MINI John Cooper Works Countryman

A highly-sought-after performance-oriented model, the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman, upgraded and launched in Malaysia.

Alias U25, the third-generation Countryman is an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE - petrol) counterpart to the Countryman Electric (BEV).

Fully-imported (CBU - Germany), the crossover (compact SUV) comes in the JCW Countryman ALL4 variant (MYR 399,000).

Price (OTR, w/o insurance) covers a standard warranty (two years, unlimited-mileage), and a Roadside Assistance program (five years). Optional extended warranty (MYR 12,100 - four years, unlimited-mileage).

Six exterior colours (Smokey Green, Legend Grey, Nanuq White, Melting Silver, Blazing Blue, Chilli Red). One interior colour (Black-Red-Grey).

The new JCW Countryman gets a premium, minimalistic and tiered dashboard design, linked to a wide-two-levelled centre console. 

Outfitted with the JCW Trim, it sees soft-/hard-touched panels draped in two-tone-accented (Black-Red) two-dimensional knitted fabric (Houndstooth).

Centre-staged is the floating circular screen unit, flanked on each side by a set of slim and roundly-rectangular air-conditioning vents.

Overall, the layout is ergonomically-arranged, with very easy reachability (drive-oriented, user-friendly).

A dual-functioning (instrument cluster/infotainment) floating-circular central unit (MINI Interaction Unit), installed is a 9.4-Inch LED touchscreen, incorporating a Head-Up Display (HUD).

Running on the MINI Operating System 9 (MINI OS 9 - Android), it supports the MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant (voice control system - ‘Hey MINI’ - MINI/Spike - MINI avatar), and the MINI Experience Modes (Core, Go-Kart, Green, Vivid, Timeless, Balance, Personal, Trail).

Premium and comfortable, the interior of the five-seater sees the JCW Trim treatment, featuring leatherette (perforated Vescin) upholstery in two-tone colours (Black - Red-Grey accents).

The front is installed with electronic-powered (driver/passenger - multi-way, massage, lumbar, driver-memory) JCW (John Cooper Works) sport seats.

The rear comes with a manual-operated (recline, 40:20:40 split-fold) bench seat. Included are armrests (front - centre console, rear - centre seat fold-out).

Heightening the environment is an ambient lighting system (multi-colour - MINI Experience Modes), and a headliner (Black).

The crossover offers generous head-, shoulder- and leg-room, providing front/rear occupants with ample space and mobility.

Cabin’s spaciousness is majorly due to its stocky build. Increased dimensions compared to its predecessor (+60 MM tall, +130 MM long). 

Mounted is a three-spoke JCW steering wheel, wrapped in leather and fabric (lower spoke).

Features are multi-switches (Bluetooth, media, vehicle settings), paddle shifters, and column adjustments (tilt, telescopic). 

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) system.

Numerous storage areas. E.g., door/seat back pockets, centre console caverned/partitioned spaces, and a glove box.

Provided are four cup holders (two - front, rear), and four bottle holders (one - side doors).

Provided are four USB ports (two-front, two-rear), one 12 V socket (front), and a wireless charger (front).

Accessing its electric-tailgate (contactless - key fob, sensor), opens up to 505-Litres (rear seats up) and 1,530-Litres (rear seats down) of load capacities.

The new JCW Countryman measures at 4,433 MM long, 1,843 MM wide, 1,656 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,692 MM.

Strikingly-sporty with elements exclusive to itself, its exterior exudes seamlessly-rounded and mildly-angular contours.

The front-end sees MINI’s powerdome bonnet and octagonal grille, smoothly-shaped fenders, and a vented bumper with a lip kit (matching - fenders, side sills).

Exclusive, outfitted is the JCW Trim, featuring aggressive-looking details (chequered flag insert/High-Gloss Black framings - grille, vents, lip kit), coloured (Red) side mirrors/roof, and bonnet/corner vents streaks (High-Gloss Black-Red/Red).

Accentuating the outlook are the ‘MINI’ (top-centre fascia - Chrome) and ‘JCW’ (top-right grille - White-Red) emblems.

Smoothly-rounded and stretched-out with clean lines, it projects a fairly-elongated silhouette, emphasised by a mildly-dipped roofline.

The rear-end sees a roof-edge spoiler, sleekly-bulging fenders/tailgate, and a bumper with a diffuser and quad-tailpipes (matching lip kits - fenders, side sills). 

Exclusive, outfitted is the JCW Trim, featuring aggressive-looking details (High-Gloss Black framings - window surrounds, diffuser), and coloured (Red) C-pillars/roof.

Accentuating the outlook are the ‘MINI’ emblem (top-centre tailgate - Chrome) and ‘Countryman’ (top-right grille - Chrome) script.

Rounded no more, it is now angularly-framed with darkened internals, posing a new key feature to the classic MINI face.

Installed are adaptive Matrix LED units, featuring perimeter LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), automatic On/Off, turn signals and High-Beam Assist (HBA).

Elongated and mildly-rounded, the tail lamps are iconic of the MINI with a darkened perimeter and the Union Jack light graphic. 

Installed are full LED units, featuring turn signals and a customisable lighting function (three light signatures).

The two-tone (High-Gloss Black-Red) side mirrors are electronic-powered (auto-fold, adjust), with turn-signals, blind-spot indicator (Blind Spot Monitor - BSM), automatic anti-dazzle, and MINI logo ground projection.

Installed are ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes, featuring JCW Performance Brakes with coloured callipers (Red).

Aiding the setup is an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Exclusive, it surges on a set of 20-Inch five-twin-spoke (JCW-Flag-style) single-tone (Black) aluminium-alloy rims, rubbered-up in 245/40 R20 Pirelli P Zero tyres.

The new JCW Countryman features the following sets of Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).

Under Driving Assistant, grouped are Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Lane Change Warning (LCW), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Manual Speed Limit Assist (MSLA), Avoidance Assistance System (AAS), Collision Warning System (CWS), Junction Warning System (JWS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop/Go, Rear Cross Traffic Warning (RCTW) with Brake Intervention, and Road Sign Recognition System (RSRS).

Under Parking Assistant Plus, grouped are Active Park Distance Control (APDC), Reversing Assistant System (RAS), Park Assist System (PAS), and Panorama Parking View (PPV - 360-degree camera).

Other systems include Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), High-Beam Assist (HBA) and Hill-Start Assist (HSA).

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, front side, front-rear curtain), seat belts (anchor, pretensioner, reminder), ISOFIX (two - outer rear seats), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), parking sensors (six - front, rear), automatic anti-dazzle rear-view mirrors (interior, exterior), automatic-dipping interior rear-view mirror, door ajar warning, attentive assist (interior), automatic-speed-sensing door locks, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), and security alarm (anti-theft, immobiliser).

Incorporated are four selectable drive modes (Mid, Green, Sport, Snow).

A dual-functioning (instrument cluster/infotainment) floating-circular central unit (MINI Interaction Unit), installed is a 9.4-Inch LED touchscreen, incorporating a Head-Up Display (HUD).

Running on the MINI Operating System 9 (MINI OS 9 - Android), it supports the MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant (voice control system - ‘Hey MINI’ - MINI/Spike - MINI avatar), the MINI Experience Modes (Core, Go-Kart, Green, Vivid, Timeless, Balance, Personal, Trail), Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

Entertainment is channelled via a 12-speaker setup of the Harman Kardon Hi-Fi loudspeaker system.

The new JCW Countryman harbours an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE - Petrol).

Featured is a 2.0-Litre in-line four-cylinder 16-valve direct-injection turbocharged petrol engine (B48), producing 300 HP (221 KW) and 400 NM.

Fused to the mill is a seven-speed Steptronic Sport DCT (Dual-Clutch Transmission) automatic transmission.

Power is transmitted to all four wheels, via an ALL4 All-Wheel Drive (ALL4-AWD) system.

Acceleration from 0 to 100 KM/H takes 5.4 seconds and top speed is 250 KM/H.

Fuel tank capacity is at 51-Litres, and the fuel consumption is rated at 8.3 L /100 KM.

The new JCW Countryman features these conveniences.

E.g., Comfort Access system (keyless-easy-entry unlock, engine Start/Stop button), electric-tailgate (contactless - key fob, sensor), two-zone automatic climate control (rear vents), interior lighting (map, reading, boot, ambient), MINI Interaction Unit (MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant, MINI Experience Modes), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), parking sensors (six - front, rear), blind-spot indicator (Blind Spot Monitor - BSM)/automatic anti-dazzle rear-view mirrors (interior/exterior), automatic-dipping interior rear-view mirror, steering wheel (multi-switches, column adjustments, paddle shifters, EPAS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, electronic-powered (driver/passenger - multi-way, massage, lumbar, driver-memory) sport seats, automatic headlamps (On/Off/high-beam), automatic wipers (rain sensing, intermittent), armrests (front, rear), and wireless charging tray.

Installed is a two-zone automatic climate control with rear vents.

Propping-up the chassis are MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear) suspensions.

Overall solid, refined and agile, the ride quality is MINI (Go-Kart experience) and the sporty drive offers a wonderfully smooth power delivery.

Good sound insulation, with all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects accounted for. 

The cabin is able to suppress wind, road and tyre noises extremely well, making them barely noticeable at all speeds, even when cruising through bumpy asphalts.

The new MINI JCW Countryman is in a class of its own. Enveloped by an elegant and a sporty appeal that commands a presence like no other.

Quality of the equipment and materials installed inside impresses with the upscale, mature design and restrained detailing.

Underpinning a petrol-infused powertrain, it offers an exhilarating driving experience (MINI Go-Kart experience) only a MINI is able to.

Overall, the new JCW Countryman is just a strong character, a great crossover that offers a striking outlook, sporty performance and practicality all in one.