Mini India has unveiled the Countryman C, a new locally-built SUV. It comes in at Rs 47.50 lakh (ex-showroom) and is marketed as a lower priced and bigger version of Mini’s flagship.
A Larger Mini – Produced in India
Mini’s upward trend to bigger cars is on full display with the Countryman C. It maintains the brand’s playful essence while providing space and functionality for families. Originally, it was very expensive to import a large Mini. With assembly done in Chennai, the price is now much lower than its imported siblings, and comparable to other luxury SUVs.
Design and Size
The car will be based on Mini’s “Charismatic Simplicity” design philosophy, and will be larger and more expressive than the mini. Outside, it has an octagonal grille and adaptive LED headlights with customizable daytime running lights. The new badges, logos and skid plates are all champagne colored, replacing the chrome.
It is the largest Mini available in India, is 4,447mm long, 1,843mm wide, 1,661mm tall, has a 190mm of ground clearance which is ample for most roads in India, and a wheelbase of 2,692mm. There are five colors to choose from – Chilli Red, Smokey Green, British Racing Green, Nanuq White and Slate Blue – and all these are worn with a black roof and a black 19-inch two-tone alloy wheel.
Engine and Performance
The engine in the Countryman C is a turbo powered 1.5-litre, three-cylinder, petrol-powered motor that delivers 156 hp (154.21 bhp) and 240 Nm of torque, connected to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that powers the front wheels. It goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.0 seconds and has a top speed of 212 km/h. Efficiency is boosted by the use of brake energy recovery and auto start-stop and it is claimed to have a fuel economy of 15.92 km/l.
Interior and Technology
Onboard, Mini replaced the instrument cluster with a clean, minimal design centered around a 240 mm (9.4-inch) circular OLED touchscreen. This screen is responsible for navigating, climate, infotainment, and driving data and features Mini Operating System 9, which is voice-controlled with the command “Hey Mini.
Cabin is made up of reused textile materials on the dashboard, doors. The seats are electrically adjustable JCW Sports Seats finished in Vintage Brown Vescin material, with a massage function for the driver. Other extras include a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a head-up display, ambient lighting and a digital key. In addition, there are eight driving modes—including Go-Kart Mode, Green Mode—which adjust the lighting, display format and throttle response.
Space Inside
The rear seats have an extra 130 mm of recline and can be extended back to give extra legroom and/or space in the boot. Normally 505 litres, the boot would expand to 1,450 litres when fitted with the rear seats folded flat.
Safety Features
Euro NCAP has given the Countryman a 5-star safety rating. The standard safety equipment includes six airbags, cornering brake control, ABS, cornering traction control, stability control, crash sensors and disc brakes on all wheels. It also receives Level 1 driver-assist systems like pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera and parking assist.
Price and Rivals
The Countryman C is available with the single “Favoured Pack” trim, and retails at ex-showroom price of Rs 47.50 lakh. The fully imported Countryman JCW All4 will sell for Rs 64.90 lakh, indicating the extent of price reduction at the hands of local assembly. This price tag puts it on par with cars such as the BMW X1 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA and more interesting than most luxury SUVs.
Ownership
Mini India also provides the after-sales packages, EMI options, and a value of up to 66% on the buy-back after three years of the Mini Smart Finance Program. They are already available for booking and delivery at dealerships all over India.
