Still, at this price, the Mini has to feel extra special to stand out, and exactly how special it feels is what we are going to find out.
It may look like a hatchback, but at over four metres long, it’s large enough to be called a Maxi. The Countryman is also the first Mini to have five doors and Mini’s designers have gone to some lengths to ensure that it won’t be mistaken for anything other than a Mini. Still, we’re not totally sold on how these styling characteristics integrate into the Countryman’s bigger proportions, but there is quite a lot to take in – the power bulge on the huge clamshell bonnet, for example, or the complex detailing of the headlights and the Volkswagen-like bootlid badge that doubles up as a tailgate handle. Still, it doesn’t have the wow factor of the new A-class or even the unconventionally interesting styling of the Volvo V40. That said, the Countryman is over 100mm wider and about 150mm taller than the regular Mini hatchback and much taller than the other large hatches. This liberates a lot of space on the inside, making the Countryman the most practical and usable Mini ever.Step inside and you are greeted by a high-quality, extrovert dashboard dominated by an oversized, centrally mounted speedometer and the graphic display that it incorporates within it. There are plenty of interesting bits – we loved the toggle switches, the handbrake that looks like a fighter jet’s thrust lever and the cool interior lighting scheme. There’s even a rail between the front seats to which you can attach accessories like a sunglass holder or even a mobile phone holder. However, for all its funkiness, the ergonomics are off and you need to look around the dashboard to find the switch for whatever you might want to operate. Curiously, some warning lamps are housed in the speedometer and some are on the rev counter and this, at least till you get used to it, forces you to glance at both to see if, for example, the fog lights are turned on. There is no questioning the space on offer inside though. Up front, there’s plenty of headroom and legroom, and you won’t complain about the driving position either. Visibility is great too and makes punting around this biggest of Minis child’s play. At the rear, there’s plenty of head and elbow room for two adults, and the sliding, 40:20:40-split rear bench is mostly comfortable, if a little lacking in thigh support. Fitting three across the back would be a squeeze though. By hatchback standards, the 350-litre boot is quite big and the split seats do allow you some flexibility if you really want to pack in stuff.
It’s quite well equipped too and comes with Bluetooth connectivity, climate control, a sunroof, paddle shifters and a driver interface system that operates similar to BMW’s iDrive, but looks far cooler. It also has a superb Harman/ Kardon sound system that makes every radio station sound like a concert. However, you will find that some of the trappings you expect from a Rs 30 lakh car are missing – the front seats and steering have manual adjustment, rear passengers don’t get dedicated air-con vents and there is no satellite navigation.
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