tonyx.yt.]

First Sorry for my english :D

[@PRNTestDrive]

Second!

[@Tonyx.yt.]

This is my toy car, this is my real car and they are the same car cit. MrRegular from RegularCars seriously this car is not only stupid expensive, reminds me a toy, rgb lights, roundish all around, what else?

[@MM-M134M4]

Junk.

[@rickrickrick5317]

Hi there, I’m seriously considering getting this but the 2019 version of it. I’m 5 9 so I don’t think it would be much of a problem to fit me into the drivers seats, but I do wonder how much space is left in the backseats? Is there enough space for the passenger to stretch their legs comfortably and is it tall enough to not hit their heads? Thank you!

[@rickrickrick5317]

Hi there, I’m seriously considering getting this but the 2019 version of it. I’m 5 9 so I don’t think it would be much of a problem to fit me into the drivers seats, but I do wonder how much space is left in the backseats? Is there enough space for the passenger to stretch their legs comfortably and is it tall enough to not hit their heads? Thank you!

[@PRNTestDrive]

I was able to fit back there and sit, but I wouldn't say there's a tonne of room in the back seat. My daughter is 4 years old but rather tall for her age, and she was fine, but I think adults might not be as comfortable in the back. That being said, it is relatively similar size wise to other subcompact crossover SUVs we've driven like the Kia Niro, Hyundai Kona, and Mazda CX-3.