MINI has the difficult task of combining the retro styling they’re known for with a modern SUV body and an EV powertrain. We’re talking about the all-new 2024 MINI Countryman, recently previewed by the BMW sub-brand ahead of the official debut later this year.
BMW dropped a few spy photos of the 2024 Countryman wearing camouflage, along with some technical specs which we will share. We’ve also got some accurate renderings of the car which are based on said photos of the prototype while borrowing elements from existing MINI models or concepts.
If the real 3rd-generation SUV ends up looking anything like these renderings by Kolesa, and it should, we’re honestly going to be disappointed. And I don’t think BMW expects this to be a sales success either.
The general proportions and design should be quite similar when the covers come off the 2024 Countryman in a few months. And if you’re a fan of the previous two models, you’ll see a lot of differences, but also some similarities, like the shape of the roof.
At the front, the new Countryman will have less rounded and retro-looking headlights, designed more like the Aceman concept from last year. The shape of the grille is similar to the electric hatch, the Cooper SE. That’s because this is electric too. Unlike all modern MINIs, this SUV will have a conventional hood rather than a clamshell, making it less distinctive.
I’m no car designer, but I feel like something is missing. The Countryman always had two clear features: body cladding that’s way stranger than other cars and a secondary grille opening just above the number plate, replicating the Cooper S hood scoop.
The sides feature less of that rounded swagger of the original. Aerodynamic wheels are visible, as well as the flush door handles shared with the 2023 BMW X1. The rear is honestly the only good view of the 2024 Countryman. It’s got this interesting oval-rectangle shape formed by the lights, which looks like a combination of the new Range Rover and Volvo EX90.
2024 Countryman official specs
MINI says the all-new Countryman will be fitted with a 64.7 kWh battery pack underneath the floor and two choices of EV powertrain. The base version will be called the Countryman E and produces 188 hp from just one electric motor. The more powerful Cayman SE ALL4 has dual motors for a total of 308 hp. It’s the same setup as the BMW iX1, which is the electric version of the X1 that isn’t coming to North America. We know the iX1 can hit 62 mph in 5.6 seconds, making it as fast as a hot hatch.
Like the iX1, the MINI should be compatible with 130 kW DC chargers. Although BMW only talks about the EV, the Countryman should still be available with combustion engines, the 1.5-liter 3-cylinder and 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, plus the plug-in hybrid. None of them will be available with manual gearboxes, though.
The 2024 Countryman has also grown. It is about 5 inches longer than the previous model, measuring 4,429mm (174.4 inches). The overall height has also increased by 60mm or 2.4 inches, meaning it’s going to be practical like a normal small SUV.
