2025 Mini Countryman SE First Drive Review: Prime Electrification

The new, all-electric Countryman SE is quick, fun, and offers a stellar interior.

Tim Stevens | 

Mar 5, 2024 | 6 min read

Tim Stevens

Mini has made clear its intentions to be an all-EV brand by 2030. With only six years left before hitting that milestone, it's time for the automaker to start adding more motors and batteries to more of its models. And that means a purely electric version of the redesigned 2025 Mini Countryman is available for the first time.

But that's just one of the three versions of the 2025 Countryman that will hit dealerships by fall 2024. The most affordable one will be the gasoline-powered Countryman S, with a starting price of just under $40,000. The electric Countryman SE starts in the mid-$40,000 range, while the performance-tuned Countryman John Cooper Works gas-engine variant is closer to $50,000.

So the electric Countryman SE won't exactly be a bargain — but after spending a day behind the wheel of Mini's largest crossover, I believe the vehicle's worth the splurge.

Tim Stevens

Big Changes and Big Power in the 2025 Countryman SE

The 2025 Countryman brings a lot of changes to the table, starting with its size. This new version is 5 inches longer than before, bringing it well and truly into compact crossover territory and making more room for the upcoming Aceman to fill the gap it leaves behind.

It's not just bigger, though. The new Countryman is thoroughly redesigned, with far more angular and upright styling. The overall look is still familiar, carrying the same wide-eyed headlights and color-contrasting roof. But those classic cues are mixed with modern forms and some styling highlights that look downright futuristic.

That forward-looking aesthetic is even more significant on the inside, where a stunning new interior mixes novel materials and a unique circular infotainment display to create an experience unlike any other car on the road.

Now, those extra dimensions come with extra mass, especially when you consider the addition of a 66.5-kilowatt-hour battery pack and a pair of electric motors on this all-wheel-drive Countryman SE ALL4. The total curb weight is 4,409 pounds. For a Mini. Thankfully, with that extra mass comes extra power.

Tim Stevens

Futuristic Sounds Accompany the New Countryman's Drive

I drove the new 2025 Countryman SE ALL4 in Lisbon, Portugal. Mini provided a fully loaded German-specification model for review that closely matches what we'll get in the United States. The automaker also paid for airfare, lodging, meals, and experiences during the evaluation period.

The Countryman was equipped with options including Slate Blue paint, sports seats, an automatic parking assist system, and a Driving Assistant Professional package of driving-assistance systems. Mini has yet to announce formal pricing with options as of publication.

The 2025 Mini Countryman SE relies on two electric motors to deliver 313 horsepower and 363 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels. That's sent to the ground through 20-inch wheels and all-season tires that struggled to cope with all that torque.

The Countryman has many drive modes, ranging from the eco-minded Green to the more traditional Mini Go Kart mode. While it's hard to call a two-ton crossover a go-kart, the Countryman SE is certainly lively in that mode.

In Go Kart mode, acceleration response is sharp, and a surprisingly compelling synthesized engine noise augments the overall experience of rapidly gathering speed. It's more Star Trek than sports car, but it is enjoyable just the same. The harder you accelerate, the deeper and fuller the tone becomes. Then, when you lift off the gas pedal, there's a subtle flutter to the sound, a bit like a blow-off valve on an overstrung turbocharged machine.

Tim Stevens

By default, lifting your right foot doesn't do much, as the Countryman SE has effectively no brake regeneration and simply coasts along. But tap the thumb-sized, dash-mounted shifter down into B mode and everything changes.

In B, there's an abundance of regen, perhaps not quite as sharp as a Tesla Model 3 in one-pedal mode, but close, and the car will come to a complete stop without touching the brakes.

Regarding the overall ride, the Countryman is sprung on the soft side, the body floating and bobbing a bit over big bumps as the suspension copes with all that mass. But that's not a bad thing for a crossover. It's smooth, comfortable, and quiet, though there is a surprising amount of wind noise on the highway.

That leaves only one thing: range. Mini said the Countryman SE ALL4 should provide an estimated 245 miles on a charge. During my day behind the wheel, which admittedly included a fair bit of heavy-footed action, I managed 2.84 miles per kWh (35.2 kWh/100 miles). With its 66.5 kWh battery pack, that would equate to a maximum range of 189 miles. But resist the temptation to floor the accelerator and you'll surely do better.

Tim Stevens

The New Countryman's Interior Is Anything But Square

While the exterior of the Countryman is striking, it's hardly revolutionary. The interior, on the other hand, is — starting with a 9.4-inch circular LED panel. This design is a radical departure from the rectangular screens in virtually every other infotainment system, and it looks stunning.

But it's the software that makes it. Mini developers leaned into the circular theme to create an experience that truly fits this unusual design. Indicators for things such as acceleration and speed wrap around the top of the display, while climate controls wind around the bottom edges.

Mini's Operating System 9 interface re-skins itself as you cycle through the modes, creating a fluid, dynamic experience. But there's one problem: The performance is abysmal. As you cycle from one view to the next, the display skips and stutters in a way that ruins the experience. I hope Mini's engineers deliver some improvements before the Countryman ships.

Tim Stevens

The rest of the interior is also fresh and clean looking, with a woven, sneaker-inspired fabric covering the dashboard and upper door panels. The material is harsh to the touch but provides a distinctive look and feel. There's plenty of headroom for all five passengers, though grown adults may find the legroom in the second row to be limited.

Mini has yet to provide formal cargo-volume measurements, except to say that the new Countryman offers 25% more volume than before. The previous generation model offered 17.6 cubic-feet with the seats down and 47.6 cu-ft with them up.

In terms of advanced driving-assistance systems (ADAS), the highlights include automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection; adaptive cruise control with full-stop capability plus lane-keeping and lane-centering-assist systems; and a surround-view camera for parking. The optional Driving Assistant Professional package adds automatic lane changes and hands-free traffic-jam assistance.

While testing the ADAS on and off the highway, I found that the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering systems worked smoothly and effectively. Unfortunately, the scant traffic on my drive route prevented traffic-jam-assistance system testing.

Tim Stevens

Far More Personality Than Your Average EV

With more interior volume and practicality than before, plus a new electric powertrain that combines plenty of fun with a respectable range, the 2025 Mini Countryman SE is a compelling EV.

That wild interior is captivating, and while Mini fans may find the ride a bit softer than they're used to, the result is a crossover that's far more compliant and comfortable than a competitor like a Tesla Model Y. In my opinion, it's also packing more personality than anything Tesla makes.

Tim Stevens

Tim Stevens is a veteran editor, analyst, and expert in the tech and automotive industries. He helmed a major website's automotive coverage for nine years and acted as its content chief. Prior to that, Tim served as the editorial lead at a tech-oriented site and even led a previous life as an enterprise software architect.