2025 Mini JCW Countryman: Bigger Size, Bigger Power, Bigger Screen
Three hundred and twelve horsepower. In a Mini.
Mini late Wednesday debuted the 2025 John Cooper Works (JCW) Countryman. Amidst the BMW Group’s annual TestFest drive program, the littlest member of the family showed off its largest model, which sees a thorough redesign and a bump in power.
If this squared-off rig looks familiar to you, that’s because we’ve seen the new-age Countryman before, only as a battery electric vehicle. This is our first look at the ICE model, which rolls on the same platform. Length is up almost five inches, now measuring around 174 inches (4,420 millimeters), with smaller gains in width and height as well. The design is both sharper and cleaner than the outgoing model, with an emphasis on simple shapes.
As the hot hatch of the family, the JCW does mix in some added drama, however: larger air intakes dominate the front fascia, with a unique checkered-flag grille motif. An aggressive front spoiler and rear diffuser visually pull the Countryman closer to the ground. Move over to the C-pillar and a roof-colored fin gives the JCW its own character. Around back, the Mini borrows from the M brand with a quartet of tailpipes. Setting the whole package off is a redesigned JCW logo. Despite the added girth, the JCW is one slippery pseudo-crossover, with a drag coefficient of just 0.26. Rolling stock consists of either 19- or 20-inch alloys, now wrapped in 245-series rubber.
The engine is an upgraded version of the familiar 2.0-liter turbo-four. Now producing 312 hp and 295 pound-feet of torque through the standard All4 all-wheel drive system, it enables the Countryman to rocket to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 5.4 seconds. That’s a few ticks slower than the outgoing model, likely due to the increased size.
Inside, the cabin follows the electric model’s lead with a calm, simple, high-tech look. A stunning OLED round display dominates the dashboard, housing the latest Mini infotainment system and doubling as the main instrument display. The system uses an improved voice assistant, and offers up new Mini Experience Modes. These make use of a projector just behind the screen, which beams ambient lighting over the whole dashboard. Neato.
A small, redesigned steering wheel features a fabric strap at six o’clock, with red highlights mingling with the black. This pattern is mirrored in the fabric dashboard, which is composed of recycled polyster. Same goes with the standard sport seats. We dig Mini’s commitment to physical controls, especially the vertical engine-start twist.
Mini also highlights the increased space of the new Countryman. The rear row can now slide fore and aft almost six inches (13 cm), and storage space ranges from 16.2 to 51.2 cubic feet (460 to 1,450 liters).
Driver assists take a big leap forward with the optional Driving Assistant Professional package. This gives the Countryman partially automated Level 2 driving, with the system pulling off lane changes as necessary. Drivers can take their hands off the steering wheel on highways up to 37 mph (60 km/h), provided they keep their eyes on the road.
The 2025 Mini JCW Countryman will head into production early next year, and begin arriving at dealerships in May. Pricing starts at $46,900 in the US or $56,290 CAD in Canada, before delivery charges.
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Kyle began his automotive obsession before he even started school, courtesy of a remote control Porsche and various LEGO sets. He later studied advertising and graphic design at Humber College, which led him to writing about cars (both real and digital). He is now a proud member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), where he was the Journalist of the Year runner-up for 2021.
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