MINI Countryman Here Soon

(Monday 6 September 2010)

The fourth model in the MINI range, the Countryman, officially goes on sale in the UK next Saturday (September 18), though if you haven't already placed an order you won't be able to get one until early in 2011.

The Countryman is the first MINI with four doors (as opposed to two for the hatch and Convertible and three for the Clubman estate), and the first with a four-wheel drive system called ALL4, which is available on the Cooper D and Cooper S from launch and on the Cooper from 2012.

There are five models in total, each with its own engine. The petrol models are the One (98bhp, £16,000), the Cooper (122bhp, £17,495) and the turbocharged Cooper S (184bhp, £20,810), and there are two further versions with a new 1.6-litre turbo diesel engine and a choice of two maximum power outputs (90bhp, £17,000 and 112bhp, £18,810).

These prices assume front-wheel drive only. ALL4 is an option costing £1065 on the Cooper D and £1220 on the Cooper S. Both diesels have the same official fuel economy and CO2 figures of 64.2mpg and 115g/km, though in practice the 90bhp car is likely to use less fuel. The Cooper D ALL4 will be less economical.

Every Countryman comes as standard with air-conditioning, a Thatcham Category 1 alarm, heated door mirror and washer jets, rear parking sensors, Dynamic Stability Control, DAB digital radio, USB and Bluetooth connections, six airbags, roof rails and preparation for a bike rack, though the rack itself (which also carries surfboards and allows the rear hatch to be opened without first removing the rack) is an optional extra.

Unlike other MINIs, this one is built in Austria by Magna Steyr. MINI has confirmed, however, that its next two models - the Coupé and Roadster - will be produced at its factory in Oxford.