Flagship performance Countryman makes for four JCW variants in total.
Those after a Mini with eye-watering performance and a little more versatility can rejoice, as Mini Australia has released the local specification and pricing for the John Cooper Works Countryman. The biggest JCW of the lot, the Countryman packs impressive go with great standard specification, all encapsulated in a recognisably-MINI package that everyone knows and loves.
The 2018 JCW Countryman will be available from $56,900 (before ORCs), and pairs the 2.0-litre Mini TwinPower turbocharged engine (good for 170kW & 350Nm) with an eight-speed automatic sports transmission or a six-speed manual gearbox, before putting that power down to all-four wheels. The self-shifter will be available as a no-cost option for enthusiasts, who will undoubtedly relish the idea of a manual Mini, even if it’s of a bloated, jacked-up variety. Fuel consumption is rated at 7.4L/100km for the automatic model (7.8L/100km for the manual), while century sprint times are identical at 6.5-seconds.
Normal, Sport, and Green driving modes are available, each altering the JCW Countryman’s throttle response, steering weight, and automatic transmission mapping accordingly. The JCW Countryman isn’t all about go though, with 17-inch Brembo brakes hiding behind 19-inch JCW Course Spoke alloys. Other exterior embellishments include piano-black roof rails and side mouldings, along with JCW side scuttles and chrome-tipped exhaust pipes.
The cabin of the JCW Countryman sets itself apart from lesser variants with its Dinamica-leather interior and front sports seats, along with a JCW-specific three-spoke leather multifunction steering wheel. Other unique cabin revisions include things like ‘Hazy Grey’ finishing, Anthracite headlining, rear-seat armrests, 12-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system, MINI Navigation Professional infotainment system, a heads-up display with performance-oriented displays, active cruise control (with Stop & Go function for when you’re caught in a snarl), ‘Driver Assist’ package, keyless entry and go, all-round parking sensors, and a hands-free automatic tailgate.
Should the standard kit not be impressive enough, the JCW Mini Countryman can be specced up with the ‘Climate’ package (adding a panoramic glass roof, sun protection glazing, heated front seats), while individual options include an interior/exterior mirror pack, luggage compartment net, and a tyre-pressure monitoring system.
The JCW Mini Countryman will be covered by the brands’ thee-year/unlimited-mileage warranty, while service costs can be thrown into the purchase price with ‘MINI Service Inclusive.’ Offered in two packages, Basic and Plus, the former covers the costs of scheduled servicing, while the latter adds on the costs of selected wear-and-tear items.
The JCW Mini Countryman, while not cheap, will definitely tug at the heartstrings of those who want a stylish but practical family car for the weekdays, and a backroad barnstormer on the weekends. Let us know what you think of the JCW Mini Countryman below.
For more information on MINI, check out our Showroom.
