Mini Countryman Cooper D Auto 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The power of this model is far improved from the Countryman One Auto, delivering 112 bhp at 4000 rpm with torque figures 199 lb-ft at 1750-2250 rpm. In total, the car manages to reach a top speed of just 112 mph and acceleration is also improved from the One model with the car taking 11.3 seconds to travel from 0-62 mph.

In terms of driving comfort, the handling of this 4x4 is not as good as could be expected and there is a fair amount of body roll on tight bends when taken at speed. The drive can sometimes feel a little unresponsive and bumpy, and there is no denying that this Mini does lack the agile handling of other Mini models.

The overall style and design is inkeeping with the Mini brand, making it a really attractive and stylish vehicle.

Standard equipment includes: power steering, central locking, stability control, air conditioning, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, rear parking sensors, alloy wheels, an advanced stereo with CD and MP3 connectivity as well as Bluetooth connectivity.

Getting all the little luxuries many Mini owners expect however, particularly for the interior, could soon add up. To upgrade air conditioning to climate control it will cost an additional £345. The leather interior, cruise control and a built-in sat nav will set you back £1,250, £210 and £1,345 respectively. So the prices can all add up.

In terms of driving this car is relatively practical. It has some nice features such as a higher driving position to improve visibility and easily adjustable steering columns.

The car comes fitted with driver, passenger and front side airbags all as standard. On top of this an alarm and immobiliser are fitted as standard to protect the car from theft. Plus if reliability is an important factor for you when buying a new car you'll be pleased to discover that it comes with a three year warranty on unlimited miles.

If you are tall and like to travel with a full boot, then this may not be the car for you: passengers can have leg room or decent storage capacity within the boot, but not both at the same time. With the seats in place the boot space is just 350 litres. Fold the seats down and this expands to 1,170 litres. The choice is yours.

Priced at £20,425 this car is far from cheap but still performs well within its class. Carbon emissions and fuel economy of the Mini outperform those of rivals. However, this model is considerably more expensive than the One model and buyers will need to decide whether the added benefits are worth the additional cost at the outset.

In terms of efficiency, the car achieves an impressive 50.4 mpg on a combined cycle. Carbon emissions of 149 g/km also lower than those of the One model making for lower road tax.

Minis are known for having a good resale value and the car is priced closely to match those of the Volkswagen Golf range, but is that enough to persuade discerning car buyers to purchase this Mini?