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In J.D. Power’s listing of the Best Compact and Small SUVs of 2022, you see the usual suspects make the list, like the Ford Bronco Sport, the Kia Soul, and the Buick Encore. But the top compact crossover is the Mini Countryman. The Mini Countryman is based on the tiny Cooper, but it takes that tiny-car formula and pumps it up. It seats five, has a usable cargo area, and can be ordered with all-wheel drive. In J.D. Power’s list of the best, it tops everything because of its useful power, its styling, and its handling.

What makes the 2022 Mini Countryman great?

2022 Mini Cooper Countryman Consumer Reports
2022 Mini Cooper Countryman | BMW of North America, LLC

According to J.D. Power, the Countryman ranks “great” in the quality and reliability rating, for its driving experience. Its resale value may just be average; however, it hasn’t changed much since the second generation was introduced in 2017. Buyers even said the dealership experience was great.

Where the 2022 Mini Countryman really shines, though, is in its combination of driving dynamics and fuel economy. The base Countryman comes as a three-cylinder, 136-horsepower, crossover. But you can add a hybrid version, a plug-in hybrid version, or step up to the turbocharged four in the John Cooper Works package.

Is the Mini Countryman an SUV?

The 2022 Mini Countryman is J.D. Power's top rated small SUV.
2022 Mini Countryman | Mini

The 2022 Mini Countryman is classified by J.D. Power and Mini as a crossover SUV. It’s hard to call it a true SUV because it doesn’t do many of the things that SUVs do well, like go off road or carry tons of stuff. But it is a lot more practical than the Mini Cooper, which is tiny inside and out. The Clubman model is slightly bigger on the insde and holds 47.9 cubic feet of stuff. The Countryman is the largest Mini outside, but has 47.4. You can order all-wheel drive, but the system is designed more for on-road performance than off-road prowess. It only has a maximum of 6.5 inches off ground clearance.  

What’s new for the 2023 MINI Countryman?

the interior of the 2022 Mini Countryman
2022 Mini Countryman interior | Mini

All MINIs will get Apple CarPlay as standard equipment for 2023. The driver assistance package also adds a new parking assist and a heads-up display, as well as some changes to the options packages. All Mini Countryman crossovers have keyless entry, parking assist, and satellite radio. Stepping up top

The 2023 Mini Countryman will also get a new Untamed Edition. The Untamed edition is a special grey-and-black package that adds roof rails, decals, and new wheels.

Unfortunately, the 23023 Countryman is no longer offered with a manual transmission option. However, the Cooper and Clubman can be ordered with a manual.

How much does a fully loaded Mini Countryman cost?

The most expensive version of the Countryman is the John Cooper Works hotrod.
The 2022 John Cooper Works Countryman | Mini

The 2022 Mini Countryman SUV comes in six versions that Consumer Reports says are reliable. The base Countryman and S are both front-wheel drive. The ALL4, as the name suggests, is a the all-wheel-drive variant, and it comes in Countryman, S, and SE. Base Countrymans (Countrymen?) start at $29,600, which is a $500 premium over the 2022 models. Other models have the same pricing as 2022. Countryman S starts at $31,900, and the SE starts at $41,500. The ALL4 package is a $2,000 option.

The hotrod John Cooper Works Countryman All4 is the most powerful top-dog of the Countryman lineup. It starts at $41,500, however it has a 301-horsepower four-cylinder than lets it romp to 60 in 4.9 seconds according to Mini and packs in nearly every option that Mini can. Fun fact: the JCW Countryman is the quickest Mini you can buy.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.