2024 MINI COUNTRYMAN ELECTRIC: A SERIOUS EV CONTENDER
There were two options: Take the redesigned, next-generation MINI Countryman Electric (also called the Countryman SE ALL4) on a winding seaside drive on a road that climbed into the twisty Portuguese coastal hills, or drive in stop and go traffic through the bustling seaside towns of Cascais and Estoril.
It was an easy choice.
For, you see, most MINI Countryman Electric owners won't spend their days doing scenic driving. They'll be using the two-row model to commute and run errands. To test the car in the situation most owners would find themselves in, it was important to head into the city center and discover if the Countryman can really work for its intended audience.
The Countryman Electric has been aerodynamically optimized for this generation. Its smoother visage does not allow it to lose any of its traditional appeal. The SUV wears wheels up to 20-inches in width and design lines both emphasize the car's long and tall stature (compared to other MINIs) while keeping the Countryman's classic proportions in mind.
It is bigger in this generation than the last, and that is best experienced from the inside. Passengers don't feel cramped, and the front seating areas is quite spacious. Much of this is owed to the minimalistic console and dashboard area, which contain everything needed and nothing more, but stylishly.
Sustainability is at the center of the MINI Countryman Electric, and the automaker has executed in interesting ways, with fabrics that have unexpected patterns that give the car's design depth while creating art.
There's good small item storage space there and a special shelf just below the climate control buttons to wirelessly charge a smartphone that allows the phone to be seen but also kept out of the way.
While the centrally-located 9.44-inch round OLED infotainment touchscreen is a change from the typical in-front-of driver digital instrument cluster, it's easy to get used to, even on the fly while driving. With new display modes that give the screen different "moods" the quirky and fun vibe of the Countryman is even more customizable than before.
Two electric motors allow Countryman Electric to deliver 313 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque via throttle press. This combination makes the car zippy, but not so fast you feel like you're taking off. While drivers are able to sense the heft of the vehicle, courtesy of the heavy battery, Countryman Electric is not weighed down by the power source.
That's true when steering too. Countryman is nimble, steering with adept agility around tight European parking lots, around traffic circles, and through intersections that were designed more for horses than modern vehicles. Its standard all-wheel drive helps here too.
Parking the Countryman Electric is a breeze. The combination of handling and technology allow for easy in/out of spaces whether parked at the beach or in the local shopping lot. Countryman's size helps here. While it is bigger than the Cooper, it's smaller than the average U.S. SUV.
Charging a MINI Countryman Electric at a DC fast charger allows for an increase of 10 to 80 percent range in less than 30 minutes, under ideal charging conditions. It can charge at a rate of up to 130 kilowatts, the same as a Nissan Ariya. That's not too speedy, but research has repeatedly shown that most EV drivers charge at home, overnight.
Final Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) range estimates are not yet available for the Countryman Electric, but it is expected to have around 225 miles of all-electric range. On the European WLTP test cycle, the car is rated to go 433 kilometers between charges.
Because the drive route did not include highway, the car's safety and driver assistance systems were not able to be put to the test.
Pricing for the Countryman Electric in the U.S has not yet been made public, but it's likely to run upwards of $43,000, above where the last-generation Countryman Plug-In (a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) sat, experts say.
Americans like big trucks and SUVs, the stereotypes say. Yet, some of the best-selling vehicles in the country are small electric sedans and middle-sized electric hatchbacks. The MINI Countryman Electric/SE ALL4 fits right in thanks to its size, styling and range. If Americans are willing to pay, they'll find themselves quite satisfied with their purchase.
Related Articles
2024-03-13T02:17:53Z dg43tfdfdgfd