Article content If I put on sunglasses, a hat and lose 20 pounds, people will still know it’s me. If I throw on a suit, get a haircut and grow a beard, people will still know it’s me. But I’m not a car, though the same goes for the previous generation of the Jeep Wrangler (JK) looking very similar to the current generation (JL).
Same goes for anything made by Porsche — we know a Porsche when we see one. And now, we can add the all-new third generation 2025 Mini Countryman to the “the same, but different, but similar” list. While “all-new” usually brings strong design changes throughout (I’m looking at you, 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe , even though that’s taking change to a whole other level), the Countryman is still very much a Mini product through and through, even with a platter of modern updates.
I spent a week with the base S trim, which is nicely decked out with features, a rarity in the premium/luxury world. Let’s dive in to see how much has changed and how much has remained the same. What powers the 2025 Mini Countryman? Sharing both a platform and an engine with the BMW X1 , the 2025 Mini Countryman draws power from a 2.
0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Power figures have spiked to 241 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, run through a seven-speed dual clutch transmission and all-wheel drive (ALL4 in Mini-speak) is standard. That’s 52 additional horsepower and a whopping 89 additional lb-ft of torque over the previous generation.
There’s also the performance-driven JCW variant that boosts horsepower to 312 while keeping torque figures the same. There are seven “experiences” or modes, but the ones that impact drive feel are Core (normal mode), Green (eco mode) and Go-Kart (sport mode). Vivid, Timeless, Balance and Trail impact the interior ambience and imagery on the infotainment system.
Most will live in that normal/Core mode for everyday driving as it’s the most balanced feel. Perhaps a dip into eco/Green periodically for those consumption-conscious drivers. Interestingly, there are no paddle shifters here so even in Go-Kart mode, it’s a right-foot only exercise.
How does the Mini Countryman drive? On the road, the new Countryman brings a smoother and refined ride to the playful brand. With its stretched exterior dimensions adding 5.1 inches in length, 0.
8 inches in width and 2.4 inches in height, there’s still a composed driving feel; most won’t notice the larger body presence behind the wheel. There’s certainly more of a mature BMW drive feel, as opposed to a fun and exciting Mini feel — this is a good thing, especially in this class.
The big bump in power is a welcomed upgrade and the seven-speed transmission does well in running up and down its gears, with only sparse moments of uncertainty between lower gear changes. If you feel the ride is too rough and rigid for your liking, there’s a $600 option for an adaptive suspension. For what it’s meant for, there’s ample power to reach highway and passing speeds, and it’s comfortable in urban conditions.
What’s the fuel economy in the 2025 Mini Countryman? Running off a 54L fuel tank with premium fuel, Natural Resources Canada rates the fuel consumption of the 2025 Mini Countryman at 9.8 L/100 km in the city, 7.3 on the highway and 8.
7 combined, a slight decrease from the 9.0 combined rating of the 2024 model. For real-world driving, that’s a touch over 600 km of driving range between gas station stops.
What exterior changes have been made to the 2025 Mini Countryman? In addition to the aforementioned dimensional increases, there’s a new C-pillar design element, reminiscent of the Land Rover Defender , with a square design piece stuck on for visual flair. Thankfully, It’s not as peculiar as the Kia Niro ’s C-pillar design. The historically round headlights keep a similar oval shape but add in sharp-ish angles.
The party trick is that when starting and shutting off the Countryman, the daytime running light/turn signal portion of the headlights move in a patterned sequence instead of simply turning on and off. It’s similar to the new crop of BMWs, which isn’t surprising. You can also choose one of three designs for how the taillights look, with classic, favoured and John Cooper Works being your options.
It’s still a Mini at first, second and third glance; it’s just been modernized. Interior changes in the Mini Countryman Following the theme of modernized, the infotainment screen is still circular, registering at 9.4 inches in diameter.
Using Samsung’s OLED technology, the resolution is extremely high and the colours are vibrant. Utilizing the new Mini Operating System 9, the responsiveness should be lightning fast but there’s a bit of a lag at times between touch and response. Is it a first-world problem? Absolutely.
Adjusting the temperature requires precision by hand as the inputs are quite small and near the perimeter. There are voice controls available, including its adorable pooch named Spike for a few functions, including navigation requests and activating the standard heated front seats. Note that there’s no longer a rotary dial to control the infotainment system; it’s touch-only for 2025.
The infotainment screen itself doubles as a speedometer, with distance to empty, fuel and power gauges also included. The default is to have your speed in a smallish font at top centre. However, tap the speed readout and the entire screen becomes a speedometer.
Thankfully, a head-up display comes standard for those who don’t want to glance away from the road to monitor their screen. Seating material sees the absence of leather and replaced by Vescin, a synthetic leather made from recycled materials and is fully recyclable. Out of the box brings a Vescin and cloth design, while opting for the “favoured style” package gives you Vescin throughout.
Door and dashboard panels also see the use of recycled materials via textiles that have a soft carpet-like feel and appear in a brown to blue colour fade; the irk is that if you drive with your left arm on the window sill, it’s not going to be comfortable in short sleeves. Mini has also engineered lights that reflect the previously mentioned experience modes on the dashboard panels. Below the infotainment screen sees the new location for the gear selector via toggle, along with the “experiences” mode selector.
Gone is the long lever, instead the vacant space creates an open feeling between front occupants. Twisting the start/stop engine, well, does just that; fun fact: the toggle works both to the left and right. The last piece of this console is a volume knob, positioned furthest away from the driver — thank goodness the volume controls on the steering wheel work well.
Another fun fact, well, more odd than fun: the bottom spoke of the steering wheel is now a piece of fabric that’s decorative. The additional 5.1 inches of length and 2.
4 inches of height result in a generous amount of head and legroom for rear passengers. I sit all the way back, thanks to my ill-proportioned body, and I say that to say this: I can easily sit behind myself with legroom to spare. How much cargo space does the 2025 Mini Countryman have? Plenty.
Specifically, it’s up by approximately 25% compared to the last generation. With the rear seats up, you have 460 litres of cargo, which more than triples to 1,450 litres with the 40/20/40 rear seats folded, which reiterates just how much rear seat space is available in this Mini. What standard features come with the 2025 MINI Countryman? Highlights include a panoramic sunroof, LED headlights with cornering functions for better visibility around bends in the road, a heated steering wheel, wireless charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 18-inch wheels and remote start.
How much does the 2025 MINI Countryman cost in Canada? The entry S trim brings an MSRP of $45,990 and in a rare case when it comes to base models of vehicles, I’d actually take it without any options because of just how well-equipped it is out of the box. There’s a Premiere+ Line package for $4,000 that adds items including a surround view camera, upgraded Harmon Kardon audio system and the Driving Assistant Professional. There’s also a Favoured Style option for $2,000 with highlights being JCW sport seats, black roofliner, and a closable storage bin between the front seats.
Tack on the eye-watering $2,245 for freight and PDI , plus a few other fees and you can be in the mid-$50K price range pre-tax. For reference, the BMW X1 , which shares the same platform, starts at only $210 more, so perhaps there’ll be some in-house competition between these two similar-but-not-the-same subcompact crossovers. Final thoughts Between the increased size both inside and out, the lift in power figures, a new platform and advanced technology, the 2025 Mini Countryman should do well for the brand.
Sure, there are some quibbles to be had but that’s unique to each driver. The unknown factor here is reliability, and for Mini’s sake, hopefully it’ll be higher than the previous 3 out of 5 “Predicted Reliability” rating from Consumer Reports for the 2024 Countryman. If you want the fun side of a compact crossover that’s big enough for proper daily use paired with a premium feel, this Mini just might be your maximum choice.
✔ Increased interior room ✔ Advanced technology ✔ Great value in base model ✘ No paddle shifters ✘ A bit of a lag between touch screen and response times ✘ BMW X1 starts at only $210 more Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on X , Tiktok and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice..
