2016 MINI Cooper Countryman Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?
The 2016 Honda HR-V will be one of the big competitors against the Cooper, also sporting a chic body design and outright cheaper. Now for the big question; does the 2016 mini cooper countryman have what it takes to become the worthy buy?
Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2016 MINI Cooper Countryman – The Pros
1) A Wide Array of Colors
From the first glance, the consumer has plenty of hues to pick for their preferred car. The color palette has a total of 10 choices that include:
- Light white
- Jungle green
- Cosmic Blue
- Blazing Red
- Brilliant Copper
- Absolute Black
- Starlight Blue
- Crystal Silver
- Midnight Gray
2) Reasonable Fuel Economy
There is a noticeable step down in mpg from the previous model, especially on highway cruising. The 2016 Mini Cooper Countryman manages a mpg of 27city and 32highway. Mini maintained the city cruise mpg constant but highway mpg went down two ratings from the previous 34. For the Honda HR-V 2016, it’s crushed severely in city cruising (coming in at 25mpg) but shines in highway cruising (34 mpg).
3) A Hands-On Transmission
The 2016 Mini Cooper Countryman will officially be released as a manual transmission sports utility vehicle. Quite the delight for the petrol head who loves to shift gears while accelerating on the highway. All four trims will come out as manually driven vehicles with the option of automatic on request by the buyer. Honda is releasing the HR-V 2016 model in eight trims, with six of them engineered with automatic transmission.
4) Varied Entertainment Options
What’s a sports utility machine without a high-tech sound system to pump great music on the highway? To start off is a built-in AM-FM stereo radio with additional CD and MP3 players. There is satellite radio to keep connected even when out of network range and HD radio to have favorite stations broadcasted on crisp digital sound.
5) Lush Interior
The 2016 Mini Cooper Countryman interior evokes that executive status with the seats either in quality leather or clothe material. The seats are made from a high-grade synthetic material, and they can be fitted with lumbar support for both driver and passengers. Additional bucket seats are available for additional space, and the driver’s seat alone can be fitted with heating technology for comfort but on request.
6) Stellar Engine Performance
The 2016 Mini Cooper Countryman packs a 4-cylinder engine and a 6-speed manual transmission under the hood. Test drivers were impressed by the superfast acceleration and smooth handling on the road ranking it as one of the best sports utility vehicles that will come out. The 2016 Honda HR-V carries the same 4-cylinder engine under the hood with the option of a 6 speed manual or automatic transmission.
7) Variety of Convenient Controls
Some critics say the controls at the front can get quite mind-boggling but with time, one gets the hang of it. The built-in cruise control button allows the driver to set their own speed limit while the steering is adjustable for comfortable handling. Another tweak on the steering wheel is the addition leather wrap for a comfortable grip. Other perks to come with the 2016 Mini Cooper Countryman include:
- A Trip Computer
- Keyless Entry on Doors
- Rain-sensitive Wipers
- Powered Doors and Heated Mirrors
8) Safe on the Road
For a vehicle with powerful acceleration abilities, one would expect it to have a reliable braking system to stop when need be. The 2016 Mini Cooper Countryman gives exactly that by incorporating 4-wheel ABS braking technology on all wheels. To reinforce this is brake assist, traction, and electronic stability controls. Airbags reinforce the entire car from the driver’s side to the passengers, on the rear and side heads and general sides of the vehicle.
9) Same Chic Exterior Design
The driver who still wished the 2015 Mini Cooper Countryman design was maintained has their prayer answered. Once it comes out, the same colors are left intact and the exact design. Engine performance improvement is the new perk drivers are going to enjoy.
10) Chance of Adding Tweaks to the Mini Cooper
On request, the driver can have a dual sun/moon roof with tilt power abilities. The body design can be reshaped a little by requesting an additional rear spoiler at the back. More extra goodies that can be thrown in include:
- Fog sensor lamps
- Rear Visual Aids to assist in parking
- Keyless engine Start
Reasons Not to Buy a 2016 MINI Cooper Countryman – The Cons
1) Confusing ControlsOne of the top complaints critics have had with this sports utility ride is the quirky control system at the front. Secondary controls are not logically arranged and may take the driver a while before they can tell where each button is placed without looking.
2) Very Tiny Cargo Space
For a mini SUV that looks so enormous on the outside, and includes a bucket sit, it’s rather sad the cargo space is tiny. So anyone thinking of a road trip with friends of the family may have to think twice about luggage size.
3) Same Body and Colors
Yes, the driver has a variety of color options, but there is no difference from what was offered in 2015. Moreover, the body design from front spoiler to rear bumper is all the same with no change at all. This would be rather disappointing, especially when the Honda CR-V 2016 looks more suave on body design.
Conclusion
Compared to the 2015 model, the 2016 Mini Cooper Countryman hasn’t changed that much. Nonetheless, test drivers loved the power of the 4-cylinder engine and its nimble handling. Then again it may not be the choice car for the driver who isn’t comfortable with manual transmission; the 2016 Mini Cooper Countryman will face stiff competition from the 2016 Honda CR-V on this one.
