Opinion: The 2025 Countryman vs the 2024 Countryman – Why Bigger Isn’t Always Better
We’ve been driving our 2023 MINI Countryman a lot lately which has given us some time to ponder the biggest change MINI is making with the new model; the size. Having been hands-on with the new 2025 MINI Countryman and living with the current model, we have some thoughts on just how big of a difference this will be and perhaps why the F60 might still be the sweet spot for some.
When the original Countryman debuted in 2011 it was seen as massive in the MINI world. Yet today it’s almost impossibly small for a four door crossover. It works for a small family but add a dog, some luggage and a multi-day trip and things get very very cramped.
The F60 Countryman debuted in 2017 and looked massive in comparison. It grew 8″ in length and offered much more legroom (especially in the rear) and a huge increase in luggage space. While it didn’t have the sharp turn-in of the lighter R60, in JCW spec it was plenty fast and felt on its toes in corners in a way that most crossovers can only dream of.
| R60 Countryman (’10-’16) | F60 Countryman (’17-’23) | U25 Countryman (’24-’32) | |
| Length | 4097 mm / 161.3 in | 4298 mm / 169.2 in | 4429 mm / 174.37 in |
| Height | 1562 mm / 61.5 in | 1557 mm / 61.3 in | 1613 mm / 63.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 2596 mm / 102.2 in | 2670 mm / 105.1 in | 2670 mm / 105.11 in |
Now that we’ve been hands-on with the all new (U25) 2025 MINI Countryman we’ve got some initial thoughts. While we haven’t driven it yet (that should happen early next year), we have sat in every seat, opened every door and thoroughly investigated the larger boot.
What we’ve found is a car that is more spacious all around. There’s a touch more legroom, elbow room and noticeably more luggage space in the back. But the thing most people miss (as they scream about it not being a MINI) is that this is much less of a change in size than the 2017 F60 was to the 2010 R60.
As much as we like the changes MINI has made in the new 2025 Countryman (the digital experience and material quality immediately come to mind) we worry about what the increase in size will do to the curb weight and ultimately how it drives.
BMW engineers have a very successful history of hiding a car’s weight through clever engineering and suspension design and calibration. But mass is still mass and at the limit we worry the U25 will feel touch larger and (ultimately) a touch less MINI.
We don’t have weight figures yet so we could still be surprised. BMW has does a great job keeping weight down on the new X1 which is a twin of the new Countryman so there is still hope. We’ve heard through sources that MINI has leveraged the updated FAAR platform’s use of advanced chassis design and new aluminum components to reduce the weight gain you might expect . We can get an idea of weight by looking at the new BMW X1 which has a 3,750 lbs curb weight. That’s only up 24 lbs over the previous generation despite being marginally larger and being offered with more standard equipment. Given this, it would be reasonable to expect the next generation Countryman All4 won’t be far off the current car’s 3,726 lbs curb weight (assuming equipment levels are similar).
That’s still a lot of weight for a MINI and every extra pound counts. And let’s not forget about the added length, most of it behind the m rear wheels. But perhaps MINI has followed BMW’s lead and engineered the new Countryman in a way that hides that weight and produces an F60 like driving experience? We’ll know the answer early next year when we get behind the wheel.
What do you think? Has the Countryman grown to the right size or is the F60 (or R60) your ideal MINI crossover?
Mini used to offer the most compact size in terms of the category, this is no longer the case with the Countryman
J Taylor
In my seventies . Love my old countryman but new ones too big . Had to go down to mini cooper . Parking spaces are now a problem
I owned an R60 and for me personally I thought it was great. Still totally MINI but allowing for some practicality because for me at the time, as much as I wanted a Hardtop, it just didn’t fit in with my needs. That being said I understand the upsizing for the F60 and the market success it enjoyed was crucial to supporting MINI’s business for the last 6-7 years. The F60 still managed to offer some connection to the MINI brand. When I look at the 2025 Countryman I don’t see a MINI anymore. It’s quite large. I think the styling is very bland and the rear hatch and surrounding panels are just ugly. Angular and mismatched. I think for the 2025 they went too far IMO. Who knows maybe in North America it will sell well, but as a MINI enthusiast, multi-MINI owner, this new car is more BMW than MINI. I am very excited about a UK built J01 hardtop though. I think they did a great job with that.
Sorry but What’s j01?
I was been watching the development of the U25 Countryman and have been torn on the sizing. The proportions in some of the spy photos seemed off (long wheelbase) and not consistent with historical MINIs. However, I find the final production pictures look great.
I will be purchasing a new Countryman as I keep coming back to this vehicle being as a subcompact CUV (relatively small). Perspective is everything. The Countryman appears to weigh as much as my 2013 BMW 3 series Active Hybrid but far more practical. The Countryman is smaller than a Subaru Crosstrek (L=176.4 inches/W=70.9 inches/H=62.8 inches) AND Honda HR-V
(L=179.8 inches/W=72.4 inches/H=63.4 inches). The HR-V is 400 lbs lighter as is the Crosstrek.
I think it will come down to the suspension tuning and how the weight is managed. MINI will have more powerful/refined drivetrains for the class. The All4 will probably be good but the FWD version may not feel agile when pressed.
Just my thoughts…
I want the U25 Countryman to sell well in the US, so MINI will bring the J01 Cooper over, but honestly if the US price is anywhere near the Euro conversion rate it’s going to be $50K+ easily and not qualify for the $7,500 EV rebate, because it’s made in Germany (unless it’s leased). With a smaller than expected range and a slower than expected charge time I feel, like Kia/Hyundai’s offerings will be the true alternative to a Tesla Model Y.
It appears BMW/MINI are going to bring the EV version of the Countryman to the market with an AER of approximately 250 miles. Slightly disappointing compared to other EVs.
The Countryman I purchase will stay in the US for a couple of years and later be shipped to the Netherlands. Taxes in the Netherlands are much higher for petrol vehicles than EVs, so I may be forced to buy the EV version.
The Euro pricing listed does include VAT (tax). I believe the base Countryman EV will start at $42K-$45K in the US.
Imagine having a Mini that is difficult to park!
The new class of first-time MINI EV customers will be buying the Countryman DESPITE, yes, DESPITE, its smaller size compared to other cars they are shopping for.
That’s a perspective that us MINI enthusiasts aren’t equipped to wrap our heads around.
In Europe, to qualify for being a compact SUV, the vehicle’s external overall length must not exceed 4500mm.
The 2023 BMW X1 has an overall length of exactly 4500mm.
The 2024 U25 MINI Countryman, which uses the same FAAR platform as the new X1, has an overall length of 4429mm.
Enough said!
Is the Countryman not that big or are the traditionally smaller cars getting bigger?
For perspective, the Smart #1: external length is approx. 4300mm (slightly smaller) and has a height of 64.4mm (taller than the Countryman). In videos, the #1 appears much smaller.
The Countryman has grown twice in its lifetime. The first time was slight, the second time was a lot. That’s why people are upset. It’s not really a MINI anymore if it’s grown that large. Seems like an oxymoron, like calling a big man Tiny. Although truth be told the original Mini dabbled with wagons and larger delivery truck variants back in the day.
The U25 MINI Countryman has “success” written all over it, and it will be MINI USA’s Best Selling Model. No wonder it was photographed parked up in “The Cranberries.”