The following article was produced in partnership with MINI.
I still remember the old-school MINI Coopers from the ’90s: just over three metres long, with three doors and five seats cruising around London. At the time, they were the perfect little city runner; a versatile hatchback with a four-cylinder engine that delivered that iconic go-kart feeling behind the wheel.
Fast forward to today, and the British carmaker has taken that distinct heritage and transformed it into something much bigger, redefining the legacy of this classic car with modern sensibilities.
MINI Countryman 2025: Bigger, Bolder, and Built for Families
Standing at 1.613 metres tall with an increased length of 4.43 metres, the new MINI Countryman is the largest and most versatile MINI available – a striking blend of style, ample space and cutting-edge technology that caters to every need of the Australian family home.
The MINI Countryman model is designed with families in mind, offering generous legroom and headspace, with all the room in the boot to accommodate the daily school run or weekend getaway. With its expanded dimensions, the MINI Countryman has elevated the comfort of its iconic predecessor while retaining that exhilarating go-karting spirit for which MINI is known.
Electric MINI Countryman: Range, Battery, and Australian Road Trips
For the first time, the Countryman will be available with a fully electric model alongside the traditional combustion engine, boasting a formidable battery capacity of 64.7 kWh, which will get you a range of up to 462 kilometres depending on which model you choose. It’s a huge boost in today’s EV market, especially in Australia, where long coastal drives or journeys into the bush are an inherent part of the famous Australian lifestyle.
MINI Countryman Interior Features OLED Display, Experience Modes & Much More
Inside, MINI has introduced a revolutionary 240mm circular OLED display; a showstopping centrepiece at the heart of the new model. It’s a technological tip of the hat to the emerging demands of the modern driver, offering a fully personalised driving experience for whoever sits behind the wheel.
MINI has also introduced eight Experience Modes to its acclaimed line, adding another level of customisation and interactivity to the Countryman driving experience. From Core, Go-Kart, Green and Vivid to Timeless, Balance, Personal and Trail, drivers can access a unique, multi-sensory experience with just a simple flick of the toggle bar, transforming the MINI’s cabin with an immersive creative design and sound palette.
With this level of customisation, the new MINI Countryman ensures that no matter who’s in the driver’s seat, the journey feels uniquely theirs, combining practicality with MINI’s signature sense of fun.
Now for the passenger princesses in the room – it’s alright, we see you – MINI has added pizzazz to the incredibly serious responsibility of being the in-car DJ, with your very own virtual decks. Simply connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth and swipe left with four fingers on the OLED display.
The all-new Countryman will bring up a vinyl spinning around the screen, allowing you to “scratch” tracks like a pro. It’s certainly a fun and novel feature from the British brand, so you can channel your inner Fred Again right from the passenger seat. Now I certainly wouldn’t recommend it for the drivers among us. But don’t worry, MINI has thought of you too.
The MINI Countryman boasts the brand’s Parking Assistant Plus, a driverless function that utilises 12 ultrasonic sensors and 4 surround-view cameras to identify possible parking spaces more clearly and automatically execute parking manoeuvres in tight spots.
The completely hands-free function eliminates one of the biggest frustrations of driving – squeezing into small spaces. Whether you’re reversing or etching into a tricky parallel park, the Parking Assistant Plus makes that final move effortless, finding those hidden extra inches easily. For me, it’s the standout feature.
Elsewhere, MINI has embraced its playful spirit with another fun feature, ensuring that no road trip goes without memories. The new interior camera, cleverly integrated into the display, allows passengers to capture moments from inside the car.
Finally, the new Countryman introduces the MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant, a smart co-pilot designed to make every drive smoother and more intuitive. While MINI stops short of calling it AI, the assistant’s responsive functions certainly make it feel that way, bringing a state-of-the-art voice assistant to the cockpit for the first time.
Simply say, “Hey MINI,” and Spike, the Countryman’s Personal Assistant, will arrive on the OLED screen in the form of a sweet-natured animation. Spike can handle key functions like updating navigation, making phone calls, and even opening windows – all hands-free – so that you can focus on the road ahead. What’s more, Spike learns from previous drives, adapting to your preferences and anticipating your needs without you having to ask.
Is the MINI Countryman worth a test drive? Absolutely.
It’s a groundbreaking function that takes driving convenience to a whole new level, making the MINI Countryman not just a family-friendly vehicle but an intelligent companion for every journey. Get around it.
