2025 Mini Countryman EV

Although BMW purchased the Mini brand in the 1990s and modern examples are much larger than their mid-20th century forebears, Mini retains a lot of its retro cool British sensibility. Some vehicles are still assembled in the UK. The sporty Mini Cooper is one of the smallest vehicles on the market, with a go-kart-like character that makes it exceptionally fun to drive. The larger Countryman competes with small SUVs, and John Cooper Works editions add even more power and more raucous handling. Mini sells both gas and electric versions (branded as “SE”) of every vehicle. Manual transmissions are no longer offered. Until recently, Mini had a checkered reliability history—several older models sat near the bottom of our reliability ratings. However, newer Minis have been among the most reliable on the market. Buyers of used models should pay careful attention to which model and year they choose.

The Mini Countryman SUV is redesigned for the 2025 model year, and as before, it shares its platform with the BMW X1. There is also a fully electric version, called the SE ALL4 with 212 miles of electric range, which is short by today's standards. The EV eliminates the drivability quirks of the gas version with smooth, effortless getaway. Unfortunately the default adaptive regenerative braking is not always in tune with the driver's intentions. The EV is just as nimble as the regular Countryman even though the steering is lighter. Ride comfort is a bit better due to the added 800 pounds plus of the EV. Home charging is helped by an 11 kW on-board charger that can pump about 30 miles of range per hour. Maximum acceptance rate of 130 kW at public DC-fast charging places is not very competitive. The quirky interior employs a giant, circular center screen as well as a head-up display that acts as the driver screen. Controls are daunting at first but manageable with familiarity. The Mini finally gets blind spot warning (BSW) and the optional Driver Assistance Pro comes with adaptive cruise control that has a lane-changing ability.