As a form of the automobile, convertibles perhaps have the most universal appeal. I mean, who does not like the idea of getting the wind in the hair, coasting down a smooth road on a balmy day? And when the said convertible is a ‘Mini’ the affability certainly shoots up by a few notches, doesn’t it? And BMW India chose perhaps the best time of the year and one of the best possible locations to have us drive and experience the latest generation Mini Cooper S Convertible – the month of December and the smooth, arrow straight roads of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan! For that matter, it’s just about a year and half since the new generation Mini Cooper S was launched in the country, and BMW India has been quick to follow it up with the launch of the new Cooper S Convertible.

It’s easy to notice that the design of the Convertible is identical to the Cooper S hatchback, and that means this car retains that classic Mini silhouette. But, at the same time, the car looks very modern thanks to the headlamp design and its circular DRLs, and also the grille. The biggest visual change of course is the soft convertible roof which adds loads of appeal to the car’s presence, and has it turn heads instantly. Interestingly, the Convertible also lets you use its fabric roof as a sunroof, because should you wish to, you can open only a part of the roof, as is the case with conventional sunroofs, though of course, there is no glass panel here. What I also like about the new generation Mini Cooper is that while its wheelbase is identical to its predecessor, the car is slightly shorter in length, but wider and taller, which helps while driving.

Overall, the new Convertible has the typical cheerful appearance we’ve always associated with a Mini Cooper. More importantly, I’d like to tip my hat to Mini’s designers for retaining that classic Mini essence in terms of the car’s appeal, while also having it look very modern to ensure it appeals to new-age buyers. The Convertible’s rear end looks slightly different from the hatchback’s, as this one gets the more traditional Union Jack-incorporating tail lamps, unlike the new-gen hatch, which has a set of triangular tail lamps. There’s a small usable space in the name of the boot given that the fabric roof folds itself in, but then, anyone buying this car isn’t really buying it for boot space, no? That said, one element that’s missing and I would have liked to have are the centrally mounted twin exhaust tips – they’ve been a trademark feature and the rear end seems to be missing something visually without them.

The fabric roof can fold itself down in just 18 seconds, which is pretty quick, and can be done on the go as well, at up to 30kmph. The cabin looks and feels identical to the hatchback’s, with similar elements, surface finishes and treatments, and of course the round, 9.4-inch OLED display that takes centre stage on the dashboard. The display also impresses with its bright colours, crisp resolution and the various themes you can choose from. There’s a lot of recycled materials all round, in keeping with Mini’s focus on sustainability. While I do like the display, admittedly, it gets slightly irritating to have to refer to the screen for a lot of functions instead of having physical switches and rotors. Only the most basic of functions get physical switches, just like the hatchback, for ignition, drive selector and more, while even air-conditioning controls have to be accessed through the touchscreen.

You also get a head-up display, which helps matters at least for viewing the speed, which is otherwise displayed only on the central display. Expectedly, the cabin is quite compact meaning seating space is tight, and you could possibly seat two adults in the back, but only for short runs. Needless to mention though, Mini hasn’t quite tried to portray this one as a roomy car, given its more ‘lifestyle’ positioning. The list of features on offer includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 12-speaker Harman music system that offers good acoustics and is pretty audible even with the top down, a massage function for the driver interestingly and even a heated steering. Ventilated seats would have been a good addition though.

Powering the Convertible is the same 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine as the hatchback, putting out 204PS and 300Nm, and mated to a 7-speed dual clutch automatic. It’s worth noting that claimed 0-100kmph time is a scant 6.9 seconds, while claimed top speed is a very impressive 237kmph! Having tested this powertrain in the hatchback I knew what to expect, and was impressed by the sprightly performance yet again. Give it the beans and the car leaps ahead like an eager puppy and is quick to help you get across open stretches of tarmac, as I discovered on the deserted and excellent roads just outside Jaisalmer city. But while there are some theatrics from the engine in terms of mild whooshes and hisses courtesy of it being force fed, the exhaust note is a bit of a letdown, as it feels too muted for this car.

What’s also missing are a pair of paddle shifters – they would have done a lot to add to what is already a fun to drive car. Heck, for the matter, I also wish this one was a rear-wheel drive car, with a mechanical parking brake to let you lock and slide the rear at will! If only… But with that said, the Convertible is a lot of fun to drive and impresses with its playful character too. Putting pedal to metal on the empty stretches of tarmac was gratifying, as was cutting through traffic and chucking the car into corners without a care. The steering responds very well to inputs and offers good feedback, while the chassis, suspension and tyres work together to offer a very confident feel, be it at highway speeds in a straight line or around bends.

The highlight of my day out with the Mini Cooper S Convertible was driving it with the top down, in the perfect conditions that Jaisalmer had to offer. It’s a feeling not many things in the automotive sphere can match – a reasonable clip on an empty road with the wind in your hair is a feeling petrolheads cherish after all! And the Mini Cooper S Convertible is one of your only options in India if you want that feeling. But a spanner in the works, in case you’re wanting to get one, is that the car is sold out. It was launched at ₹ 58.50 lakh ex-showroom, but all units got lapped up within 24 hours of bookings opening – that should give you an idea of how much Indians love convertibles! 

The post 2025 Mini Cooper S Convertible First Drive Review first appeared on Turbocharged.

TURBOCHARGED usually gets invited to racetracks to drive fire-breathing monsters, who’s potential can’t possibly be explored while there are other road users and speed limits in place. But when Mini India invited us to the Buddh International Circuit to test- drive its latest offering for India, we knew it would be fun, but walking out into the pitlane, I wasn’t so sure. That’s because what we were to drive wasn’t a new, even more souped-up version of the Cooper S JCW. It was the Mini John Cooper Works Countryman All4. Okay, that name is quite a mouthful and I think I’m better off calling it the Mini JCW Countryman All4.

It’s still recognisable as a Mini, yes, but it’s a rather large err… SUV, as Mini is calling it, and yes, it is also larger in size than a lot of midsize SUVs. The large red front brake calipers hint at the performance it packs in, but there’s a whole lot of ‘busyness’ going on, on the sheet metal. It’s almost like Chris Bangle has had a hand in designing the exterior of the JCW Countryman! We do appreciate the floating roof though – it is one of the signature traits of a Mini, and has been copied by hatchbacks trying to look cool. Inside, things are a little better, because it is so different and fresh. Open pore surfaces dominate, and the black interior with scarlet accents looks sophisticated.

There are a number of quirks that remind you that this is a Mini, beginning with the 9.4 inch circular touchscreen sitting bang in the centre of the dashboard, in typical Mini fashion. There is keyless ignition, but no conventional shifter, as we have seen on the current generation Cooper S too. There are toggles on the console under the screen that operate the ignition, gearbox, and ‘Experiences’ – Mini’s word for drive modes, again, just like the Cooper S. There is no TFT screen for the driver, just a head-up display which adds to the cabin’s quirkiness. There are other unique touches like the fabric third spoke in the steering wheel, straight off the Cooper S again, and the vertical inner rear door handles.

Everything feels solid and well made, with high points the massive boot space (given the positioning as an SUV!) and the ability to enlarge it with the split and flat-folding rear seats. Parking it would have been a chore if it wasn’t for the 360 degree camera function, me thinks. We aren’t here to talk about how easy it is to park though, we’re driving a Mini at the fastest racetrack in the country! And the ‘JCW’ badge means there is some serious firepower under the hood. The 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four cylinder engine under the hood doesn’t sound like much, until you realise it puts out 300PS and 400Nm in this guise. The power is put down through a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox largely to the front wheels.

If the All4 all-wheel drive system detects slip at the front axle, it will send up to 50 percent of the torque to the rear axle. The torque split is continuously varied, and not fixed. We’ll drive the JCW Countryman All4 in the real world and tell you how it feels there, but for now, here’s how it feels on track. The claimed 0-100kmph time of 5.4 seconds is real, we can tell you that right away. Like most vehicles from the BMW group, the JCW Countryman is limited to 250kmph and it truly needs it, as we clocked over 200kmph down the back straight of the BIC with ease. Gearshifts are crisp, the steering feel is on point (it’s a Mini Cooper, after all, and one with JCW in its name!), and for its size and 1,700kg kerb weight, this is a car that handled the BIC’s fast corners surprisingly well.

We weren’t given enough laps to tire out the brakes, and the few that we got were controlled by a pace car ahead. We’re not fans of engine sounds piped through the audio system, but we understand that noise and emissions regulations are forcing manufacturers to come up with creative solutions to retain their products’ appeal. The Countryman JCW is also a family car, and on a multi-day road trip, kids in the back will appreciate a quiet engine, rather than having to listen to a loud exhaust droning all day at the speed limit! It isn’t like a prospective customer who is willing to pony up ₹64.90 lakh ex-showroom who truly wants a loud exhaust and pops and bangs from the exhaust won’t pay for an aftermarket exhaust and engine tune though.

As is the way with Minis, the JCW Countryman’s ability to be customised from the factory is limitless. The Volkswagen Golf GTI and the Skoda Octavia RS also exist in the same space, and the BMW M340i costs just a little more, but the Countryman goes head to head with the Mercedes-AMG GLA35, which is noticeably smaller in comparison. While the AMG has similar stats, it isn’t as distinctive as the others in this group. The Mini and the AMG are the only ones that have the ability to deal with bad roads and our typical Indian speed breakers, while offering space in the cabin and a useable boot for family vacations. That said, I have my doubts how many buyers getting this one will not have something like a BMW X7 or at least an X5 parked in their garage already. Effectively, my impressions of this Mini are of it being a family car that kept me entertained on a racetrack homologated for Formula1 cars – and that makes it fun for the whole family, and also makes it a bit of a unique proposition. Perhaps, even a set of wheels you might want to gift to your wife, so that you can have some fun when taking it out yourself too!

The post 2025 Mini JCW Countryman All4 First Drive Review first appeared on Turbocharged.

The new Countryman SE gets dual electric motors and an all-wheel drive setup,which produces an output of 313PS and 494Nm of torque. Mini claims the SUV can do 0 to 100kmph in just 5.6 seconds, while the 66.45kWh battery offers a claimed driving range of up to 440km on a full charge.

In terms of design, the Countryman SE carries forward the same Mini design but looks more muscular and modern. The redesigned grille and new LED headlamps give it a bolder look. The door handles now sit flush with the body, and the blacked-out roof and mirror caps add a sporty contrast. It’s available in two colour options  – Legend Grey and Midnight Black, both of which come with a Jet Black roof.

On the inside, the cabin continues the Mini design language but with a tech-focused approach. The dashboard is centred on a circular OLED display, while the JCW-inspired sport seats and ambient lighting lend a premium touch to it. Features include a heads-up display, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, and a Harman Kardon sound system. The digital key and electrically adjustable seats with memory function add to the comfort and convenience. 

The Countryman SE All4 is the brand’s largest model yet, which should offer practicality along with performance. With its blend of modern design, solid performance, and a zero-emission powertrain, the Countryman SE aims to appeal to buyers looking for something solid and significant in the luxury EV segment.

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The British carmaker recently launched the third-generation Countryman in India that too in EV guise. Brought in via the CBU route, the mid-size SUV is priced bang in the middle of other sizeable EV competitors like the BMW iX1, Hyundai Ioniq5, Mercedes-Benz EQA and both the Volvo XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge. While the Mini Countryman Electric does have the upper hand in individualism here, does the EV powertrain enhance the niche SUV’s practicality or take away from it?

Despite moving away from the traditional ICE powertrain the Countryman Electric is still instantly recognisable as a Mini. Dimension-wise it has grown and now makes the Mini nomenclature feel like an oxymoron, being larger than the Hyundai Creta. For 2024, the Countryman gets a complete redesign with a new face that’s less conspicuous and more leaning towards an urban look.

There is a hint of ruggedness in the design owing to the optional 19-inch wheels (17-inch as standard), front and rear skid plates and black cladding all around. British influence can be seen in the LED tail lamp that lights up in the shape of the Union Jack. What’s more interesting is the use of copper accents instead of traditional chrome or brushed silver, which make it look more niche and premium.

It’s even more impressive on the inside with a cabin that not only stands apart from the competition but, in my opinion, is the coolest one of the lot. The dashboard is wrapped in a recycled knitted blue fabric that changes to brown on the door pads. The interiors too get copper accents along with unique touches like vertical door handles, slim AC vents with integrated metal knobs to control and direct airflow, a fabric third spoke on the steering wheel, a stacked centre console and a cute-looking storage box between the front seats.

Of course, Mini-specific bits are retained, like the toggle switches for the gear and mode selectors and the circular 9.4-inch colour OLED touchscreen centre console. It highly impresses with its brightness and sharp display besides having eight unique themes (called moods) and cool animations. Other features include a panoramic sunroof, wireless smartphone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a crisp-sounding Harman Kardon audio setup. A fresh feature that the kids will love is the personal digital assistant, an animated dog called Spike and an app called ‘Let’s Celebrate’ which is a short, animated video featuring Spike and showing different facets of the Mini.
Kids aside, parents will appreciate the space inside. There is plenty of headroom, knee room and shoulder room for five personnel. It gets lots of storage inside the cabin besides which the boot is large too, offering 460-litres of space. Surprisingly though, there is no frunk as the space is taken up by the electric motor upfront.

The Countryman Electric shares its EV platform with the BMW iX1. However, unlike the iX1’s dual-motor AWD layout, it gets a single-motor front-wheel-drive layout. Mini does offer a dual-motor setup for the Countryman Electric abroad. Power outputs are a modest-for-its-segment 204PS and 250Nm. Claimed 0-100kmph acceleration time is 8.6 seconds while top speed is 170kmph. The Countryman Electric is quick where it matters though — at city speeds, thanks to instantaneous torque at idling speeds which makes traffic getaways swift and effortless. You can control regen levels too, via the paddles on the steering wheel.

Of course, it’s foolhardy to expect aural pleasure from an electric vehicle but the Countryman Electric gets synthesized sounds replete with pops and bangs which make the drive experience all the more lively. While it is not as powerful as its competitors, the Countryman Electric is fairly quick, just not as quick as a JCW. Is it as fun to drive as a Mini? Yes, it is!

It handles like a Mini too. It features a lively front end complemented by a quick and communicative steering wheel. The Countryman handles like a Mini should, like a go-kart albeit an oversized one. While the ride quality is on the firmer side, it retains the sophistication of a luxury SUV and keeps you insulated from road judders. It also has ample ground clearance to scale the worst of our speed breakers without scraping – the small joys of platform sharing.

Another benefit of platform sharing is the range. It gets a larger 66.5kWh battery pack. Also, unlike the BMW iX1, the Mini runs a single-motor setup which further extends the claimed WLTP range of 462km. You can realistically expect a range of around 420km. Besides supporting home charging, the Countryman EV supports DC charging up to 130kW which allows for a 10 to 80 percent charging time of just 28 minutes.

The Mini Countryman Electric comes to India via the CBU route yet it’s quite well-priced at `54.90 lakh onwards ex-showroom. However, while it is practical, most of the competition offers more value in terms of space, comfort and performance. What sets the Mini apart is emotional value. It endears itself to you and goes beyond being a mere mode of transportation. It is for people who love alternative bands, the idea of standing apart from the (elite) crowd. As a brand the Mini has this rare ability to combine luxury with emotions, to tug at your heartstrings and the Countryman EV does too.

The post Mini Countryman Electric: First Drive Review first appeared on Turbocharged.

The car features an evolutionary exterior design and iconic interior updates. Its body dimensions remain nearly identical to the previous model, measuring 4,036 mm in length, 1,744 mm in width, and 1,464 mm in height. The aerodynamic wheels are available in 16 and 18-inch sizes, providing additional exterior options. Inside, the central OLED display, now equipped with the latest MINI Operating System 9, has been repositioned closer to the driver.

The redesigned cockpit offers seven Mini Mode experiences for customizable driving. Enhanced driving dynamics and ride comfort ensure a better road presence, making the new Mini Cooper S a compelling choice for enthusiasts.

The post Mini Cooper S launched! first appeared on Turbocharged.