Mini Countryman Electric priced at Rs 54.90 lakh

Mini has launched the new Countryman Electric in India at an introductory price of Rs 54.90 lakh (ex-showroom). The new Countryman is available in both ICE and EV iterations globally, but India only gets the electric version, for now. Incidentally, the Countryman Electric shares its underpinnings with the BMW iX1, which is its most direct rival in India.

The new Mini Countryman’s exterior design is an evolution of the previous generations, but it’s a lot simpler, more minimalistic and closely related to the new Cooper S. It has, however, grown substantially; most notably, it is 60mm taller and 130mm longer than its predecessor.

The new octagonal grille, the redesigned headlamps without bezels and the new tail-lamps are quite similar to that of the Cooper S. The bumpers get a generous dose of black plastic cladding with contrasting trims, and there’s a slightly pronounced character line that runs along the length of the car and over the wheel arches. What’s really distinctive is the C-pillar treatment and the floating roof effect, thanks to a dual-tone paint finish.

The interior features a similarly minimalist look as seen in the new Cooper S, with the dashboard dominated by an identical 9.4-inch touchscreen. It's flanked by four neatly integrated vertical AC vents – there’s no instrument cluster behind the new three-spoke steering wheel, and the centre console has been simplified with just a single band of toggle switches for a few key vehicle functions. A majority of the vehicle settings, including the HVAC, are operated through the touchscreen.

The SUV’s increased dimensions have allowed for an enlarged centre console, featuring larger cupholders and an extra 130mm of legroom in the back. Like the Cooper S, there’s plenty of textured surfaces all around to spruce up the cabin. Notably, the Countryman is the first Mini to offer Level 2 ADAS, including semi-autonomous driving at speeds of up to 60kph. 

The Countryman Electric gets a 66.4kWh battery pack that it shares with the BMW iX1, and its offered with a single motor, front-wheel drive configuration. The powertrain produces 204hp and 250Nm, and is said to take 8.6 seconds to sprint to 100kph from standstill and reach a top speed of 170kph. The Countryman Electric has a claimed range of 462km on a single charge. As for charging, it can be rapid-charged at rates of up to 130kW which can juice up the batteries from 10 to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes. 

The Countryman Electric will rival the BMW iX1, Mercedes-Benz EQA, Volvo XC40 Recharge and the C40 Recharge.