MINI JCW Countryman Review

What do you need out of a hot hatch? Unique stand out looks, stiff suspension, uprated engine and exhaust tone, but with the practicality of that model’s everyday functionality. Step in John Cooper Works motorsport tuning, who tackled MINI’s largest… MINI.

MINI JCW Countryman review by John Beale

Engine & Ride

The familiar 4cylinder 1.6litre twin scroll turbo unit, after some JCW tinkering, now produces 160kW and 280NM (with 300NM available on overboost) which is 5kW more than other JCW motors but shamefully “boasts” the same acceleration times as normal Cooper S. This is caused by the weight penalty of size and transmission tunnel running to the rear.

The additional power is immediately noticeable, with a lot more shove from 2500RPM, and it doesn’t run out of steam till over 6000RPM. It doesn’t have the gutsy feel of the Golf VI R, but there’s more than enough punch to justify the JCW badge. Sadly, as I’ve said before, the steptronic automatic does the MINI JCW Countryman no favours. Slow to change and it rides the clutch a little on initial pull off. It also takes some of the fun of really driving a MINI out when mated to an Auto, so if you don’t really need to, don’t spec it. It’s nowhere near as good as the DSG units from Audi / VW.

The Countryman’s handling

That said, in my view, this is the best JCW incarnation yet, which sounds ridiculous, but let me explain. The MINI JCW Countryman is the only model that boasts All4 drivetrain, which can send up to 100% of the power to the rear. For anyone who has driven a MINI, you’ll know the fight you have with the front wheels, and general mania that ensues when cornering, with the front wheels scrabbling to keep traction, and that’s with far less than 160kW. Now some might say that’s the fun of it all, but here in the Countryman, the system offers much more confidence.

All4 makes a huge difference when throwing the MINI JCW Countryman into a corner, the familiar spinning inner wheel is smacked down by the neutral confidence-inducing drive from All4. With sport mode on (which stiffens steering, throttle response and engine mapping) and launch control off the line and the steering wheel doesn’t rip out your hand and send the car careening into the nearest pavement. Win!

Throw her into corners and the firm suspension shows the finger to body roll. So it’s a JCW but surprisingly, it’s not as harsh as normal Cooper S suspension, even though it rides on sexy 18 inch wheels. This is why it’s the best JCW yet: It brings a balance between ride and outright performance, not being a one trick pony like the Cooper S JCW which rides too hard and is really focused. These days a halo performance hatch needs to be more dynamic, and the MINI JCW Countryman does just that. Sadly, it doesn’t have the exhaust and engine note you’d want to scare the folk on the pavement.

The exterior and interior

Besides the mechanic 10mm lower suspension, engine tweaks and uprated brakes, JCW performance pack ads front and rear aero kit, aggressive side sills that have “vents” in them, larger rims and JCW badging pretty much everywhere. I’d opt for all black with red stripes, which gives a particularly aggressive look.

The interior is standard Countryman, being a lot bigger than the Cooper S, but familiar airplane style toggle switches adorn the interior. An interesting choice of chocolate brown all-leather seats against the silver paintwork was odd. That however wasn’t the real problem, but rather the lack of side bolstering and support in the front seats. The Countryman trick is that there is comfortable seating for four adults, with a boot you can use.

Features and Tech

The Connectd (no typo) system is however starting to show its age, and wouldn’t work with the latest iPhone. Standard kit is good, but in typical MINI style there are a variety of add-ons and customization options (like fun customizable interior ambient lighting), available at the peril of your budget. My test unit had over R100 000 worth of optional extras, from BMW Connectd with Sat-Nav, heated seats to adaptive bi-xenon headlamps. Many of these you could leave off, but you’ll find you want to spec some options to get comfortable, and take advantage of making it unique as possible.

Conclusion

The MINI JCW Countryman ticks all the boxes, and with four-wheel traction, is possibly the best handling MINI on sale today. That said, the competition is considerably faster, and when BMW’s own M135i is priced so keenly you need to be a real MINI aficionado to slpash out on performance that isn’t much better than a standard Cooper S. The best work from JCW yet, in isolation, but price could push many into more powerful rivals.

MINI JCW Countryman – Price

MINI JCW Countryman 160kW / 280NM – R450 900 (As tested – R540 000 with all extras)

• View the vehicle : New Mini Countryman / Used Mini Countryman
• Competitors worth checking out:
  • BMW M135i Auto – 235kW/450NM – R486 743
  • Audi S3 Quattro Steptronic (old shape) – 188kW/350NM – R440 975
  • VW Golf VI R – (second hand) – 188kW/350NM – R360 000 (estimate)