The Drive Report: Mini Countryman Electric

The Countryman has always been an oddity of sorts, given that it has the word Mini as a prefix even though it's anything but. However, taking the Mini’s funky retro aesthetic and applying it to a family estate, it turns out, is a winning combo. A combo that now gets an electric powertrain resulting in the first all-electric Countryman. However, the competition for the Countryman Electric is tough, with new entrants like BYD and Hyundai offering fairly comfortable (and stylish) options in the sub Rs 50 lakh. What the Countryman Electric offers however, is ample space, unmatched style and elegance. Oh, and there’s also its tried-and-tested BMW EV underpinnings.

There’s something almost SUV-ish about the Mini Countryman. The third iteration is the largest one yet standing 60mm taller and 130mm longer. The retro curves of the previous model have been replaced by sharp edges and despite not having an engine, it’s got a bonnet bulge. It’s all very functional and practical but a part of me does miss the estate with the split tailgate. The Union Jack motif on the rear tail lamps is also replaced with a variety of LED DRL signatures. What you do get instead are more globally appealing, “premium” bits like champagne-coloured garnishes bordering the entirely opaque octagonal grille. The same colour adorns the chic 19-inch alloys and side skid plates. It’s not quite as much a pastiche of archaic Britishness as the previous-one, but in doing so, the E-Countryman has lost a bit of that country character and become more generic in its EV-ness.

The interiors definitely pack more character, frugal though they may seem. Style is subjective but the Countryman’s interior is undoubtedly easy on the eyes. Like the current-gen Mini Cooper, it is minimalistic to a fault, and does not include paddle shifters. But the muted shade of blue combined with champagne-coloured metal accents does give it a rather sublime quality. Multimedia functions, in fact, all manner of display functions are handled by a 9.4-inch centrally-mounted, round OLED touchscreen. Recycled materials line-up the dash top with the same texture you can find on the Cooper EV and the new X3. Best to keep a DustBuster handy. The OLED screen is fantastic, occupying the entirety of the round body instead of being an awkwardly positioned square.

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This is certainly the roomiest a Countryman has been. The boot is cavernous, the rear legroom is better (and with the transmission tunnel gone, more accommodating of a fifth passenger.) However, the cockpit does look a tad sparse. Tasteful but sparse. Heads-up-display is, sadly, an optional extra.

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For its size, the Countryman gets a relatively modest 66.45 kWh battery which it shares with the very capable iX1. Unlike the iX1 the Countryman (which comes to India as an EV-only import) gets a single-motor set-up although international versions do have an AWD version. In terms of outright power, the Countryman EV is outpaced by its rivals given its 204hp power and 250Nm torque figure. Of course the acceleration is only comparatively underwhelming when pitted against the likes of the fairly quick XC40 Recharge and the Hyundai Ioniq 5. By crossover-SUV standards, it seems spirited enough.

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What it does offer is a collection of artificial soundtracks mimicking the sounds of an ICE powertrain. It’s a tad gimmicky, but then so is the version in the Ioniq 5 N-line. Regardless of your views on synthesised engine sounds, the artificial burbling exhaust note of the Countryman EV does bring plenty of cheer to this otherwise clinical driving experience. Another area that the Countryman EV outshines its competition is in how it handles. For a large EV, especially one that isn’t built-on a pure EV architecture like the Cooper EV, it manages to mask its weight around corners quite well. Around the bends, it truly lives-up to its Mini brand. And while the Countryman’s suspension is relatively supple, you’re better off going with the standard 17-inch alloys if you want a plushier ride.

The Countryman EV effectively is a better family car if not a better performer than its petrol-powered counterpart. Rear seat comfort has improved considerably, as has storage space. It has an almost Scandinavian aesthetic that is soothing in its own wonderful way. A fine addition to the ever-changing tapestry of EV design. And at Rs 55 lakh a pop, it is well-priced considering its CBU status. But, lowered GST brackets come to its rescue when it comes to pricing and that could make all the difference for this car. Mini claims the car is good for 462 km but the real world figure is closer to 400 km. On a highway route peppered with a couple of fast chargers, the Mini Countryman EV is an effective ally for a weekend getaway.