F60 Mini Countryman (2017-2024) Buyer’s Guide
Equal parts charming and practical, there’s plenty to like about the F60-series Mini Countryman. So, should you consider buying a used version of what was at the time the biggest Mini in the range?
When the F60-series Mini Countryman bounded onto the global stage late in 2016, some criticised the compact crossover for its anything-but-mini exterior dimensions, suggesting Sir Alec Issigonis – the celebrated designer of the pint-sized original Mini launched in 1959 – would be rolling in his grave.
But the BMW-owned brand was simply moving with the times, just as it did with the preceding – though slightly more compact – R60-series Countryman back in 2010 (and, for example, just as Porsche did by conceiving the original Cayenne, an SUV that arguably saved the German sportscar brand’s bacon).
Is the F60 Mini Countryman a smart used buy?
What else could you consider in this segment? Well, the F60 Countryman’s rivals included the slightly smaller Audi Q2 and the related Volkswagen T-Roc, as well as the F39-series BMW X2 and both generations (X156 and H247) of the Mercedes-Benz GLA.
With its similarly retro-inspired roots, the Fiat 500X made for an interesting rival, but it wasn’t quite as premium (nor as pricey) as the Mini. Potential buyers might also have looked at the Volvo XC40, the Mazda CX-30 and even the P24-series Peugeot 2008.
Several other more mainstream (and thus more affordable) offerings were available, too.
Of course, unlike the Countryman, not one of the rivals above was criticised for being “too big”. Ironically, the F60’s increased size was likely the very reason it went on to become one of the marque’s top sellers.
A mite more sensible than its forebear, this model offered buyers new levels of practicality while largely retaining the brand’s inimitable character, both from the standpoint of design (inside and out) and in terms of the driving experience.
In short, the 2nd-gen Mini Countryman grew up – in more ways than one – to help the Oxford-based (and BMW-owned) brand grab a meatier slice of the premium small crossover pie. Besides, parked next to the current U25-gen model, the F60 Mini Countryman now looks downright dainty…