Mini Countryman C Exclusive - long-term review

How time flies – I simply can’t believe that our six months with the Countryman is already up. Big life events certainly take your mind off the calendar...

To the matter at hand. We asked a simple question at the start of the Countryman’s run: is the largest Mini ever overinflated or a big success? And I’m going to have to answer that on a personal level. But before I do, we must bear in mind that Minis have such an enormous following, such dedicated fans, such dyed-in-the-wool enthusiasts, that honestly, for them, it seems the Mini brand can do absolutely nothing wrong.

More than that, many of these people feel Mini is the only company doing everything right. I am not one of these people. I have a very well-rounded view on car brands, and am not married specifically to any of them. An impartial driver, you might say.

Back to the question... and to my mind, the Countryman is not a big success. It’s not not a success, but it’s not the big hit we wanted it to be and it’s not the future. Yes, I’ve had many easy, comfortable journeys in it, and it’s done all that I’ve asked... so in many ways its time with us has been very successful.

But the point of Mini is that it’s fun and cheery and joyful and all those other things that have made it an iconic brand, and the Countryman simply doesn’t join the hallowed ranks of Minis that make you smile. Frankly, it’s undermining the good that’s being done elsewhere in the range.

But of course this doesn’t make it a car that people won’t want to buy. And it certainly doesn’t make it a bad car. That’s the joy of personal opinion – everyone’s is different. And as I have pointed out, the Mini has done all I have asked of it.

Its economy has improved over the time it’s been with us and is now regularly an impressive 37.2mpg, with better figures recorded on some longer, slower trips. It’s been comfortable, both up front and for passengers sitting in the rear. And it’s had enough space to take any load that I have levelled at it. Nothing has broken, nothing has even shown a hint of going wrong – it’s been a reliable, faithful companion.

Would I buy one myself? I would not. Would I be astonished if you bought one? Not in the slightest. Each to their own.