@movernie
In my opinion, no car is perfect! I think every car has its pros and cons and there are always room for improvements.
During this entire week, I got to test drive this 2026 MINI Countryman S ALL4. And here are things that I like and dislike about this sporty 4-door SUV.
Like (Pros):
– Luv the unique colour combo offerings MINI continues to offer for its entire lineups. You can mix & match the body paint with a different colour roofline or rear view mirrors. While many other brands are offering limited and boring palette, MINI continues to shine and being unique with its brand.
– Interior is quirky, maintaining the signature central circular LED screen as infotainment system.
– I also like the pseudo key ignition at the centre. When I turned and twisted the key, I could feel the vibration and the sound of the engine being turned on. It’s still not the same as a real key slotted into the ignition but this is by far the most impressive setup I have seen so far. Most opted for the boring start/stop button, I got to give props to MINI for sticking to the traditional and have some sentimental value to drivers who appreciates this nice touch.
– Luv the fabric materials being used on the dashboard and on the side door panels.
– The blue fabric colour (front side door panels) transitioned into sandy brown (rear side door panels), that’s a nice touch.
– Luv the overall steering feel of this MINI Countryman. It has a more heavy feel to it to provide me with more responsive feedback. Moreover, I luv the thickness of this steer wheel. It feels so good, accurate and precise turning radius to the road.
– Luv the mini fabric box at the central front. You pulled the fabric and lid is opened, super functional and yet unique at the same time.
– There is something unique to the exhaust sound or the way the gears are being shifted in this vehicle. Not sure if it’s the turbo charged, but you can hear the gas pressure or shifting sound which makes this MINI super unique.
– I enjoyed the stability of the suspension, it’s sporty yet it’s very comfy and able to absorb bumps admirably.
– Overall, the materials, technology, the quirky of this MINI makes it stands out from the rest of the competition.
– This new generation of MINI Countryman S ALL4 offers good value. It’s much bigger than its predecessor, increase horsepower and torque. More space for the passengers as well as the storage space. It offers many standard features from panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, power adjustable driver and front passenger seats. It’s definitely fun-to-drive. Interestingly, I prefer this MINI Countryman than BMW X1 which shares the same platform and size.
– By the way, great sound system inside this MINI.
Dislike (Cons):
– The sound proof could be better especially if I expect this to be a more premium vehicle. Unfortunately, I could hear lots of wind noise especially on highway speed.
– I would prefer more compartment spaces throughout the cabin but although it offers some storage space, I would prefer more. For example, I would prefer the armrest for the driver could have also serve as a storage but it’s not. It doesn’t have any storage space whatsoever.
– Personally, I prefer and missed the silver chrome materials that dominated in previous MINI generations than this new one. There are more plastic components on this new MINI than its predecessors.
– Not a fan of the cheap plasticky of the speedometer gauge in front of the driver.
– The exterior and interior is very subjective especially for MINI owners who once owned previous generations. Many of them told me that they didn’t really like the latest generation as it shines away from looking like a MINI. Personally, not going to lie, I prefer the leapfrog circular headlights than the new one but it’s still MINI enough for me to distinguish it from other boring brands. The rear lights look very blend and simple too for this MINI but however, I would say, the over portion ratio for this new MINI Countryman is still decently able to distinguish itself from its competitors.
Overall Summary:
These are my likes and dislikes when test driving this 2026 MINI Countryman S ALL4. If you are MINI Countryman owners, what do you like or dislike about your ride? Luv to hear from your driving experiences.
For more INFO about this 2026 MINI Countryman S ALL4, you can click here.
Special shoutout to MINI Canada for providing us with a week of test driving this 2026 MINI Countryman S ALL4!
