2017 MINI Countryman arrives – a bigger, better looking Countryman from £22,465

The new 2017 MINi Countryman has been revealed ahead of an LA debut, with improved looks, improved tech, a plug-in hybrid and prices from £22,465.

We’ve known for some time that the 2017 MINI Countryman would debut this year, and here it is ahead of its LA Motor Show debut as a bigger, cleaner, cleverer Countryman with the option of a plug-in hybrid powertrain and prices from £22,465.

To our eyes the new Countryman is better looking than the current model (although that wouldn’t be hard), and sits on the same UKL2 Platform BMW uses, making the new plug-in hybrid COuntryman essentially a BMW 225xe in MINI garb.

The new platform and new design see the 2017 Countryman grow – 200mm in length and a smidge in width – with a wheelbase a useful 75mm longer for more leg room – and a bigger boot.

The new design looks more purposeful and cohesive than before – and less incongruous – and is more compact SUV than inflated MINI, with sill plates and roof rails across the range signalling intent.

Much of the design improvements – like the new nose – echo the new MINI range, and the interior of the Countryman is very familiar too if you’ve been in a recent MINI, but with a bit of added butch.

Engine choices for the new Countryman are a pair of diesels, a pair of petrols and a plug-in hybrid, with All4 4WD on offer across the range and manual or automatic gearboxes too.

The plug-in hybrid – the MINI Cooper SE Countryman All4 to give it its full title – is a BMW 225xe under the skin, delivering 224bhp when the petrol and electric motors work together, with 4WD provided by an electric motor on the back axle, the promise of 25 miles of EV running, 0-62mph in under 7 seconds and a gazillion miles per gallon.

The rest of the new MINI Countryman range is more conventionally propelled, with the Cooper getting a 134bhp three-cylinder petrol, the Cooper D a 148bhp 2.0 litre diesel, the Cooper SD a 187bhp version of the same engine and the Cooper S a 189bhp petrol. Which makes the plug-in Countryman the most powerful Countryman by far.

Customisation will be key to MINI’s Countryman marketing, and the options and choices will be seemingly endless, although, as is the case with the current car, just about everyone will opt for the £3k Chilli Pack to add leather, LED lights, Climate and heated seats – and rather fewer the new MINI Picnic Bench –  to add to the standard equipment across the range which includes Sat Nav and Bluetooth.

The 2017 MINI Countryman has now gone on sale in MINI’s UK dealers, with prices from £22,465 for the MINI Cooper Countryman rising to £29,565 for the MINI Cooper SD ALL4 Countryman. We don’t yet have prices for the MINI Cooper SE Countryman All4.

2017 MINI Countryman Video