You will almost be killed with compact SUVs. And they all look alike. The new Mini Countryman looks original. But is that enough to shake off the experienced Volvo XC40?
The Mini Countryman is bigger than ever. 6 centimeters higher and 13 centimeters longer than its predecessor. This makes it miles away from the original Mini, but so was the previous Countryman.
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The growth spurt has ensured that you can finally sit comfortably in the back of the Countryman. There is sufficient knee, leg and head room. A big improvement compared to previous generations. The interior also feels spacious, even with a jet black headliner, as in our case with the Countryman C John Cooper Works (mild hybrid, 3-cylinder petrol engine with 170 hp).
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The Mini Countryman continues to score points, because the rear seat can be moved over a distance of 13 centimeters and the backrest can be folded down into 3 parts (40/20/40).
Crazy: Mini more spacious than Volvo
You also have plenty of space in the front and back of the Volvo XC40 B3 (mild hybrid, 4-cylinder with 163 hp). But due to the strongly curved side window, you experience a less spacious feeling in the back seat than in the Mini – no matter how strange that sounds. Although it never gets stuffy. The backseat is as flexible as the Øresund Bridge between Sweden and Denmark; sliding a bit forward or backward is not an option.
Volvo compensates for the smaller luggage compartment of the XC40 (443 compared to 505 liters for the Countryman) with extra storage space under the loading floor. It is useful that you can store the parcel shelf here. Even with the second row of seats folded down, the Mini wins. This means 1390 liters will last, the Volvo will stop at 1319 liters. If you used to say that a Mini was more spacious than a Volvo you would be laughed at, but times have changed.
Mini Countryman price
The Mini Countryman is therefore the more spacious SUV of this pair. But you do pay for this. The persistent prejudice that Mini charges maximum prices is still correct. When you look at the price difference with the XC40, you even gasp, the Countryman is so expensive.
Those who own a well-decorated Mini Countryman can especially pull their wallets. At least, if you can make sense of Mini’s new pricing policy. It is more complex than the former train timetable. Mini now works with versions and accessory packages, but not every version can be combined with every package and vice versa. Really, you spend less time solving the Rubik’s Cube.
Electric front seats? 10,900 euros please
Electrically adjustable front seats with memory function? Then you have to select the most complete XL equipment package, something you do with a trembling hand given the price of 10,900 euros. Mini no longer does individual options. So if you don’t want to take selfies with the interior camera, you’re out of luck, it’s also included in the XL package.
The Volvo XC40 has a higher entry price, but with the tested equipment it still ends up well below the level of the Countryman, with a price difference of almost 17 grand! Indeed: shortness of breath.
Read the full test of the Mini Countryman C and Volvo XC40 B3 Auto Review 12/2024.
Source: www.autoreview.nl
