The British brand MINI at the end of October 2016 celebrated the virtual premiere of the second generation Countryman compact crossover, whose "live" debut took place less than a month later at the stands of the international auto show in Los Angeles.
If the changes in the appearance of the car turned out to be only "evolutionary", then in other aspects of the transformation they turned out to be more significant - it noticeably enlarged, stepping into the C-class, "moved" to a new platform, received an updated palette of power plants, tried on a more ergonomic interior and acquired modern "Chips".
After the change of generation, "Countryman" retained the relief forms and proportions of its predecessor, but began to look not only more attractive and more harmonious, but also noticeably more masculine. In front, the SUV looks at the world with aggressive lighting technology and grins with the "mouth" of the radiator grille, and at the back it flaunts spectacular vertical lights and a powerful bumper. Yes, and in profile the five-door did not disappoint - the outlines characteristic of Mini models with a short hood, "swollen" wheel arches and a "hanging" roof.
In terms of its external dimensions, the "second" Mini Countryman is a full-fledged "player" of the C-segment: the crossover is 4299 mm long, 1557 mm high and 1822 mm wide (excluding mirrors). The gap between the pairs of wheels in the "Briton" fits into 2670 mm, and the clearance under the bottom reaches 165 mm.
The interior of "Countryman" is beautiful, intricate and attentive even to the smallest details, but at the same time less cartoonish than its predecessor.
In the direct introduction of the driver is an excellent three-spoke "steering wheel" with developed tides on the rim and control elements and an analog instrument cluster with a speedometer at the head.
The plump center console, as before, is headed by a huge "round", into which the screen of a multimedia complex with a diagonal of 6.5-8.8 inches is inscribed (in the "base" there is a two-color display of 2.7 inches), and below there are three massive regulators of the climate system and "family" tumblers.
Inside, the car boasts not only a high-quality level of assembly, but also decent finishing materials.
The interior of the Mini Countryman has five seats in all versions, and there is enough free space for a serene life both in the front and in the back.
The front seats have an impeccable structure with dense lateral bolsters and solid adjustment ranges, and the second row of seats "flaunts" a good backrest profile with a variable inclination, moderately stiff cushion and longitudinal adjustment in the range of 130 mm.
The luggage compartment of the second generation "Countryman" is not only correctly configured and high-quality finished, but also capacious: its volume in the standard form is 450 liters (under the shelf), and with the folded "gallery" - 1309 liters (under the roof). The rear sofa transforms in a ratio of 40:20:40, and even forms a flat platform.
Specifications. For the second "release" of the British crossover, five modifications are provided (and one of them is hybrid), which are equipped with a 6-speed "mechanics" (not available only for the most powerful diesel engine) or an 8-band "automatic" Steptronic, and the gasoline-electric version is equipped with 6- step automatic transmission. By default, the entire traction reserve of the five-door goes to the front wheels, and for a surcharge, an all-wheel drive system with an electro-hydraulic Haldex clutch of the 5th incarnation is offered, which activates the rear axle (where up to 50% of the moment can be transmitted).
- Under the hood performance Cooper there is a B38 three-cylinder gasoline unit with a volume of 1.5 liters with a turbocharger, one balance shaft, 12-valve timing, direct injection and adjustment of the phases at the outlet and inlet, producing 136 horsepower at 4400-6000 rpm and 220 Nm of maximum potential at 1400-4300 rpm.
- Versions Cooper S relies on a gasoline 2.0-liter "turbo four" with an aluminum block, a twin-scroll turbocharger, direct power supply, a pair of balance shafts and a throttle-free mixture formation system, the return of which reaches 192 "stallions" at 5000-6000 rpm and 280 Nm of thrust at 1350-4600 rpm.
- Diesel modifications Cooper D and Cooper SD "Armed" with a four-cylinder 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, 16-valve timing and Common Rail fuel injection. In the first case, it produces 150 "mares" at 4000 rpm and 330 Nm of torque at 1750-2500 rpm, and in the second - 190 forces and 400 Nm at identical rpm.
- Hybrid option Cooper S E has in its arsenal the aforementioned petrol "troika" with a volume of 1.5 liters and an 88-horsepower synchronous electric motor (165 Nm), which together generate 224 "horses" and 385 Nm of available traction.
The "second" Mini Countryman accelerates to a maximum speed of 197-225 km / h, "firing" from a standstill to 100 km / h after 7.2-9.8 seconds.
Gasoline versions in a combined mode "digest" 5.7-7.1 liters of fuel per "hundred", diesel - 4.5-5.1 liters.
A combined cycle petrol car consumes only 2.1 liters, and on pure electricity it can travel up to 40 km at a speed of up to 125 km / h (it takes 3 hours and 15 minutes to recharge batteries from a household power supply).
"Countryman" of the second generation uses the UKL platform with an independent MacPherson-type system in front and a multi-link configuration at the rear ("in a circle" there are transverse stabilizers). Electronically controlled Dynamic Damper Control shock absorbers with three operating modes (Mid, Sport, Green) are available for a surcharge. High-strength steels and aluminum are widely used in the body of the SUV.
"Briton" is standardly equipped with rack and pinion steering with an active electric amplifier, as well as brake "pancakes" on all wheels (with ventilation in the front) with ABS, BA, EBD and other "gadgets".
Options and prices. In the Russian market, MINI Countryman of the second generation in 2018 is offered at a price of 1,690,000 rubles - this is how much they ask for a basic version of a SUV with a 136-horsepower engine and a front-wheel drive transmission.
As a standard, the car “flaunts”: six airbags, dynamic “cruise”, air conditioning, ABS, ESP, 16-inch alloy wheels, ERA-GLONASS technology, four power windows, heated front seats, an infotainment complex, a rear view camera, rear sensors parking and other equipment.
The four-wheel drive version of the Cooper ALL4 costs from 1,990,000 rubles, the Cooper D ALL4 with a diesel engine is sold for at least 2,100,000 rubles, and for the "heated" Cooper S ALL4 and Cooper SD ALL4 you will have to pay from 2,190,000 and 2,290,000 rubles, respectively.
"Top" equipment includes (in addition to the above options): dual-zone climate control, 17-inch "rollers", parking assistance and some other "bells and whistles".
