Mini Countryman 2025 review: JCW Favoured

Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with?

7 / 10

There are five versions of the new Mini Countryman, which includes a line-up of petrol and fully-electric powertrains.

For the petrol John Cooper Works (JCW), there are two trim levels available and our test model is the flagship Favoured variant.  It's priced from $73,990, before on road costs, making it an affordable high-performance small SUV compared to its Euro rivals.

The third-gen Mini Countryman JCW is built alongside the BMW X1 and because they share the same platform and engine, it directly competes against the X1 M35i xDrive which is priced from $92,300 MSRP.

So, if its the impressive engine outputs you’re after our JCW Favoured is the better pick. The Audi RS Q3 2.5 TFSI quattro is even more expensive at $101,215 but it does have better engine outputs.

Surprisingly, the John Cooper Works Favoured doesn’t add all that much to the ‘base’ Classic trim but the additions include 20-inch alloy wheels with performance brakes (including red calipers) and six extra paintwork options. You also get electric front seats, with memory and massage functions for the driver.

JCW models come with keyless entry and start, heated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cornering LED headlights, dual climate control, powered tailgate with kick-function, heated steering wheel and velour floor mats.

The technology includes a round 9.4-inch OLED multimedia screen, dash cam recorder, a premium Harman Kardon sound system, digital radio, a head-up display, 'Spike' Mini Assistant, an interior camera (you can take selfies!), augmented satellite navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, four USB-C ports and two 12-volt sockets.

While it's impressively more affordable than its peers, the JCW in Favoured trim misses out on a few top-grade features you'd expect at this level. Features like front seat ventilation and heated rear outboard seats or even a massage function on the front passenger seat.

Design – Is there anything interesting about its design?

10 / 10

It's a case of the 'not-so-mini' when it comes to the new Countryman because it now stands at 4447mm in length, 1843mm in width and 1645mm in height. That's 170mm longer and 21mm wider than the previous generation!

But the Countryman still has all of the fun styling you’d expect in a Mini and it’s that iconic styling that sets this car apart from its rivals. It knows its fun and isn't afraid to show it.

Our Mini Countryman gets JCW badging across the body of the car, including its wheels but it's the chequered flag motif across the grille that reminds you what’s under the bonnet.

Unfortunately, our test model is finished in the rather boring 'Midnight Black II' but the range of colours and customisations available on the Countryman will help make it feel like your own.

Head inside and there's a hefty mix of materials in the cabin space. You’ve got a thick and rough-textured weave/knit across the dash, doors and tops of the sports seats but that’s then mixed with a black synthetic upholstery and plastics everywhere else.

The red stitching and accents won’t land with everyone but it certainly creates a fun atmosphere.

There are some lovely design highlights with rose gold metal accents in the door handles and air vents. A panoramic sunroof adds some much needed airiness and I adore the way you still get a ‘turn-key’ experience despite having keyless start with the starter knob.

The round media screen isn't as well-integrated as before but it looks gorgeous and the different drive modes give you a range of colours to further customise the cabin.

Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside?

8 / 10

The cabin of the Mini Countryman doesn't feel like it belongs in a small SUV. The legroom is still best up front but the second row offers more than enough space for taller adults. It will be most comfortable for four rather than five adults, though.

The electric front seats have large side bolstering and decent padding but they are on the firmer side. You get a little bit of fatigue on a longer trip but around town they’re great and the massage function on the driver's seat is strong.

The rear seat is even firmer than the front and set like a stadium seat, so it won't be as comfy for adults on a longer trip. The fold-down armrest adds some bolstering.

While the storage looks a little odd at first, all of the cubbies are quite functional. There's a lot of them, too, and the dual shelves underneath the starter-knob are particularly handy for your larger 'small' items, like phones and sunnies case. This is where the wireless charging pad is, too.

The glove box can fit a manual and the little centre console is kind of adorable but still fit all of my keys and wallet.

The sliding armrest is a nice touch and there's a couple of USB-C ports underneath it. There are two large cupholders, two drink holders and small storage bins in the doors.

In the rear you get a drink bottle holder in each door, two map pockets, two USB-C ports and two cupholders.

The circular multimedia screen looks great and once you get used to how the menus are accessed and the little shortcuts, it’s a fairly simple system to use while on the go.

The touchscreen is fairly responsive but you'll need to do wide swipes across to switch the menu screens.

I’m not a massive fan of having to access a screen for most of your functions but do like the way climate control remains on the screen at all times and it's just the fan function that needs a couple of extra toggles.

The multimedia system is run by Android Automotive and has wired and wireless phone mirroring. The Apple CarPlay maintained a steady connection this week with my iPhone 15 Pro Max and the built-in sat nav is easy to use.

Rounding out the interior is the large 505L boot and if you want more storage options, the back row has a 40/20/40 split-fold.

The loading space has a small lip, and a handy storage compartment underneath the floor which holds the tyre repair kit and other items you don’t want rolling around. JCWs get a hands-free powered tailgate, which is always handy after a big shopping trip.

Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission?

10 / 10

The JCW Countryman is an all-wheel-drive with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission. It has a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine that produces up to 233kW of power and 400Nm of torque. This model has a 0-100km/h sprint time of just 5.4-seconds!

There are eight drive 'experience' modes you can choose from, comprising 'Core', 'Green', 'Go Kart' (very fun), 'Personal', 'Timeless', 'Vivid', 'Balance' and 'Trail'.

Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range?

8 / 10

For a performance SUV, the JCW Favoured has a lowish official combined (urban/extra-urban) fuel cycle figure of just 7.7L/100km and a large 54L fuel tank, giving you a theoretical driving range of up to 701km, which isn’t bad for such a little go-getter.

After doing a few bigger road trips this week, plus a long weekend in the city, my real-world usage has popped out at 7.9L/100km, which is excellent but expect it to be higher if you only do city driving.

Driving – What's it like to drive?

9 / 10

Even if you don’t love the design, the power and performance of the turbo-petrol engine will win you over. It’s just pure unadulterated fun on the open road and in the city. You get a total hot-hatch experience, despite the Countryman being an SUV. 

The adaptive suspension feels a little stiff when you’re going over uneven road surfaces at higher speeds and road noise also creeps in, but around town this is a comfortable ride. 

Visibility is great, even in heavy rain with a child's car seat installed in the rear (we had a mix of weather on test). Thanks in no small part to the all-wheel drive system it felt sure-footed in the wet and I felt confident this car would do everything I asked of it.

The firm steering makes for a nimble on-road experience no matter the situation and you have gear-shifting paddles on the steering wheel.

There’s also a 'Boost' mode that wrangles the top performance out of the suspension, steering and engine for when you want more control.

You can park the Countryman just about anywhere and the 360-degree camera view system is excellent quality. It’s easy to park, even in small, tight car parks.

Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating?

8 / 10

The new Mini Countryman hasn’t been assessed by ANCAP but features a healthy list of crash-avoidance safety features and has nine airbags, including a front centre bag.

Standard safety equipment includes driver monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, AEB, 'Cornering Brake Control', blind-spot monitoring, emergency e-call, lane keeping aid, lane departure warning, side exit assist, a dash cam recorder, tyre pressure monitoring, 360-degree view camera system plus front and rear parking sensors.

The adaptive cruise control is also well-tuned and one of the better systems I’ve sampled recently.

The rear seat has two ISOFIX child seat mounts and three top tether anchor points but two seats will fit best.

Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs?

8 / 10

The Countryman is offered with a five-year/unlimited km warranty which is pretty standard fare for a Euro model. You can pre-purchase a five year or up to 80,000km servicing plan for $2250, which is very competitive for the class.

Servicing intervals are condition based, so your Mini will tell you when it needs to visit the workshop.

Verdict