The Mini debuted in 1959 and lasted more the more than 40 years. Through ownership and design changes, long gone is the vehicle’s tiny-only persona. But remnants of the original two-door, four-seater remain.

Available in three trims, the 2025 MINI Countryman is a subcompact sport utility vehicle. It still has toggle switches on the console. It also still has an odometer/infotainment center (now a touchscreen) with different color patterns and display options and it’s nearly the size of the steering wheel. Both are throwbacks from yesteryear.

The interior design adds to the fun. The dashboard and door panels feature flowing two-tone mesh textile that provide a look of luxury when matched with the Vescin (recycled) synthetic leather upholstery. 

The base model and reviewed Countryman S ALL4 begins at $39,895, including the $995 destination charge. In Mini-speak, “ALL4” indicates all-wheel drive (AWD). There’s also the high-performance JCW Countryman ($47,895) and all-electric Countryman SE ($46,195). 

Originally called Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor, vintage Minis were slightly longer than 10 feet; The 2025 Countryman trims are 14.5 feet long.

As motoring icons of the 1960s, early Minis were all about space efficiency. Engines were transverse mounted and the vehicles were front-wheel drive. The cars were touted for passengers and their luggage, with 80 percent of the floor plan available. With its unique layout and styling, a collection of nearly 200 international journalists in 1999 selected the Mini as the second most influential vehicle of the 20th century. It was behind the Ford Model T and ahead of the Citroën DS and Volkswagen Beetle.

Owned by BMW since model year 2000, MINI (the name has been restyled from Mini) the Countryman is now in its third edition, with several options. The crossover SUV in its Countryman S ALL4 trim is equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 241 horsepower. It advances with a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive is standard.

The EPA estimates the 2025 Countryman achieves 24 miles per gallon in city driving, 32 mpg on the highway. Acceleration from 0-to-60 miles per hour takes 6.2 seconds.

Far-removed from its original status, the bigger, more powerful Countryman competes with the Alfa Romeo Tonale, Audi Q3, BMW X1 and X2, Mercedes-Benz GLA and GLB and Volvo XC40.

Among other changes, the 2025 MINI Countryman is 5.1 inches longer than its predecessor. The expansion pushes the cargo area from 17.6 to 25 cubic feet, a sizable addition for MINI’s SUV responsibilities. Folded flat, the cargo area expands to more than 56 cubic feet.

Buy a MINI without a spare tire (a $250 option) and there’s a “hidden” storage area under the rear cargo area. It’s large enough to hold two small laptop bags.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard and Spotify is built-in. The digital voice assistant is a British dog named Spike. (The voice is changeable).

How far has MINI advanced or regressed, depending upon consumers’ preferences? The vehicle also has a hands-free driving assistance feature. It’s operational at speeds under 37 miles per hour. 

Standard equipment on the S ALL4 is plentiful: 18-inch wheels, power liftgate, remote engine start, panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, 9.4-inch round touchscreen infotainment system and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android auto.

All Countryman models also have a strong selection of driver assist features: adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning and parking sensors, lane keeping assistance and a lane centering system.

Several option packages and individually added features advance the Countryman’s conveniences to near luxury: auto-dimming exterior and interior mirrors to parking assistance cameras and rear privacy glass to a Harman Kardon sound system.

Driving the new Countryman may not provide the same experience as the MINIs showcased in the movies The Italian Job or the Bourne Identity. But buy a MINI, grab the heavy hand grips at the 2 and 10 o’clock positions and have some fun. The new MINI Countryman exudes enjoyment for about $45,000. https://www.miniusa.com/