2024 Mini Countryman S All4 detailed

SLIDING between the base Countryman and the just-announced JCW Countryman performance flagship, Mini’s incoming Countryman S All4 will be pitched as a sweet-spot spec for the brand’s mainstay SUV when the new-generation Countryman hits Australian showrooms next year.

Described by Mini as the all-rounder of the range, the Countryman S will play a vital role in the new-generation Countryman line-up.

Mini’s current-generation Countryman has five Cooper S variants in its roster, spread across petrol and petrol/electric powertrains and a dizzying four sub-variants such as the JCW Sport and Untamed.

That walk-up will likely look very similar when the new-gen Countryman arrives here, with the brand confirming that the Countryman S will be offered in four trim levels – Essential, Classic, Favoured and John Cooper Works (distinct from the JCW Countryman hi-po variant). 

In terms of powertrain, a successor to the current plug-in hybrid model has yet to be confirmed, but Mini has announced that the Countryman S will be offered with a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder petrol engine with mild hybrid system.

Power output for the engine sits at 160kW and 360Nm, with the 48-volt mild-hybrid motor adding a temporary 14kW power boost to help bump low-RPM performance. Fuel economy on the WLTP cycle is a claimed 6.8-7.4L/100km depending on variant.

As the All4 name suggests, all-wheel drive is standard – a shift in strategy from the current-gen, which only offers the Countryman Cooper SE hybrids and JCW in AWD form, all others being front-wheel drive. Wheel sizing will be variant-dependent, and in Europe will range between 17 and 21 inches in diameter.

Those looking for battery-electric options can turn to the already-confirmed Countryman E and SE variants, which utilise a single- or dual-motor powertrain with a 66kWh battery and outputs of 150kW/250Nm and 230kW/295Nm respectively.

For the Countryman S All4, Mini says dynamic handling remains a key attribute. Wider track width and a 22mm-longer wheelbase enhances stability, while the suspension continues to follow a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear format, with adaptive suspension with 15mm lower ride height to be offered as an option. 

Level 2 autonomous driving aids will also be offered, with the driver able to take their hands off the steering wheel at speeds up to 60km/h on multi-lane roads.

The system can also help identify safe gaps in traffic when changing lanes, and can even automatically change lanes itself provided driver attention is maintained.

Mini does not state whether driver attention is actively monitored to permit the system’s usage, nor whether level 2 autonomous drive features will make their way to Australia. 

Other enhancements and additions in store for Mini’s third-generation Countryman include a boost in cargo capacity to 450L (seats up) and 1450 litres (seats down),  significant growth in length, width and wheelbase, and a newer, less curvy aesthetic to bring the nameplate into the 2020s.

Like other third-generation Countryman variants, the cabin of the S All4 variant will feature a distinctive round OLED display as its centrepiece, with the 240mm diameter glass touchscreen being a departure from traditional rectangular infotainment systems, and be powered by the slicker Mini Operating System 9.

Two-tone textile dash trims, higher-quality materials and customisable cabin ambient lighting will also give the new Countryman S a distinctive look and personality – core Mini attributes – while engine noise can be augmented by the new Mini Driving Sounds function.

Expect more details – as well as local specifications and pricing – to be announced in 2024 closer to the new Countryman’s Australian launch.