2026 Mini Countryman Price, Specs, Release Date
2026 Mini Countryman Price, Specs, Release Date – Although the most recent 2026 Mini Countryman may deviate even further from the original Mini’s rationale, its target market—which is searching for a useful mid-size family SUV—will value the size increase even more. An all-electric variant is also available, in line with the times.
As a result, this model fully utilizes the UKL2 platform of the BMW Group, while the previous Countryman was only compatible with plug-in hybrid, diesel, and gasoline drivetrains. Therefore, the electric version can compete with other EVs of a similar size, such as the Audi Q4 e-tron, BMW iX1, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Mercedes EQA, and Volvo EX40, while the petrol version can compete with the BMW X1 and BMW X2 (which share the same chassis), Range Rover Evoque, and Volvo XC40. 2026 Mini Countryman Price
2026 Mini Countryman Redesign and Update Plan
Exterior & Interior
The 2026 Mini Countryman has the black wheel arch trim, big grille, and floating roof design of the original Countryman, even if it is larger and has some Land Rover Defender-style trim squares added to the C-pillars.
Its simple, mid-range design conveys a clear message. In contrast to the rough, soft-touch materials commonly used for automobile interiors, exclusive trim adds a lot of cloth to cover the dashboard, giving it a cozier appearance. Despite the dash’s four chic vertical air vents, the 10-inch center touchscreen display is the real focal point. In addition to its size, OLED technology gives it some of the greatest visuals of any automobile.
Even though the driver’s instrument cluster has been showing your speed within your line of sight since the first MINI, the usage of a central screen means that you do not get that feature. Since then, a lot has changed, therefore we advise you to get the Level 1 bundle at the very least to have a heads-up display. You can keep an eye on speed and navigation without taking your eyes off the road by projecting these important details onto a tiny perspex screen close to the bottom of the glass.
All 2026 Mini Countryman models come with a standard infotainment screen that includes sat-nav, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto (although only displayed in the center of the screen). You may also use the on-screen dog “Spike” to assist you use the car’s various features.
The latter feature, whether you like it or not, is a reflection of how MINI is embracing the internet to keep up the fun and humor that we have grown accustomed to from the brand. With its “Experience Modes,” the screen offers an incredible array of customization options, but we expect that idle kids would utilize this method more than an owner who would just choose a display style and keep with it.
While you wait for the automobile to charge, the electric version’s games on the screen are probably more helpful. By choosing Toyota Celica replicas over the actual Minis that won the Monte Carlo Rally, the rally game’s creators erred. We believe this was caused by the mid-life update.
While the Level 2 pack is more costly and replaces the base audio system with a 12-speaker, 365-watt Harman Kardon surround sound system, the Level 1 pack comes with a wireless smartphone charging station. 2026 Mini Countryman Price
2026 Mini Countryman Specs
Engine & Performance
The handling of the 2026 Mini Countryman is said to be similar to that of a “go-kart.” MINI even names one of the Experience driving modes that way. However, that is not at all the reality. I’m not trying to make fun of the Countryman as a vehicle. It provides adequate ride comfort and capable, if not very enjoyable, handling when driven as most people would.
Our main complaint is that the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that comes standard with all gasoline engines reacts slowly and prolongs the time it takes for traffic to get around congested roundabouts. When you need to change down on quicker A roads or motorways, you have to rely on the car’s dimming-whitted electronics because manual gearshift controls aren’t available unless you purchase a Sport trim level Countryman.
Choosing the electric version immediately resolves that issue because it doesn’t need to change gears. Based on what we’ve seen, the four-wheel drive, twin motor SE appears to have all the muscle you need to nip out of urban junctions or swerve between corners on a busy rural road.
The steering of the electric E and SE versions, like that of the gasoline-powered Countryman, is too fast for its own good. Little inputs cause the car to dart in the direction you choose, making it challenging to control in curves and occasionally requiring several steering adjustments in the middle of a turn. The tendency of the high-performance JCW variation to tramline on all surfaces, even the smoothest ones, is especially problematic.
On JCW models, we would also want to see a more stable ride. Because of its larger wheels (19- or 20-inch), the JCW’s ride bounces you from bump to bump and never settles, even with adaptive suspension, which is also standard on the Sport variant. Because the chassis is unable to keep up with your inputs at the wheel, it seems like the car is getting out of shape quite a bit, whether on purpose or not, even when you aren’t driving it very hard.
The best option is to go slowly and continue with the smaller 17-inch wheels that come with Classic and Exclusive trim. There is a tiny wind noise from the large door mirrors and the tall windshield pillars, although it is not too noticeable if you drive the Countryman at high speeds.
Despite having the least amount of power, the 2026 Mini Countryman’s 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo with 168 horsepower can accelerate from 0 to 62 miles per hour in an amazing 8.3 seconds, while the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo with four-wheel drive reduces this time to 7.1 seconds. The quickest Countryman is the John Cooper Works (JCW), which has a potent 296 horsepower distributed across all four wheels and a 5.4-second sprint time.
However, the electric variants must not be disregarded. The two-wheel drive, with 201 horsepower (E), will take 8.6 seconds to reach 62 mph, while the four-wheel drive, with 309 horsepower (SE), will take 5.6 seconds. 2026 Mini Countryman Price
2026 Mini Countryman Fuel Economy
The most efficient 1.5-liter engine in the 2026 Mini Countryman gets 47.9 mpg and emits 134 g/km of pollutants, which is respectable but not class-leading. The 2.0-liter ALL4 achieves 39.7 mpg and emits 149 g/km when its four-wheel drive system is added to the weight. With 35.3 mpg and 180 g/km of CO2, the high-performance JCW variant has the lowest fuel efficiency and emissions of any Countryman model.
With each “Level” pack, the gasoline tank capacity is increased from Exclusive trim and up by nine liters to 54 liters, allowing you to travel a little bit longer between fill-ups. The 2026 Mini Countryman has been upgraded from the previous model, which only offered a plug-in hybrid option, to being all electric. In comparison to the BMW iX1, which can provide up to 285 miles of range for the two-wheel drive Classic form or 266 miles for the more powerful four-wheel drive model, this indicates a far bigger 66.45kWh (63.78kWh usable) battery pack.
A 7.4kW home wallbox charger will take around 10 hours to fully recharge a Countryman, whereas a 10-80% top-up with a quick charger will take about 30 minutes. Even if the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and other EVs with comparable costs have better charging speeds, the 130kW maximum charging speed is competitive. 2026 Mini Countryman Price
2026 Mini Countryman Safety Features
The most recent 2026 Mini Countryman’s performance in our Driver Power owner-satisfaction survey is still uncertain, but the MINI brand performed admirably in our 2023 survey, placing in the middle of 15th out of 32 manufacturers, with owners generally satisfied with the dependability and performance of their vehicles.
Experts in safety The most recent 2026 Mini Countryman has not yet been tested by Euro NCAP, but we expect it to perform well because it has many of the newest safety features, such as blind spot monitoring, which alerts you of other vehicles on the highway when you change lanes, and autonomous emergency braking (AEB), which helps prevent or reduce low-speed collisions with pedestrians and other vehicles. While the Level 3 pack, which is available on higher trim Exclusive cars and above, runs quicker and contains lane change assist for usage on dual-carriageways and highways, the Level 1 pack provides adaptive cruise control.
2026 Mini Countryman Release Date & Price
The versatile Countryman model line’s 1.5-liter petrol version is reasonably priced at about £30,000. For those who want more grip in sloppy circumstances, there is a 2.0-liter four-wheel drive version that costs somewhat less than £35,000. Competitors include the Cupra Formentor and the high-performance 2026 Mini Countryman John Cooper Works (JCW) version, which costs a little over £41,500.
The faster four-wheel drive SE model costs just over £47,000 and has a range of 266 miles, while the electric 2026 Mini Countryman E starts at just over £42,000 and has a range of about 285 miles.
Similar to the MINI Cooper hatch series, the Countryman comes in four trim levels: Classic, Exclusive, Sport, and JCW. Cruise control, satellite navigation, a rearview camera, and a heated steering wheel are all features of the classic trim. The elite grade has a more diverse color scheme, lighter interior, and bigger 18-inch alloy wheels. In addition to certain 19-inch JCW wheels, adaptive suspension, some JCW sports front seats, and a JCW steering wheel, Sport features a distinctive set of body colors.
Additionally, one of three packs can be added to each trim level. Wireless phone charging, a head-up display, motorized side mirrors that dim and fold, heated front seats, and adaptive LED headlights with automatic high-beam adjustment are all features of the Level 1 with Classic trim. All the features of Level 1 are included in Level 2 Classic, along with an enhanced Harman Kardon sound system, privacy glass, and a panoramic glass roof.
Conclusion
Modern technology, a sophisticated interior, and a lively, cheeky personality—all of which are typically lacking in a family vehicle—make the 2026 Mini Countryman stand out from the competitors.
The latest model of the Countryman is more practical than its predecessor, and the moveable rear seat offers more options for carrying passengers and bags. For those on a tight budget, there is an inexpensive gasoline version; for those concerned about pollution, there is an all-electric version.
Note: The details included in this blog post are derived from pre-release material that was accessible when the article was written. If you want the latest information, you should check official sources or call your nearest dealership.