2013 MINI Paceman JCW And Countryman JCW Launch Review
2013 MINI PACEMAN REVIEW
What’s Hot: AWD grip, brilliant steering, entertaining exhaust noises
What’s Not: Expensive; comfort (we like) but lacks the razor handling of other JCWs
X-Factor: The most practical of all MINIs, the JCW is fun at the wheel as well as being a very usable daily driver.
Vehicle Style: Performance Compact SUV
Engine/trans: 160kW/280Nm 1.6 turbo petrol 4cyl (300Nm with overboost) | 6sp manual / 6sp auto
Price (plus on-roads)
MINI JCW Paceman ALL4 manual - $58,600
MINI JCW Countryman ALL4 manual - $56,800
Fuel Economy claimed: 8.0 l/100km (JCW Countryman manual), 8.0 l/100km (JCW Paceman manual)
OVERVIEW
Until now, MINI’s John Cooper Works range has been offered in five distinct and tasty flavours: hatchback, convertible, roadster, coupe and the wagon-esque Clubman.
But now there are two more to choose from, the John Cooper Works Paceman and John Cooper Works Countryman. This brings the total to seven and makes MINI the only manufacturer to offer a high-performance version of every bodystyle in its stable.
They are also the first four-wheel-drive vehicles to wear a JCW badge.
But as the largest, tallest and heaviest MINI’s around, are the Paceman and Countryman worthy of the JCW nameplate? We travelled to Tasmania to test them out on some of the Southern State’s more challenging roads.
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