MINI Countryman JCW - Does having fun cost you more ?

[@graemedavison7309]

Your point about motorway speeds is spot on. I experimented with this in my old mk7 Golf R. I found operating at 66mph on the motorway made little difference to journey times but meant a huge difference to mpg in that I could still accelerate up to speeds using the power of the golf so still enjoy it. The best bit though is that 66mph outs you in a world of your own. Faster than Lorrie’s yet slower than all but a few cars. Made motorway journeys less stressful.

[@PetrolPed]

Yep 👍

[@Mexxx65]

HNY Peter!! Looking forward to all Petrol Ped's car review videos in 2025!!

[@CharlesWright-z3x]

Another excellent video Ped.Very interesting content.Thank you.👍👍

[@PetrolPed]

Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@danweston6043]

I rode trials with Dougie back in Scotland when I was 15 16yrs old. 53 now and still ride adventure bikes. His skills and the other lads are outstanding 👏 👌. No drinking coffee when driving now sir 🙄😉

[@PetrolPed]

Very cool!

[@davidthegolfer]

You are never alone. (OMG that sounds a bit spooky). Pete you have great support.

[@PetrolPed]

Thanks so much 👍

[@dangreasley7934]

Thanks Pedro loved this one.

[@PetrolPed]

Cheers Dan 👍

[@Tristanbirdyt]

very enjoyable video ped interesting to see the difference between sport mode and eco-mode and it also depends on what tires you’ve got on as well. I’ve got Michelin privacy 4 plus on my car and they’ve made a massive difference to the MPG. Keep up the fantastic work thank you.

[@PetrolPed]

Nice 👌

[@industrialmonk]

I have ridden motorcycle's since I was 16 i am now 58 & survived & when I sore Dougie Lampkin i was & am still blown away by the skills.

[@PetrolPed]

He’s amazing 👍

[@trev8591]

I've gone for it, Pete. MG4, took delivery on Saturday. Broke the rear end loose on Sunday in Sport mode and nearly shat myself! Fair MPG for that, lovely little motor.

[@PetrolPed]

Nice 👌

[@ginggur17]

Glorious Greetings mate 👍🇬🇧 I love Repsol colours.

[@PetrolPed]

Me too 👍

[@philipparkes5682]

Hi Ped Interesting experiment, think I agree with your conclusion. Ironically tried a similar test on journey out to Cotswolds 2 weeks ago. Total distance 260miles ( 92 miles A roads, 168 miles motorway) Journey out sport mode 40.1mpg average speed 56mph. Traffic was light and moving well. Return journey heavy traffic, decided on normal drive mode, 36 mpg, average speed 46mph. Car Audi SQ5. Not scientific I know, but I do tend to use sport mode, enhances driving experience and I have not noticed any penalty at the pumps.

[@kevinwestwood6668]

I've only seen one mini country man on the road since they changed it, it's huge,toni bou has taken trials to another level, unbeatable.

[@PetrolPed]

He was amazing on the night. Different gravy 👌

[@petera7983]

Mild weather where you are. Over here -18 c blustery snow squalls and conditions.❄❄🌨🌨🌨❄❄

[@davidthegolfer]

Waze. Pete, I have the same problem in average speed zones but my language is Polish/Rumanian or some such. Mine has been doing this for several years. Come on Waze, GET IT SIRTED PLEASE. Thank you. Great trials bike demonstration. I’ve never seen anything like it.

[@PetrolPed]

Glad I’m not alone 😂

[@roodannatt1]

Interesting drive PetrolPed, and cool to see behind the scenes. I am a little surprised to see the difference between Sport and Eco modes is relatively small, as my perception is that in my 340i Touring (2019) the difference would be over 10mpg - I will try your methodology out on a long journey ..... Keep them coming!

[@PetrolPed]

Me too 😮

[@masonandmotors]

The random Japanese cracked me up haha! Technology 🤦

[@PetrolPed]

Just can’t get rid of it 😂😂😂

[@MotorScotti]

Hey Ped! Thank you for your great mix of content. Just keep going!

[@PetrolPed]

Thanks, will do!

[@johnbrown3951]

That is impressive MPG from a JCW. I drove a 300 mile round trip to Aberdeen and back from Glasgow in my Mazda 3 SkyActive X AWD the other day and got just shy of 40mpg which I thought for a petrol car was good enough. I kind of remember back 50 years ago when my mum drove a pretty basic Mini she was happy to get 30mpg so things have improved over the decades. The Trials content was just brilliant for a guy who remembers Kick Start on the television way back in the day. What they can do on a motorbike is just bonkers. I could never have imagined let alone done any of that when I had a trails bike in my youth but I would have loved to try. It was Motocross that my pals with bikes progressed to not trials so I never did try but I did ride as close to a works Kawasaki Motocross bike and it was really fast and would give a lot of plough's in a grass field a run for their money turning the earth and creating a trench on take off..

[@kevincross9206]

The likes of Dougie should be sponsored by Red Bull as I’m sure they have wings! That you also mention Martyn in your outro who also on another level.

[@stevenbennett3922]

Pete. Interesting comparison. Have to say though, that my XC90 T8 also has a 4-cylinder 300bhp up front, 80bhp electric motor and just a smidge bigger than the JCW and I am getting 36mpg at 70mph on the motorway. I charge it every other day and am averaging mid 40's on combined petrol/electric driving.

[@RoamingCumbria]

Thanks Pete. Great video as usual. Hanging on to that JCW for as long as possible I see 😁

[@PetrolPed]

Yep 😜😂

[@RobertBaird-xr5sw]

You could have snacked on a banana 😂

[@geoffreyhallam6228]

I've spotted you out in Ruby, on the M25, today. Ruby is looking well.👍 You passed me in the transporter just before the M3 carrying eight Tavascans.

[@PetrolPed]

Ah cool. Off the Heathrow and then a spot of skiing 👍

[@davidwebb5811]

Great video and I have the exact same car. Brilliant drive !

[@PetrolPed]

Thanks! 👍

[@phillipwilliams4674]

Going downhill from Sheffield heading South? Didn't realise Sheffield was that high up! Sounds a bit like Treebeard in Lord of the Rings - ' I like going South, it always feels like I'm going downhill' 🤣 Regarding the driving modes, I drive a '14 reg 330d X-Drive, and I keep it in Comfort mode mostly, because I really haven't seen enough of a difference to justify driving in the strangled E+ mode, and Sport mode is fun, but can get you into licence losing territory all too easily. Great channel, I look forward to your next episode.

[@PetrolPed]

👍

[@owenmcdonald5922]

Once on the motorway/ duel carriageway, I would put the car into cruise control. Keeps my speed in check and helps the economy.

[@PetrolPed]

Actually Cruise Control is great for economy. You are much better off controlling the throttle yourself. However cruise is way more relaxing 👍

[@cephasmakuzva]

Awesome video mate. Interesting the difference is only 2mg over 220 miles of driving. May aswell drive the car how you want to and enjoy it.

[@PetrolPed]

Very true!

[@guylambrechts2303]

Shame you didn't bring a bike of yours to have a try on that lovely circuit. Seriously. How dare they even get on these obstacles, Amazing! Thanks again for this scientific test and the lovely video. Cheers!

[@PetrolPed]

Next time!

[@johns14a]

Love indoor trials, it's awesome. Regarding the MPG might as well leave it in the stupidly named Go Cart mode and have fun for the difference it makes. Life's too short and it isn't bad anyway for a car like that.

[@altern8tive]

Contrarily when I owned a Cupra 290 a handful of years ago I got higher mpg in Sport than Comfort mode. On a longish run into the mid to high 40s in Sport and low 40s in Comfort. ... on a side note it was good to hear you mention Martyn Ashton, him and Martin Hawyes were/are legends of the trials scene. Sadly we lost another 90s mtb icon a couple of weeks back, 'Jumpin' Jez Avery who likely inspired both Ashton and Hawyes.

[@MiniEggs1999]

Saw DL in Sheffield about 25 years ago! Although the most impressive thing was in the interval when a guy went round most of the same course on a BMX!!

[@PetrolPed]

Wow 😮

[@peterwatson9047]

Ive got the first gen of that B48 engine in my 2016 230i, but longitudinal mounted and rear wheel drive. Manual so gearing in 6th is a bit low on the motorway cruise. 248bhp stock but now mapped to 300. Quite easily gets low 40's mpg on a long motorway trip at 70mph. Low 30's driven fairly hard on B roads. Once saw 55 mpg for a 30 mile motorway journey with a big 50mph average speed section and following lorries for the rest of it!

[@TheFartfish]

And here we have some delicious food for the algorithm ;-)

[@PetrolPed]

Yummy 🤤

[@andypalin3287]

Nice Noise! 😜

[@PetrolPed]

Thanks 😅

[@briangreen5922]

Cheers Ped! Love, love, love your videos. Any more thoughts on the purchase of a JCW Countryman?

[@PetrolPed]

Still thinking about it 😜

[@simonwilliams9916]

My how times have changed. I remember driving to Warrington 18 years ago in my Honda Civic and getting 68 mpg. My Passat estate was regularly near 50 mpg. Am I along in feeling that mpg in the 30s is not that great?

[@guy3point14]

That brought back memories of watching Junior Kickstart 😀(or for the Half Man Half Biscuit fans Juuuuuniorrrr Kickstaaaart 😜)

[@PetrolPed]

👍

[@HQBProductions]

Hello Peter! Interesting mpg figures but I have to wave a flag for my RR SportPHEV which returns 37-39 on just such a journey…2615KG as well. The Mini is different and doubtless more fun though. It’s a shame you have to return it now but you might buy one perhaps?? Tonight Jonny S is in hot soup with his subscribers following his Jaecoo video…if you made one, scrap it!! I feel really sorry for him but he has made a bit of a mistake! Meanwhile…another storm..more gales..say in the snow! Stay safe, Richard😀😀😀😀

[@PetrolPed]

I was invited to that event but declined. His bank account will make him feel better 😜

[@HQBProductions]

@ The Kings shilling!! I expect you also saw JM’s video about it which is powerful stuff! 😱🫣😀

[@chrisrowe6757]

I am running the same car and decided to use green mode for a motorway journey from Hampshire to Kent last Friday and averaged 45.4mpg! Totally agree that off the motorway I would not use green mode. I also went into the settings and turned off the drivetrain setting in go kart mode so that I could have the throttle response without the car permanently two gears lower than it should be.

[@PetrolPed]

Nice 👍

[@Russell_G]

Enjoyed that, cheers Pete, my Clubman JCW I get 44mpg on a run in green, hooning B roads in sport can drop it to low 20's easily however. Would you have Charlie over the Countryman?

[@ThePedroDB]

Interesting test. Obviously, most owners would select Mode based upon driving conditions, rather than for a complete journey and get the best of all worlds. Most of my journeys in my i20N are local/urban and so part of my daily start-up routine is to select "Eco" mode and switch off the Stop/Start system. "N" mode is reserved for 'pure pleasure' drives. Interestingly (or not), the throttle map in the i20N seems to have more low down grunt in "Eco" and makes life much easier when pootling about

[@PetrolPed]

Fair enough!

[@Sy-fly]

It’s a shame you can’t set the sports mode as your preferred when starting up. I always find myself going Go kart as I enjoy the ride more but on longer drives I just keep it on personal-default. And use the boost button if I feel I need to take over a bit faster.

[@PetrolPed]

Totally agree 👍

[@neilcarolgarrett]

Martin Ashton you lucky lad😍

[@PetrolPed]

I know 🙏🏻

[@Ryan_P]

I did a not very scientific test in my Cooper S a few months ago, as I was interested it what the difference was, especially when green mode would often say it has added a whole 3 miles to the range! I didn’t change the way I drove in each mode and tried to keep consistent. Total includes whatever range the Mini said I had left over when I filled up. I reset the mpg at each fill up. Green - 405 miles - 42.8mpg Mid - 384 miles - 49.2mpg Sport - 345 miles - 36.8mpg So for me and my style of driving, green makes quite a bit of a difference. Edit: corrected the mid total distance.

[@PetrolPed]

Thanks for this 👍

[@axartjm]

Currently averaging 40mpg in my brand new f66 cooper s - not bad for a mix of dual carriageway and West Sussex b road spirited driving.

[@PetrolPed]

Nice 👌

[@philtaylor-db8mr]

Hi Pete. Just wondering how do you think it compares the “Charlie clubman” for fun/ overall drive etc. ? Great video as usual.

[@PetrolPed]

Very close just a bit more practical and not as good looking 😜

[@silvermovermedia9737]

Good video

[@PetrolPed]

Thanks 🙏🏻

[@kevinneary2283]

I have minis the saving is not worth for 3 mpg . The car labours in eco mode I find if the car is used in normal settings it just as economical due to the car being able to coast more when up to speed rather than labouring up the hills etc . As for sport it’s a feeling of sport but not really any faster 👍

[@robholland1937]

I spy “Little Switzerland” bends above Petersfield at the start 😊

[@FenderUsa]

What is that road called?

[@PetrolPed]

Love that road 👌

[@PetrolPed]

Stoner Hill 👍

[@joezephyr]

I had hoped you might have demonstrated the Mini app that acts as a short cut to the auto stop/start function.

[@anonymouspdg6121]

Just a little confused, totally get this wasn't a full 'fuel, range test' but driving normally to see what the economy is like? However you deliberately left it in Go Kart mode on the motorway which held the car in a lower gear instead of changing up to lower the revs. Would you really do this on a normal journey? I don't think so lol. Good video though!

[@PetrolPed]

Just the easiest way to run a very non scientific comparison 👍

[@lewishunter]

Great vid, just wish I could get 40mpg out of my JCW! Plus mine sounds a bit pants, I put it down to it being strangled by filters 😞

[@michaelanderson3771]

I realise you used the vehicles MPG data, but how does that compare to actual miles and actual litres or gallons of fuel pumped back to car? I find the vehicle trip computer is always out when I compare. The trip computer data tends to give better than actual result.

[@PetrolPed]

I wasn’t that scientific 😜😂

[@peterbarber8053]

As someone who has done maths on this the actual figure is typically 2mpg worse in my experience .

[@novainvicta]

I know you don’t like our “imposter” version of the Mini Countryman the Mini Countryman Sport with a level 3 pack which in our case looks identical to the car you drove save for Black upstand strips in the front bumper, black callipers on smaller disc brakes and horror of horrors a 1.5l engine front wheel drive. All the tech is the same otherwise and because we bought at the beginning our car has the red roof & mirrors whereas Sport versions now only come with a Black roof & mirrors the Red reserved for the JCW 4 wheel drive vehicle. Snobbery aside we’re really happy with the way the car drives. There are aspects of the touch screen I hate, changing temperature, constantly resetting the heated seats & steering wheel to off, the head rest’s are angled too far forwards, and the ride is overly firm etc but equally the augmented reality sat nav is great, self parking, 360 cameras, emergency collision avoidance at low speed etc all work flawlessly. The fit & finish are great, seat comfort is good and the seat versatility in the rear first class. BMW mainly got this car right. Bring back I-drive, better variable dampers, clean up the software and this car would blow the competition out of the water.

[@PetrolPed]

Who says I don’t like it 😜😂

[@philipbessant1104]

I have the same seats in my Mini, if you angle the seat back a little, the headrest is not an issue.

[@watchcommander2012]

Really enjoyed this video. There is one question needs answering are you going to buy a countryman JCW?

[@PetrolPed]

Maybe 🤔 😜

[@jonnyboy4340]

Hate to say it - but i go up from MK (20 miles of spirited driving prior to joining M1 at MK) to Leeds fairly regularly and get easily get 40mpg… in my M340i G21…

[@colinbillingham6703]

Up to your usual standard Sir Peter. What was the red flashing lights through the steering wheel, maybe due to filming but if not very off putting. Dougie Lampkin is a true hero and deserves better from the main stream sports press. Should now be knighted.

That's the IR sensor to detect driver fatigue. You can't see it with your own eyes, only through cameras.

[@PetrolPed]

It is the driver attention system. Not visible to the human eye…just my camera 😜😂

[@joezephyr]

To start Mini maps, I suspect you could have used voice control instead of stopping. Is that so?

[@PetrolPed]

Yes I think so 👍

[@ObsLevelCrossings]

What are those flashing red dots behind the steering wheel?

[@MrGiannis1979]

Driver Attention Camera Principle A camera on the instrument panel monitors the driver’s activity and direction of view, depending on vehicle equipment. The assistance systems help drivers by an- alyzing whether they are paying attention, e.g., by evaluating their head position and eyes.

[@PetrolPed]

Driver attention system. Not visible to the human eye 👍

[@ObsLevelCrossings]

@@PetrolPed brilliant. Thanks for that..keep up the great content.👏🏻

[@PeterKirton-nu9iv]

On the film there is a constant red light flashing on the dashboard

[@PetrolPed]

Driver attention system. Not visible to the human eye 👍

[@PeterKirton-nu9iv]

@@PetrolPed thanks I thought it was something to do with your camera

[@SimonSWUK1]

Would rather have my 2023 Suzuki Swift Sport weighs far less 150-160bhp in standard spec better handling and interior!

[@SimonSWUK1]

Oh and I get upto 65mpg!

[@jamiep61]

Still enjoying the great content 😊

[@PetrolPed]

Thanks 🙏🏻

[@stevie007]

Hi

[@PetrolPed]

Hi 👋

[@damienphotographe]

Did you really park along side the gas pump just for a coffee ??

[@PetrolPed]

No I filled up 🤷‍♂️

[@damindra]

Wow that half series dash is awful, how is that intuitive, just as bad as Elon cars, just rubbish design