The Countryman, final redesigned in 2017, stays a workhorse for Mini within the U.S. The crossover was a quantity nameplate within the yr’s first half, accounting for five,257 items, up 31 % from a yr in the past.
Globally, Mini will supply the electrical Countryman in two battery variations with front-wheel and all-wheel drive. However the U.S. will obtain solely the upper efficiency, awd variant given market preferences.
The 313-hp, dual-motor Countryman SE ALL4 has a 0-62 mph time of 5.6 seconds. Primarily based on European testing cycle estimates, the 66.45-kilowatt-hour battery delivers 269 miles on a single cost.
The electrification of Countryman is a “crucial step to pressure the automobile right into a extra aggressive realm,” mentioned Ivan Drury, Insights director at Edmunds.
Based on Edmunds knowledge, as of July 2023, Countryman’s common transaction worth of $40,025 is at a 40 % premium over the subcompact crossover section’s $28,700, together with transport.
“Nevertheless, Mini shoppers are extra about character versus practicality, and the X issue for EVs is that they’ve extra leeway relating to shoppers unhinging automobile dimension and worth,” Drury mentioned. “An electrical Countryman permits Mini to compete on one other enjoying area, a minimum of in the meanwhile, by which the variety of entrants stays small and the foundations of pricing and segmentation are nonetheless free.”
The U.S. electrical automobile market is concentrated within the compact crossover section, accounting for a few dozen fashions. Based on Edmunds knowledge, virtually half of all EVs offered within the U.S. had been compact crossovers within the second quarter.
Mini has Volvo’s XC40 in its crosshairs with the third-generation Countryman, AutoPacific analyst Paul Waatti mentioned.
“The 2 are dimensionally very related and supply inner combustion and awd EV variations,” Waatti mentioned. “Countryman’s preliminary efficiency and vary estimates are on par with XC40 Recharge. And contemplating Countryman is getting bigger and providing higher packaging, its worth ladder could look related as effectively.”