Countryman Rear Seats, What’s Your Preference?
With the recent news that MINI will indeed be offering the bench rear seat in the Countryman, we want to know what you think. If you’re in the market for a Countryman, how would you roll?
[poll id=”19″]
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<p>I don’t NEED a bench seat but think the “accessory rail” is rather idiotic. I’d rather have a bench seat or seats similar to the Clubman where you can stack stuff across easily.</p>
<p>in contrast, i think the center only looks good with the full rail. just a rail in the center or two small rails looks compromised to me. if it’s running the entire length at least it looks finished.</p>
<p>there’s also something neat about 4 sport seats.</p>
<p>Aestetically speaking four seats look better, functionality likely the bench. Would also bet the bench would have a slightly better resell someday because of its higher usability and greater potential market.</p>
<p>We are considering our next MINI for the near future. If we were to move up in size it would be to a Countryman for the ability to seat 5 otherwise we may move to a Clubman. I agree that the four bucket seats look very nice but haven’t seen the bench seat yet.</p>
<p>@tommy salami… I’d have to agree with as far as that rail thing.</p>
<p>Now that my family no longer lives at home I’d do the buckets but had they still been here I’d need the bench. I think Gabe remarked at some point that it was rather tight and why would anyone want a bench. My girls are small and that area would have been great for whatever we needed back there like one of their friends.</p>
<p>I voted for the bench, not because I’d actually try to squeeze three in the back, it just seems like the more versatile option. Also, it’s a bit safer to put a child’s car seat in the center of the rear seat, instead of one side or the other.</p>
<p>Can the bench still move for and aft to give more boot space?</p>
<p>Do you have any pics of the rear bench?</p>
<p>If the bench seat looks like whats in the Clubman, then definitely the 2 sport seats. They look soooo much better. My only concern is whether the cabin would be quieter with the full coverage bench seat?</p>
<p>When you realize that it’s hard enough to sit 3 people across a bench seat in a normal sedan or SUV… this feels like a very difficult squeeze.</p>
<p>I’d rather have two people in the back feeling the luxury.</p>
<p>Matt</p>
<p>I would also call for pictures of the bench. Without seeing it, I don’t know how I’d vote.</p>
<p>As in most cases, my preference is for choice. The bench seat in the Countryman however IS pretty narrow. The middle “seat” section is only (est.) 8-10 inches wide. I eyeballed it to see how my daughter’s child seat would fit in the middle and it would… but fitting anybody thicker than a crackhead in either side seat would then be a challenge.</p>
<p>If you build your own Countryman on the mini.co.uk site, when you scroll on the bench seat option, a good pic shows up.</p>
<p>I think the majority of us will need to sit in each version before we’d know for sure.</p>
<p>That being said, in every photo and video we’ve seen so far, it seems terribly tight (as evidenced by the former U.S. regulation not even allowing it). That tightness would rule out both three adults and three-abreast car seats, which means only very small children would even fit. Seeing that I don’t have three very small children, I’ll take the buckets. They look way better anyway.</p>
<p>I’m assuming the bench will have more storage room when put down then the bucket seats?</p>
<p>I love the bucket look but could use the extra room when necessary for storage.</p>
<p>With the bench seat folded down (I am assuming that this happens) the load capacity and ease of loading should be larger, similar to folding down a R-56 back seat. The new Countryman has the buckets in back, like the front seats, and have you tried to fold those front buckets completely down to load things??! NOT!</p>
<p>I put a deposit down to reserve our name for two Countrymen at our local dealer. I am going to order the buckets and my wife the bench since we have a little one….BTW his name is Cooper.</p>
<p>I need to see the bench and maybe see how much space is back there. I have to say I like the Countryman alot, I think they could of done better with the muffler tips. They look tiny compare to the car.</p>
<p>Dare I say this but now I can see that there is not a lot of room in the back and even less in the boot area. So much for upsizing.</p>
<p>Do I not see latches for child safety seats in that pic? Benches then all the way</p>
<p>(Although buckets look cooler and more comfortable)</p>
<p>Bucket Seats. With a bench the person in the middle gets the short end of the stick.</p>
<p>Hard to vote without seeing both, or getting a look at LATCH positions, sitting in the back of both, folding the seats down, etc. Based on first-hand accounts that have been posted here before, it sounds like rear seat legroom and headroom is no problem, despite how the picture above looks. Width is probably the bigger issue. But, as other have mentioned, three kiddies across would probably work. Three adults would probably be too tight…at least it would for my family of giants.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth the rear buckets are very comfortable. I got to spend about 15 minutes with a Countryman a few weeks ago and that included sticking myself in the back seat for a while to see what the room was like. I’m a pretty big guy and I was perfectly comfortable in that rear bucket seat. The leg room was good, and the seat adjustments are a nice touch. Best of all, the back seat is easy to get in and out of, which is rare for small cars. It may not be ideal for three kids, but for two adults, it’s brilliant. Having not sat in the bench, I wouldn’t know how cramped a center passenger would be, but it’d probably be tight. Time will tell as people experience them in the wild.</p>
<p>I’m with y’all voting for the bench. MINI putting out a 4 door vehicle with 4 seats only would take it out of the market for so many. This was a wise move for MINI. Also, I have always been very vocal how much I didn’t like the center rail, especially the full lengh one so this option will take it out of the picture, at least for the rear seat area.</p>
<p>To me the important question is what happens when you fold down the buckets versus bench. Not seeing any info on that. I would go bench <i>unless</i> you end up with a larger cargo space with the buckets folded.</p>
<p>But, then again, I’m getting a Juke so I guess I really don’t care. :)</p>
<p>In the pictures I have seen, the bench produces a flat floor all of the way across while the buckets leave a hole in the middle.</p>
<p>The buckets are comfortable and adjustable after having sat in them at the NY Auto Show. Plus they look clutch.</p>
<p>In the end, I do have to vote for the bench for the possibility of a third person when needed recognizing two will always be optimal. Plus a fully flat load floor is nice, with the 60/40 split for versatility.</p>
<p>Don’t need room for five, but I prefer the bench. Fold flat with no gaps makes it easier to carry the dogs.</p>
<p>i would prefer the bench….if the price is right</p>
<p>The Juke has a rear bench standard and seats 5, in case you were interested. Advantage…<i><b>Juke!!</b></i></p>
<p>I’ve just placed an order for a Cooper Countryman here in the UK and the Dealer advised me to go for the rear bench seat. He said that the car will be worth more when the time comes to trade it in. Rear twin bucket seats however are likely to be a standard fit when the Countryman Coupe is launched in late 2013.</p>
<p>Shouldn’t the poll question read “I <strong>want</strong> the bench rear seat”? The difference in the questions tends to favor the bucket selection. Actually I think both should be worded, “I would buy the bucket[bench] rear seat”.</p>
<p>Buckets look cool, but aren’t as functional given the concept. I NEED seating for 5 and that will prevent me from purchasing this product! center rail is a waste of space!!</p>
<p>I need the bench. With a family, it’s a necessity. Without the bench, I would have had to find another option.</p>
<p>Bench Seat option please. No extra people, but dogs, groceries and packages ride better with a uniform bench seat.</p>
<p>After seeing the videos of the interiors with the bucket seats I vote for the bench seat.</p>
<p>So I don’t even see a bench option in the official Countryman Ordering Guide. Will it be an option or are they just messing with us?</p>
<p>Rixter…………….The rear bench seat will not be available in the US for at least 6 months. That is why you do not see it in the Ordering Guide for the Countryman yet.</p>
<p>My wish is to be able to have both the bench seat AND the buckets! That way, I can swap them out for one another as the need arises. (Not my idea, someone else in here, but I will run with it nonetheless!)</p>
<p>Bananas, you could keep whichever seats you’re not using on the roof. LOL</p>
<p>With nearly half the respondents to this poll voting for the bench seat (seating for 5), I hope MINI is listening… Give the USA what we want! A choice when ordering.</p>
<p>Ditch the rail and give me a bench seat. The rail is a dog hair, spilled drinks, potato chip debris collector…. YUCKY! I need to haul 3 friends (my friends are not fat) in back and occasionally my dog. Please give me the choice. No bench is a show stopper!</p>
<p>definitely need the bench seat-this would be a daily driver and the versatility of a bench would be a must</p>
<p>Would buy the Countryman tomorrow if it had bench seat.
Trouble with buckets is actually two fold.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Mind the gap… Space between seats is to wide when folded down. Add groceries or the dog, and it’s a mess.</p></li>
<li><p>The buckets don’t fold flat, but are a 7-8 degree angle due to the contour of the back rest, not nesting into the seat.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Clubman has this right, so should the Countryman.</p>