MINI Countryman PHEV review - DrivingElectric

The MINI Countryman Cooper S E All4 plug-in hybrid looks great on paper, with an official electric range of 25 miles and enough performance to justify the ‘Cooper S’ badge on the boot. But is it a strong enough package overall? Vicky Parrott gives her verdict…

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[peterhawtin]

having seen dozens of reviews for this car and been an owner for 3 months I can confirm this is a great review`(the best / most accurate). It highlights the key pros and cons. Having switched from the Outlander PHEV they are like chalk and cheese. The Outlander had a slightly longer EV range (when new), a larger boot and could tow up to 1, 500 kg caravan but was not nice to sit in or drive: too much up and down and sideways motion, like sailing! The Mini if you don’t mind losing some boot space is a pleasure to sit and drives like a dream. It can do leisurely eco driving and when you need it delivers sports performance and handling that would be difficult to get in a similar sized SUV. I love it.

[katydid]

As everything I need is within 10km the range is not a problem. If I go on longer journeys here in Australia I need the hybrid. My perfect car, and beats the socks off the other boring ones as far as style is concerned. Love you to do an update to this.

[troopoo]

You mentioned nothing about how the electric motor and the engine work together or more importantly, fuel economy.

[thecades]

It's disappointing car reviewers do not learn how to drive these plug in hybrids. I'm achieving 71% battery running my BMW 225xe (same as Countryman e) using sports mod to charge and max battery when running on battery. Any long trips they are all achieving at least on 55% battery only.
New longer range batteries are going into the Countryman & BMW in July. Increased from 41km to 57km.

[peternugent]

The 2021 model has a bigger battery, so more EV range, and that deals, to some extent, with the main criticism in this review.

[NickJZ]

Hi, so once the battery is out of juice and the gas engine take over, but now you are carrying the dead battery weight. Am i correct?

[olaszczotkowska]

I'd say definitely get adaptive dampers if you're caring people in the back as on the back seats you can feel every bump and it's not as comfortable as on the front!!

[raycahill]

These reviews are great, thanks. Any chance of a video review of the BMW 225xe which I think uses the same engine/electric motor as the Mini Countryman PHEV?

[calivalley]

I own a ICE Mini "S" Countryman (selling it) and two EV's. I was hopefull that Mini could pull this off but it is a complete fail. Had this been relaesed 8 years ago it may have had a market but that time has passed. Mini needs a full EV, nothing less will do at this point. ICE is dying and any R&D spent on it is wasted envestment. With sunsets on ICE in parts of EU and UK you would think/hope that of all companies MINI would be leading.

[JG-nxjg]

I hate the Nigel farage lights, the rest is cool

[oris]

Vicky appears to be tightrope walking at the beginning of the video!!

[paulriggs]

The MINI EV range is very disappointing :(

The MAXI price is also disappointing :(

[DarrenWale]

No reference of the Golf/Passat GTE models. Faster, better range, more practical and also pretty good to drive....Lack of research perhaps???

[foxylady]

This is just not good enough BMW. YOU COULD DO BETTER.

[leesmith]

The problem with this car is that it is not self charging. Self charging hybrids are more efficient because you don't have to plug them in.