Video Summary
Here's a summary of the electric car review:The Mini Countryman is an example of BMW group sharing platforms and gives the BMW Group a chance to play with things to get a different vibe on the inside and outside. It is available as an internal combustion and electric car. The reviewed model, SE ALL4, is the favorite trim.
Priced at around $75,990 AUD, it shares a platform with the X1 and is much cheaper than it.
Design is a key reason to buy this car. There's a lot of customization and unique look. The iX1 isn't a bad looking car, but the Mini just has a different vibe to it. The big grill down the front is closed off and has a radar up top. The logo and accents around the grill are gold. It has full LED headlights.
The interior is different from any other car. There is fabric along the doors and a circular screen which is high-resolution.
The proximity sensing key has unlock, boot, and diamond lights, with Mini branding on the back.
Inside you have a power key thing like a fake key thing. There is a gear shifter too, all something different. The durometer found the interior to have areas with soft touch, but some parts more firmer, with values linked in the description.
There is a wireless phone charger, and two USB-C ports and a 12v outlet. Much of the central storage area lacks covered storage.
There is a rear camera, privacy glass, roof rails, and glass roof as well. "All 4" signifies an electric motor is on the front and rear axles.
"Countryman" is in individual lettering with another gold Mini logo. Although it's the SE, it's labeled only S.
There's a matte-colored diffuser at the bottom and gold sections down there. The rear spoiler has a wiper, which could have been integrated into the top area.
When engaging smartphone mirroring (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), the screens turn into a rectangular shape, taking away from the effect of the curved design. It has a Harman Kardon branded sound system with AM/FM DAB digital radio.
There is 360 degrees of view, front and rear parking sensors. Quality of the cameras are pretty good, and a 3D view is available.
It is equipped with power tailgates. There's just under 500 liters to work with, a reduced capacity from the internal combustion version due to electric motor placement.
Under the floor is storage for cables. There's a 12v outlet.
The driving range is just over 400 km on WLTP cycle, but cold temperatures will reduce this number.
The battery is NCM; therefore charging it to 100% is not recommended. Instead, charging up to 80% is best practice. AC charging is 11kW and there's an optional 22kW charger. DC Charging average is 100kW, and has 130kW potential.
While the reviewer likes to drive the ICE model, this model does all the "electric stuff" really well. It just needs a slightly bigger battery with more driving range. It also has more road noise and is not as energy efficient. Power outputs are just over 200kW and almost 500Nm. When punching the throttle you get a nice push to the back.
They test body control and swerving lane at 130. However, the steering is not very responsive.
Driver and front passenger seats are electronically adjustable.
It says Mini is pretty good at retaining sure footedness and gives additional boost off the line, while also holding the vehicle nicely between the lanes.
For the autonomous tests, while visibility is good, but the head up display (HUD) isn't as effective as it could be, while it could be that the car steering wheel is getting in the way. As such, it could use work.
