How Big is the MINI Countryman?
The answers; thankfully not so big. The German magazine Auto Bild had chance to get the latest R56 Hatchback in a studio with the just unveiled R60 MINI Countryman to show off the relative size differences. The result? It’s almost shocking how close the two are in overall length and height. While we haven’t had a chance to drive the R60 yet, we’re certainly optimistic knowing the overall size comparison to the R56 and the R55 Clubman. And if it drives as good as it looks, MINI may have a smash hit on their hands.
via bigblogg
<p>Is this thing really a cross over then? In the guise of the beach comber with big tires on it, sure, but this just seems to be a car – maybe set too high on its suspension?</p>
<p>Again my big question is when they make the car like variant that has been mentioned does it get all new sheetmetal or is it a lowered R60?</p>
<p>a) I am shocked at the closeness in size
b) Gabe’s guesstimate of pricing would seem right in line now that we know the size (and how much material it takes to build one roughly.)</p>
<p>Overall, really liking the choco brown countryman… it’s going to be a run-away seller IMO.</p>
<p>Fantastic! I’m glad this is so close to the R56’s size. I love the size of our R56 and having ALL4 and some ground clearance plus two extra doors and a little more cargo space will save us having to buy a Subaru Forester for winter use. I’d much prefer to keep the money in the MINI family! Any word on how much the ALL4 Crossman weighs and what the weight distribution is?</p>
<p>I am so glad they could keep it “Mini”.</p>
<p>Still loving it! Can’t wait to see one in person!</p>
<p>What was Gabe’s price guesstimate on the Countryman anyway?</p>
<p>Are there pics of the Countryman in chocolate brown?</p>
<p>So… R56 = 3.7 M, R55 = 3.9 M, R60 = 4.1 M by my calcs. I can’t help but think the Clubman’s future is not so bright in the states at least once the R60 hits the dealerships.</p>
<p>While I don’t think the size difference is that great and that the design isn’t to bad, putting next to the R56 really does nothing to make it look better, its actually rather homely to my eye next to the Coupe.</p>
<p>The real telling would be the width, if I remember correctly its actually wider than a Rav4. I am also am sure we are going to see several hundreds of pounds in gained weight.</p>
<p>Hopefully this will curtail the inane “not so MINI of them” comments all over the ‘net.</p>
<p>Just think of MIIN as the “Small Vehicle Brand” and everything fits into place. Sure it’s larger than a MINI “car”, because it’s a crossover. But, it’s a small crossover, because it’s MINI’s crossover.</p>
<p>Also, the size (or lack thereof) makes the WRC program, as well as the rumored “GTI Killer” variant, seem much more plausible.</p>
<p>I’m with JonPD on this one…. <em>if it drives as good as it looks</em> it really does look homely to me, especially in profile. Nothing beautiful about it. Looks like a bloated caricature of a four door R56 to me. Not in my garage, thanks.</p>
<p>Honestly, this makes me rethink about buying the car. It looks to me as if its just a bigger mini rather then a crossover. I was hoping for something a little bigger then this.</p>
<p>Still a great looking car, i mean crossover, but honestly this picture makes me feel a bit disappointed.</p>
<p>is it longer than the Clubman? doesn’t look like by much if it is.</p>
<p>Here’s another perspective:</p>
<p>The Countryman is 15.1″ longer than an R56 and 5.5″ longer than a Clubman.</p>
<p>It is also 4.2″ <em><strong>shorter</strong></em> than a 2010 GTI ! (yet with a wheelbase 0.7″ longer)</p>
<p>Just looked at the UK site. Indeed the Clubman is 3.94M; just a tad bit shorter than the Countryman … I really don’t know what to think anymore about MINI.
I feel like slapping my forehead.</p>
<p>The 2010 4-door GTI realistically starts around $25,000-26,000 so lets hope the Countryman isn’t more than $27,000 to start.</p>
<p>Waiting patiently for the R65, and hoping they keep the roof clean, lower the height, and mirror the front and rear design of the R56 (or whatever model number it will be at that time). And please allow us tall guys to still fit.</p>
<p>Lets do it better.. Start the R60 at $25,000 beat VW at their own game!</p>
<p>Until now I only thought the R60 was okay, but seeing its size next to a R56 makes it much much more appealing. Also, I like the non-S version better.</p>
<p>I’m still liking it as well. I do think it may spell doom for the clubbie. Where I in the market for a larger Mini the R60 would win over the clubbie because of preference for the rear hatch vs barn doors.</p>
<p>I had calculated a MSRP based on Gabe’s guesstimate of 23,300 (including shipping and metallic paint for the MC, and 26,700 (w/shipping and metallic paint) for the MCS. We’ll see how that holds. I think that might be a little optimistic for the MCS given the 4 wheel drive, but hopefully I’m wrong.</p>
<p>I don’t know about weight, my preference is with the MC. Its 0-60 times is 1 sec slower than the R56 so it is obviously heavier, how much? Perhaps 4-500 lbs, tops. Not bad.</p>
<p>All in all this is my R56 replacement when the time comes.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I had calculated a MSRP based on Gabe’s guesstimate of 23,300 (including shipping and metallic paint for the MC, and 26,700 (w/shipping and metallic paint) for the MCS. We’ll see how that holds. I think that might be a little optimistic for the MCS given the 4 wheel drive, but hopefully I’m wrong.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The Cooper S will be the only model in the US to have the optional All4.</p>
<p>I’m sticking with my opinion that the Countryman is aimed at the crowd that puts the Subaru Outback on their short list. While I don’t have any (not much, anyway) desire to own a Countryman, I’m am starting to believe that – priced right – this could be a very good move for MINI.</p>
<p>“Priced right” isn’t something I associate with Minis these days!</p>
<p>The size is just what I thought it would be. We all knew if MINI did a “crossover” it would be “mini”, and so it is. The interpretation of MINI design language on the vehicle is spot on. As we could all pick design flaws on the R56 we can do so with the R60, but overall both are good MINI design. I actually can’t wait for the next gen hatch and see how they push the design a bit, especially when looking at the sketches from the Design Book.</p>
<p>I’d really like a Countryman. Just hope I’m in a place to add it to the current ’04 Cooper and ’06 325i. It’ll be hard to justify going back to a 4 seat car… If I can keep the 3er and afford a Cooper S Countryman All4, then I’ll be a happy guy.</p>
<p>Gabe, I hope you’re wrong about All4 being an S option only. I would think one of the strongest draws of this vehicle will be the all wheel drive option, and that shouldn’t be limited to the higher performance model, IMHO. I own a justa and an S (both first generation), and would like to replace my Scion xB with the Countryman for winter driving, but would only be interested in the base model with All4.</p>
<p>Does anyone have a good profile shot of a Clubman that can be superimposed onto this?</p>
<p>Just curious…</p>
<p>Given the specifed 0-60 times for the MC version of the R60, a permanent All4 may be too much of a burden for a NA engine version of the R60 and still have it maintain some zip.</p>
<p>With the rear being hydraulically actuated a better implementation for the base NA R60 would be a nominal front wheel drive with rear kicking in if slipping is sensed in the front as opposed to permanent all wheel drive. That is the implementation of the hydraulic rear drive of the Honda CR-V.</p>
<p>I love how all the talk has shifted from people complaining that Mini is making a big car, to people saying this car might be a little too small. Kind of funny.
My wife will be getting a new car in the next couple years and it will be either a clubman or countryman. The big decision won’t so much on exterior size but interior room. As well as price and gas mileage. Then of course we need to see how each of them drive.</p>
<p>Just as expected: it’s 4 inches shorter than a Golf GTI/1 feet shorter than a VW’s smallest Tiguan crossover.</p>
<p>Yes I was amazed to see MINI owners above wanting it BIGGER?! WTF?!</p>
<p>On the other hand – suddenly 15″ longer than the R56 (17″ longer than an R53) and likely several hundred pounds added to the not-exactly-light R53/R56 is being shrugged off as “no big deal”? Wow. I can see more clearly now how model size “creep” occurs and is even welcomed by the less driving-oriented customer base. ;)</p>
<p>I feel compelled to counter that on an absolute basis these are significant dimensional increases and the car will feel very different as a result from the chuckable MINI hatch we know. Consider the very noticeable difference in handling and acceleration between the R56 and R55 clubman, two cars that have much less dimensional and design difference… Now add in more weight, a much higher c.g. (engineers fight to get the c.g. Lowered by a cm and here enthusiasts are shrugging off the difference several inches of height will make?!). I am amazed.</p>
<p>Yet, on a relative basis (relative to other crossovers and SUVs, I agree wholeheartedly the R60 is fortunately much tidier (save width) and I do think it will weigh less than most of it’s competitors too (it needs to for the poor normally aspirated 1.6L to cope!). :). Overall, I like it (the unflattering profile of the S model in white shown above notwithstanding) and am very much looking forward to a test drive and comparison with its cousin (BMW’s X1).</p>
<p>Goat,</p>
<p>I’d say that not all of us are performance oriented enthusiasts! I’m not for sure, more of an efficieny, small car enthusiast. So to some , myself included, some added weight and loss of performance is a justified trade off for better utility for a still relatively small, and efficient vehicle. 15″ increase in length is less than the width of my keyboard.</p>
<p>I agree though, I wouldn’t want it any larger…</p>
<p>Excellent! Each news piece on this keeps getting better. It is perfect for my next car so far. Of course, I’ll hold judgement until I see it in person, but 2012 is when I’m getting another new MINI and I think I might go for this one instead of the Clubman!</p>
<p>It’s basically the size of a PT Cruiser. Just slightly shorter in length and height, but not much.</p>
p>@Veggivet…</p
<p>I think it is official that (at least for now) they will only offer All4 on the Cooper S model. Not sure what their plans are for the future JCW model, and there is nothing that says that they might not offer All4 on the regular Cooper down the road… but not for now. I do think that their fear is that the regular Cooper Countryman does not have enough power for the added weight AND All4.</p>
<p>This is the first time I think that there might be a market for lift kits for a MINI, in addition to lowering kits. I wonder how many people will try to give the Countryman the Beachcomber look?</p>
<p>Glangford,
15″ may be less than your keyboard, but it’s roughly the same as the difference between a VW CC and a Lincoln MKS. Percentage wise, it’s probably closer to comparing to a Town Car.</p>
<p>The Countryman looks goofy with those little wheels and low profile tires.</p>
<p>No so big? That’s very much a matter of opinion. Many, myself included, look at that picture and think quite the opposite. Looks to me like a it’s a Mini for people who want the Mini image, but don’t want to drive a Mini. Or perhaps a BMW for those that don’t want the BMW image…</p>
<p>Chad, I agree with your assessment, my only point was really its not such a length increase to not be feasible or even not desireable to certain segments of the customer base.</p>
<p>Can we have the same pictures next to an R50? The R50 has a lower belt height and lower nose.</p>
<p>A Countryman next to an original Mini? or even a Minivan?</p>
<p>Some pictures of the beachcomber next to an original Moke would also be interesting.</p>
<p>This shot points out some rather unaesthetic design elements of the countryman.</p>
<p>1) sloping roof combined with rising belt line as you move to the rear of the car. At least the coupe keeps the roof relatively flat as the belt line rises. The roof taper typically leads to less visibility and I suspect will make the car feel a little less open.</p>
<p>2) MINI has really taken the A-pillar extension to extremes. Stephenson’s design was clean and simple. It’s now become a caricature.</p>
<p>3) Protruding taillights also seem a bit cartoonish. As do the elongated headlights. I’m sure the smaller headlight design of the R56 would look silly translated to the bulkier R60, but I feel there’s no excuse for the taillights to protrude as much as they do.</p>
<p>I’d love to see a photo comparing this to the classic Mini Countryman/Traveller.</p>
<p>This is perfect!!!</p>
<p>The more info that comes out on this Car the better it gets! This is going to be such a fantastic addition to the MINI family…</p>
<p>A pillar extension? Do you mean the exterior reverse seam from the original Mini?</p>
<p>I think he means the downward extension of the pillar. The seam for the hood, now turned into a… well something. I don’t think it’s horrible, but it’s not subtle either.</p>
<p>If anyone’s interested, I photoshopped up a size comparison of the Countryman and Clubman:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/belisarius/4305020971/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.flickr.com/photos/belisarius/4305020971/</a></p>
<p>I’d rather see them together from some angle other than the side to get a sense of bulk, but they look pretty close in profile…</p>
<p>I honestly see no point for MINI to keep the Clubman in the mix once this hits the market.</p>
<blockquote>“A pillar extension? Do you mean the exterior reverse seam from the original Mini?”</blockquote>
<p>Yes. I didn’t know the proper term for it and couldn’t think of a better way to describe it at the time when I wrote that. Thanks for clarifying.</p>
<p>Well said, Aaron. This thing is horrid and an insult to the exquisite design details of the original Stephenson design.</p>
<p>My next car will either be a Clubman or a BMW 328i Sportwagon both of which are much better looking vehicles than this “quasimodo” of travesti that pretends to be a MINI but it is not.</p>
<p>The bastardization of the MINI brand has been completed by Munich. Thank you for ruining one of the best and most successful car franchises in the history of the automobile.</p>
<p>Without additional volume Mini would dissapear as a brand. With worldwide sale of 250,000 it’s a matter of time. The only way to expand volume (with Mini’s premium prices) is to add models. I bought a 2010 Clubman S and would never ever have considered a Cooper because of the size. The Countryman will greatly expand Mini’s market which means BMW can actually make a profit on the brand. My next vehicle will be a Countryman which I would have bought if it had been available in October. Mini is toast without new models that greatly expand their market. I have owned 13 BMW’s and bought a Mini to get good gas milage, without the Clubman I probably would have bought a GTi.</p>
<p>I don’t know if that is the technical name for it, but the original Mini had a standing panel seam along this diagonal. The R50 + R56 sort of acknowledge this as a joint for the hood, but the diagonal trim piece you see here first appeared on the trio of concepts from 3 or 4 years ago. The white ones that were shown in three different configuration – one as a rally support vehicle, one fit up for skiing, and the last I think for a picnic or something. The Crossover concept also had these. And now your all of a sudden in outrage over them? Where have you been?</p>
<p>Looks about the size of a Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe. Slightly smaller, in fact….</p>
<p>Not my cup of tea — if I even need a bigger MINI, I’ll get a JCW Clubman — but probably good for the brand.</p>
<p>I have an R55, and would probably still choose it over this primarily because I wanted the smallest MINI I could get that would still allow me to carry my 2 small kids. I have them in the car maybe 2% of the time, though, so I prefer the 2-door smallness/quickness of the R55. Would have preferred an R56, but it was just TOO small for my occasional needs. If I was carrying the kids all over the place, this might work. It’s more of a full-time people carrier and less of a driver car. But that’s fine, I can see the market difference. I have mixed feelings about the R55’s future. It might go away, and that wouldn’t be unexpected, but at least I already have mine (which apart from the horrific HiFi, I love).</p>
<p>MINI should have taken the existing R55 Clubman platform, slap 2 full rear doors, lower the ride height a bit and call it a day. I would have been all over that like bees are to honey.</p>
<p>Instead MINI choose to re-invent the wheel, create a car that is more visually challenged, not necessarily bigger in the back/trunk, still limited to 4 seating capacity and a higher sticker price. All the while, messing with the classic “Bulldog” stance of the car and the center of gravity 2 of the main attractions of what makes a MINI a MINI.</p>
<p>I don’t live in the snow belt so increased ride height and AWD are totally useless to me.</p>
<p>MINI, what ever happened to your 2002 launch slogan…”The SUV backlash starts now!”?</p>
<p>Hey Lavardera, I’ve been here all along. I know what the classic Mini’s look like, thanks. This is not a new issue for me. If you’d seen my posts over the years, you’ll have probably seen that I have mentioned this particular design eyesore a few times before.</p>
<p>C4 – don’t take me wrong here. I generally like the Countryman’s design. I’m just pointing out some of the failures in the design (in my mind and perhaps my mind only). My hope is that when I see the machine in person, I’ll like it. I’ve never liked the Clubman, to be honest, and heck, I’m still trying to warm up to the R56 (hard to do when I drive an R53). When you say MINI should have taken the existing Clubman and put on 2 full rear doors, I say they never should have spent all the money and development time designing the Clubman in the first place and should have just made a four door MINI.</p>
<p>Am I the only one who thinks this picture makes the R60 look quite big? Okay not big compaired to a full-size pick-up or SUV, but it is quite a bit taller than the regular hatchback.
I’ll be honest in the official pictures it doesn’t look as bad as I feared, but it still doesn’t look good to my (R56 owning) eyes. Some of the detailing doesn’t work for me: The third rear window – why does the top edge slope downwards? The ‘S’ model grille – why? The bulge over the rear wheels – there to try to hide some of the visual mass? Don’t get me wrong, if you like it that’s good for you. Variety is a good thing. I just fail to be convinced. I read on CAR magazines (mostly critical) blog comments that an insider was claiming BMW is none too convinced by the design either.
Still don’t understand why this was a necessary product at all. It’s built on a unique platform that is neither Mini nor BMW X1 so I can’t see how it will be profitable. I’m with those who feel a 4wd option (with raised ride height) on a proper 4 door clubman would have been a much better investment and may have made BMW some money too…</p>
<p>Barf. Looks like a typically-bloated American to me. Keep MINI mini!</p>
<p>I like the new countryman and added length will allow my son and his teammates to get out of the backseat without having to remove their shoes everytime.
After awhile, it’s not about the little kids, it’s about the kids that are growing too quickly and their coordination hasn’t quite caught up!</p>