2024 Mini Countryman unveiled with petrol and electric power, here next year

The 2024 Mini Countryman has been unveiled, ahead of its Australian launch due sometime next year.

Unveiled alongside the new Mini Cooper electric hatch at the Munich motor show, Mini has kicked off the most comprehensive new model offensive in its 64-year history with its third-generation Countryman small SUV.

Due in Australia between July and September 2024, the new models will be joined by a third all-new Mini model in the form of the Aceman electric city SUV, unveiled as a concept last year ahead of the production version's reveal due next April, as an indirect replacement for the Clubman wagon.

The new Countryman will be offered with a choice of internal combustion-engine (petrol/diesel) or electric power for the first time – with the plug-in hybrid version of the old model to be dropped.

It has grown appreciably in size and technical standing compared to the old Countryman, owing to a decision by parent company BMW to twin the new Mini SUV's development and production with the latest BMW X1.

Two electric Countryman models have been unveiled for Europe: the front-wheel drive Countryman E with 150kW/250Nm, and the all-wheel drive Countryman SE All4 with 230kW/494Nm.

The 0-100km/h acceleration times and top speeds are put at 8.6 seconds and 170km/h, and 5.6 seconds and 180km/h respectively.

Both electric Countryman models use a 66.4kWh lithium-ion battery with a maximum charging power of 130kW.

It is claimed to provide the Countryman E and Countryman SE with respective WLTP driving ranges of 464km and 433km. The towing capacity is put at 750kg.

Mini says turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder and 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol, as well as turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel-engined versions of its new SUV featuring 48-volt mild hybrid assistance, will be the first to go on sale across Europe in February 2024.

It is yet to confirm technical and performance details of these models, although it does say they will offer a towing capacity of up to 2000kg.

The Australian model range is yet to be outlined. The outgoing Countryman is available with standard and 'S' petrol engines – as well as the John Cooper Works performance edition – after the diesel was dropped earlier in the current model's life.

The styling of the new Countryman builds on that of its predecessor with a prominent octagonal-shaped grille, angular LED headlamps and a floating roof effect (optional with panoramic glass) thanks to blacked-out pillars.

The bodywork along the sides receives a prominent recess within the front doors and is combined with narrower black cladding than before.

Roof-coloured elements within each of the rear side windows, meanwhile, aim to visually reduce the large expanse of glass.

The rear receives a power-operated tailgate as standard, together with new-look LED tail lamps designed to accentuate the Countryman's height.

Larger than any previous Mini model, the new Countryman has grown by a significant 120mm in length, 22mm in width and 101mm in height to 4433mm, 1843mm and 1656mm respectively.

The new SUV also receives a wheelbase that is 22mm longer than before at 2692mm.

The interior of the new Countryman mirrors the modern look of the new Cooper electric hatch.

The centrepiece is a new 9.4-inch round OLED infotainment display, which is combined with other touches, including a gear selector housed within a control panel in the centre of the dashboard.

The larger external dimensions provide the new Countryman with space for up to five occupants and greater interior accommodation all around, most notably in the rear, which receives a seat that adjusts forwards and backwards, and for backrest tilt in six different positions.

Boot space has increased by 40 litres to 460 litres, extendable to 1450 litres when the rear seat is folded.

Both electric and internal combustion-engined versions of the 2024 Mini Countryman are set to roll off the same production line as the BMW iX1 and X1 in Leipzig, Germany.

As with iX1 and X1, both the electric and petrol/diesel Countryman are based on BMW's front- and all-wheel-drive FAAR platform.

Previous Countryman models were produced at Magna in Graz, Austria and, more recently, at a former Volvo factory in Born, the Netherlands.

Originally published at 7:00pm AEST on 1 September 2023.