Back in the 1950s, Sir Alec Issigonis was charged with designing a small, fuel-efficient car with room for four adults. That was, perhaps, the easy part. The hard part was keeping it within reach of the average buyer. His solution to the problem was the original Mini launched in 1959. While it was just 3,005-mm long, it somehow managed to accommodate four people. The key to its instant success, however, was it was an absolute hoot to drive in spite of the meager horsepower at play. The evolution of the brand continues with the new Countryman SE ALL4 — the all-electric version of Mini’s popular crossover.
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What’s new with the Mini Countryman SE for 2025?
The Mini Countryman has been totally reworked with the SE ALL4 speaking to the company’s ambitious electric plan — 50% of Mini sales will be electric by 2025 and 100% by 2030. The Countryman now has a taller, more rugged look with new daytime running lights and LED matrix taillights. It also rides on a longer wheelbase — up 130-mm to 2,692-mm. Inside, the experience has been totally revamped with a new multimedia interface that runs on Mini’s new OS9. The old letterbox in a round screen has gone in favour of a setup that uses all of the still round screen’s space. In a different move, the SE is identified by a yellow S on the grille and tailgate rather than the red S found on the gasoline-powered units — the E is conspicuous by its absence. Likewise, Mini has dropped the Cooper reference from the new Countryman.
What powers the 2025 Mini Countryman SE?
While the new Countryman does get both gas and electric versions, it is the latter that’s the subject of this test. The Countryman SE ALL4 uses two electric motors, one powering each axle, to produce 308 horsepower and 364 pound-feet of torque from Rev One. The format also delivers all-wheel-drive. The motors deliver a run to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, which easily outstrips the 6.5 seconds needed by its gasoline counterpart, and it ran the more important 80-120 km/h passing move in 3.9 seconds according to my stopwatch. Keep the throttle matted and the SE has a top speed of 180 km/h. The beauty of the setup is the response to input in immediate and rewarding despite the 2,000-kg curb weight.
The electric motors get their juice from a 66.5-kWh battery that delivers, according to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), a driving range of 341-km for the Countryman SE wearing 18-inch tires. It’s rated at 2.4 Le/100 km in the city, 2.5 Le/100 km on the highway and it has an average economy of 2.4 Le/100 km. The annual charging cost is $781. The Countryman SE wearing 19-inchers has a range of 328-km. It is rated at 2.5 Le/100 km city, 2.7 Le/100 km highway and it has an average economy of 2.6 Le/100 km. The charge cost rises to $824. To put those numbers into perspective, the Mini Countryman S ALL4 with a 2.0L turbo-four burns 9.8 L/100 km, 7.3 L/100 km and 8.7 L/100 km, respectively, and has a fuel cost of $3,219.
Charging times for the 2025 Countryman SE
When plugged into a DC fast charger the Countryman SE goes from 10 to 80 percent in 30 mins. The slightly longer than average time is down to the 130 kW charging limit. When hooked up to a 220-volt home charger it takes about eight hours to fully recharge the battery.
The 2025 Mini Countryman SE is a go-kart for five
The Countryman SE rides on front struts and multiple rear links. The setup is cushioned, but retains those famed Mini driving characteristics, well, for the most part. When whirring about town the ride is compliant and responsive. Cut loose on a twist backroad and it seems to come alive when in Go-Kart mode. It firms the steering and sharpens the throttle response. Running a snooker table-smooth serpentine country road at eight-tenths proved the Countryman SE is predictable, responsive and a lot of fun. It is true to the Mini name. The best part proved to be the regenerative braking. When in Drive the amount of regen is enough to slow the SE with authority; switch to the Brake position and it becomes a one-pedal drive. In town, this allows the driver to pretty much forget the brake pedal. On that twisty backroad, it allows this driver to link consecutive apexes using just the throttle to control vehicle speed. As a package it delivered a very decent, almost impish, drive. If you do decide to step beyond the eight-tenths mark the 2,000-kg curb weight surfaces and tends to blunt the overall feel and feedback. This not so much a criticism, but the realization a heavy car feels, well, heavy when it’s pushed towards the traction limits of its P225/55R18 tires.
The re-imagined interior sits high on the list of upgrades
While the interior format has been totally reworked the one thing that has not changed is the centrally-mounted screen for all the information and the “toggle” bar that sits beneath. It features the Park button, gear shifter, start toggle, Experience mode toggle and the knob for audio volume. The format allows more space in the centre console including a place for a wireless charging pad. The rework serves to puts a modern spin on a classic look.
The heart of the new infotainment system is a 240-mm diameter thin-screen that uses OLED technology. This gives it crystal-clear graphics. The new Mini OS9 was developed in-house and is based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) software. This gives the new system some needed sophistication. It’s also fast and has some nifty extras beyond working with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
For example, the system offers up to eight Experience modes, each of which uses a different look to highlight the content. The choices run the gamut and include Core, Go-Kart, Green, Vivid, Timeless, Balance and Personal. All house everything from the sound settings and navigation to the climate control functions. Some of the modes change the driving feel. Green is for those times when the battery is getting low; Go-Kart amps up the driving experience.
The new, cloud-based, navigation system is fast and precise with latest map data being streamed to the Countryman. The optional augmented view includes additional information and allows the driver to pick a view with 3D buildings. Input a destination and the system displays a charger-optimized route — use the voice control side and say, “Hey Mini show me the charging stations along the route” and the system makes it so. The driver can choose between a stylized Mini or Spike, a cartoon-like bull dog for the assistant.
An overlooked plus is the head-up display. It is one of those small screens that rises out of the top of the crash pad. I am not usually a fan because everything is so scrunched up. This one has some breathing space for the information, which is a small, but welcome, touch.
Finally, along with the usual safety items like blind spot monitoring, the Countryman SE has, for the first time, an optional Driving Assistant Pro. It allows Level 2 autonomous driving on the highway at speeds up to 60 km/h.
The Countryman is the maxed out Mini
There is plenty of space for five adults and their stuff. The rear seat has 950-mm of headroom, 892-mm of legroom and 1,392-mm of shoulder room, which is up 250-mm compared to the previous model. There’s also 703L of cargo space with the rear seat upright and 1,591L when folded flat. The all-electric SE can tow up to 1,200-kilograms and has a maximum payload of 500-kg.
2025 Mini Countryman SE ALL4 Canadian Pricing
The Mini Countryman SE ALL4 has a starting price of $59,990 and a destination charge of $2,586.
Final thoughts
Reworking the Countryman and adding a new electric choice will see it remain a popular choice. The defining element, as usual, is the driving experience. It remains as much fun as ever. The bonus is the SE is miserly in its thirst for electrons. Likewise, the multimedia experience is slick and not at all at odds with the round screen — the previous letterbox setup in the middle of the round screen just did not work; the new look puts the entire screen to good use.
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