Cars
Some would say - perhaps even I have said - that the term, "SUV" doesn't make any sense in the context of BMW's Mini brand. Mini, as in "miniature", is renowned for its ability to build fun-to-drive small cars; small cars which are, in modern times at least, a cut above similarly-sized vehicles. Though Mini might stand for many things, from retro British style to performance to premium positioning, the brand stands for small above all else. Thus, a sport-utility vehicle, or Sports Activity Vehicle as BMW calls them, shouldn't fit.
But what if the Mini Countryman is the Mini of SUVs? Among regular vehicles, few cars are shorter or narrower or lighter than the Mini Cooper, particularly in the North American market. Couldn't Mini fulfill an identical mission in the SUV sector? Or does this theory lead down a dangerous path, the end of which is marked by a itty-bitty Ford F-150 competitor with round headlights and a Union Jack on the roof?
Arguments were also made against BMW's first SAV, the X5. Mercedes-Benz aficionados weren't quite as frightened by the first M-Class, even if it did look like a minivan. Of course, Porsche was castigated for introducing the Cayenne. Yet by the time Audi delivered the Q7, the reaction wasn't negative, it was more, "Hurry it up, will'ya." Very, very, very few automotive brands are without some sort of SUV/SAV/CUV/crossover in their showrooms in 2010: Chrysler, Jaguar, Lotus, and smart being the only non-exoticar manufacturers found lacking. Mini debuting the Countryman is as obvious a next step as Jeep revamping the Grand Cherokee.
Still, the voices of naysayers will persist. Their voices likely won't be as loud as the soccer moms who want to cram a 7-year-old in the back of a stylish alternative to their.... ahem.... Honda CR-V. What do potential Mini Countryman owners have to look forward to? Well, get this, they can expect to find a really small trucklet - a Mini SUV, if you will. Shocker. Read on after the jump for an in-depth look at the Mini Countryman's dimensions.
At 161.3 inches long, the 2011 Mini Countryman is 15.7 inches longer than a regular Mini Cooper and 13 inches shorter than a Volkswagen Tiguan.
At 70.4 inches wide, the 2011 Mini Countryman is 4.1 inches wider than a Mini Clubman and 5.7 inches narrower than a BMW X5.
At 61.5 inches tall, the 2011 Mini Countryman is 6.1 inches higher than a Mini Cooper 6.3 inches lower than a Ford Escape
With 5.86 inches of ground clearance, the 2011 Mini Countryman is an inch closer to the dirt than a Volkswagen Tiguan, even 1.4 millimetres closer to the ground than a Honda Fit.
On a wheelbase of 102.2 inches, the 2011 Mini Countryman has 5.1 inches more space between the wheels than a Mini Cooper and 1.8 inches less space between the wheels than a Chevrolet HHR.
With a turning circle of 38 feet, the 2011 Mini Countryman requires almost 2 more feet to do a 360-degree turn than a Mini Clubman but a foot less than a Volvo XC60.
With 41.3 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity, the 2011 Mini Countryman has 17.3 cubic feet more storage space than a Mini Cooper and 31.6 fewer available cubic feet than a Honda CR-V.
Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Arguments For And Against The 2011 Mini Countryman - With Gallery
2011 Mini Countryman In Motion
The Good 12 Supersize v2.0 Part XI - Subaru Forester
Mr. Bean Tries To Leave The Parking Garage
- Mini Officially Reveals New Paceman Three-door Crossover [114 Photos]
Its revelation time for MINI and its brand-new Paceman series, which will make its grand premiere at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September before it goes on sale worldwide next spring. Originally previewed by the Paceman Concept at the 2011 Detroit...
- Mini Usa Sales Charts - March 2013
Despite sliding Hardtop, Convertible, Clubman, and Coupe volume, Mini sales rose 3.5% in March 2013 thanks to the improved volume achieved by the brand's second-best-selling model and the introduction of another. Excluding the new Mini Paceman,...
- Mini Usa Sales Chart: January-september 2012
The Countryman had been creeping close throughout the summer, but September marked the month in which Americans registered more Countrymans than regular Cooper Hardtops. Combined, non-Countryman Minis - the Hardtop, Convertible, Clubman, Coupe,...
- Mini Usa 2012 Q1 Sales Chart
Although U.S. sales at BMW's Mini brand slid 3.6% in March, the first quarter of 2012 has been kinder to Mini than the first quarter of 2011. Of course, Mini's had a little help from new models this year. The Coupe and Roadster have delivered...
- Mini Usa Sales In May 2011 - The Countryman Is Necessary
BMW, America's most popular luxury auto brand in May, has been selling Mini brand cars in the United States since the 2002 model year. Initially, Mini sales were much higher than BMW forecast; the German executives hadn't realized just how easily...
Cars
JUST HOW BIG IS THE 2011 MINI COUNTRYMAN?
But what if the Mini Countryman is the Mini of SUVs? Among regular vehicles, few cars are shorter or narrower or lighter than the Mini Cooper, particularly in the North American market. Couldn't Mini fulfill an identical mission in the SUV sector? Or does this theory lead down a dangerous path, the end of which is marked by a itty-bitty Ford F-150 competitor with round headlights and a Union Jack on the roof?
Still, the voices of naysayers will persist. Their voices likely won't be as loud as the soccer moms who want to cram a 7-year-old in the back of a stylish alternative to their.... ahem.... Honda CR-V. What do potential Mini Countryman owners have to look forward to? Well, get this, they can expect to find a really small trucklet - a Mini SUV, if you will. Shocker. Read on after the jump for an in-depth look at the Mini Countryman's dimensions.
At 70.4 inches wide, the 2011 Mini Countryman is 4.1 inches wider than a Mini Clubman and 5.7 inches narrower than a BMW X5.
At 61.5 inches tall, the 2011 Mini Countryman is 6.1 inches higher than a Mini Cooper 6.3 inches lower than a Ford Escape
With 5.86 inches of ground clearance, the 2011 Mini Countryman is an inch closer to the dirt than a Volkswagen Tiguan, even 1.4 millimetres closer to the ground than a Honda Fit.
With a turning circle of 38 feet, the 2011 Mini Countryman requires almost 2 more feet to do a 360-degree turn than a Mini Clubman but a foot less than a Volvo XC60.
With 41.3 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity, the 2011 Mini Countryman has 17.3 cubic feet more storage space than a Mini Cooper and 31.6 fewer available cubic feet than a Honda CR-V.
Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
Arguments For And Against The 2011 Mini Countryman - With Gallery
2011 Mini Countryman In Motion
The Good 12 Supersize v2.0 Part XI - Subaru Forester
Mr. Bean Tries To Leave The Parking Garage
- Mini Officially Reveals New Paceman Three-door Crossover [114 Photos]
Its revelation time for MINI and its brand-new Paceman series, which will make its grand premiere at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September before it goes on sale worldwide next spring. Originally previewed by the Paceman Concept at the 2011 Detroit...
- Mini Usa Sales Charts - March 2013
Despite sliding Hardtop, Convertible, Clubman, and Coupe volume, Mini sales rose 3.5% in March 2013 thanks to the improved volume achieved by the brand's second-best-selling model and the introduction of another. Excluding the new Mini Paceman,...
- Mini Usa Sales Chart: January-september 2012
The Countryman had been creeping close throughout the summer, but September marked the month in which Americans registered more Countrymans than regular Cooper Hardtops. Combined, non-Countryman Minis - the Hardtop, Convertible, Clubman, Coupe,...
- Mini Usa 2012 Q1 Sales Chart
Although U.S. sales at BMW's Mini brand slid 3.6% in March, the first quarter of 2012 has been kinder to Mini than the first quarter of 2011. Of course, Mini's had a little help from new models this year. The Coupe and Roadster have delivered...
- Mini Usa Sales In May 2011 - The Countryman Is Necessary
BMW, America's most popular luxury auto brand in May, has been selling Mini brand cars in the United States since the 2002 model year. Initially, Mini sales were much higher than BMW forecast; the German executives hadn't realized just how easily...