A look around in traffic confirms it – small SUVs are all the rage. And as the original compact SUVs (think Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V) grow, a new group of subcompact SUVs are about the same size as the Toyota and Honda used to be.
The major players in this group are the Nissan Kicks, Mazda CX-30, Kia Soul (“On the Road,” October 2023) and BMW X1, but if you want to stand out from the crowd, there’s also the 2025 MINI Countryman.
The Countryman is the largest of a four-model MINI lineup, including a two-door and four-door MINI Cooper and a MINI Cooper Convertible.
The Countryman is based on the same platform as the BMW X1 (BMW has owned MINI since 2000) and comes three ways, all in ALL4 (MINI’s name for all-wheel-drive): the all-electric Countryman SE with 308 horsepower and an estimated 212 miles of range; the gasoline-powered Countryman S, with 241 horsepower; and the performance-oriented Countryman John Cooper Works ALL4 which bumps up the power from its turbo four-cylinder to 312 horses.
While that’s a negligible difference in horsepower over the electric Countryman SE, it’s important to remember that the battery pack for the EV version adds more than a few pounds. All told the SE is 752 pounds heavier than the Countryman John Cooper Works.
The electric is no slouch, capable of 0-60 sprints in 5.5 seconds, but ditching three 49ers linebackers’ worth of weight allows the Countryman John Cooper Works to do the same run in 4.4 seconds, making it the fastest vehicle ever to wear a MINI badge.
There is a penalty, though, and it’s paid at the pump. While the Countryman SE uses no gasoline and the Countryman S manages 24 mpg city/32 highway, the Countryman JCW dips to 23 city/30 highway. Thanks to a 14.3-gallon fuel tank, a road trip to L.A. can be done without refueling.
The Countryman John Cooper Works also gets JCW-specific parts to make the most of that power, and the driving experience – a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters allows you to shift like you would a manual transmission (sadly, no longer available). Adaptive suspension with selective damping and 19-inch wheels are standard, as are alloy wheels and sport seats.
A brisk run on a winding two-lane is all it takes to begin to love the Countryman JCW’s crisp response and quick reflexes.
The cargo room is decent for the class – 25 cubic feet behind the second-row seats. Fold those down, and there are 56.2 cubic feet available. And rear-seat passengers get generous legroom at 37 inches.
The base price of the Countryman S ALL4 is $38,900, the electric Countryman SE ALL4 begins at $45,200, and our test vehicle, the Countryman John Cooper Works ALL4, starts at $46,900 (all without destination charges).
Besides the features we’ve already discussed, the JCW includes “MINI Experience Modes” that change the center display’s design, remote engine start, a heated steering wheel and heated front seats, power-folding exterior mirrors, dual-zone climate control, a power tailgate, rain-sensing wipers, a panoramic glass roof, head-up display, navigation, a 365-watt surround audio system, four USB ports, ambient interior lighting and a comprehensive suite of active safety features.
Our car also had the Iconic Trim package (privacy glass, power front seats and an interior camera) for $2,400, the Comfort Package Max package (keyless entry, auto-dimming rearview mirror, Driving Assistant Pro – a Level 2 autonomy feature allowing hands-free driving up to 37 mph, Parking Assistant Plus, wireless device charging and Augmented Reality for navigation) for $900, an upgrade to 20-inch JCW flag spoke wheels with sport tires for $600 and JCW performance brakes for $500.
Our car apparently lacked the standard remote start, so there’s a $300 discount on the window sticker. Subtracting that and adding the $995 destination charge, the as-tested price of the 2025 Mini Countryman John Cooper Works ALL4 comes to $51,995.
The hot version of the BMW X1 costs more and isn’t as quick. If you want to get with the small SUV trend and stand out simultaneously, it’s hard to top the MINI Countryman John Cooper Works ALL4.
Mike Hagerty, past vice president of membership for Western Automotive Journalists (waj.org), has been writing about cars since 1997. Read more of his reviews at MikeHagertyCars.com.
