Mini Countryman 2021 review
Overview
The biggest Mini you can buy is also the least British-built one in the range: the F60 Countryman was built in Austria, not Oxford. Yet its facelift leans hardest into Britishness, with Union Jack tail lights as standard — which is exactly the detail UK used buyers use to spot a post-2020 car at a glance. The facelift was launched in May 2020 with first deliveries in August 2020, so a 2021 car is a facelift car, not the 2017 pre-facelift model and not the 2023-on U25 new generation. The featured car is the best-supported volume version: the 1.5 Cooper Classic, priced at £25,085 when new with a manual gearbox.
The Cooper's 1,499cc three-cylinder turbo petrol produces 136 PS (134 bhp) and 220 Nm, driving the front wheels. The automatic covers 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds and tops out at 127 mph; the manual's quoted figure is 0-60mph in 9.4 seconds, so the two must not be mixed up. A six-speed manual is standard, with a seven-speed Steptronic dual-clutch automatic the common used-buy choice. Economy is around 44.8mpg combined with 144g/km of CO2 for the automatic in its best pack, or 42.8-44.8mpg and 143-151g/km across manual variants — so this page quotes the range, not a single figure.
Practicality is average for the class but a leap for a Mini: a 450-litre boot rising to 1,390 litres with the 40:20:40 rear seats folded, plus 1,500 kg of braked towing. The facelift brought a new grille, standard LED headlights, Union Jack rear lights and a 5-inch digital dashboard. Safety is five Euro NCAP stars, but from the 2017 test, carried over rather than retested for the facelift — and that rating has since expired under stricter protocols, so it should not be presented as a current rating.
Used buyers should test every switch, the boot mechanism and the screen: owners report sporadic electrics, from rear lights and sunroofs to unresponsive heated seats. Listen for idle vibration, which can point to worn engine mounts on the three-cylinder, and check for coolant leaks around the plastic water-pump and thermostat housing. Reliability data puts the F60 below average, with engine claims the costliest at around £1,800 on average. A 2021 car is normally out of its three-year, unlimited-mileage factory warranty, so check for Mini Approved Used or extended cover instead.
UK price from: £25,085
Specifications
| Engine | 1.5L turbocharged petrol (1,499cc, 3-cylinder) |
| Power | 136 PS (134 bhp) |
| Torque | 220 Nm |
| 0-62 mph | 9.7 seconds (automatic) |
| Top speed | 127 mph |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual (7-speed Steptronic automatic optional) |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Fuel economy | 42.8-44.8 mpg combined (WLTP range) |
| CO2 emissions | 143-151 g/km (WLTP range) |
| Boot space | 450 litres (1,390 litres seats folded) |
| Kerb weight | 1,405 kg (manual) |
| Insurance group | 17 (manual Cooper Classic) |
| Euro NCAP | 5 stars (2017 test, carried over) |
| Warranty | 3 years, unlimited mileage when new |
Features
- 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine (136 PS, 220 Nm)
- Six-speed manual gearbox (seven-speed Steptronic automatic optional)
- Front-wheel drive (ALL4 all-wheel drive also existed)
- 450-litre boot, expanding to 1,390 litres seats folded
- Union Jack rear lights and standard LED headlights (facelift)
- 5-inch digital dashboard
- 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats
- 1,500 kg braked towing capacity
Common parts & prices
| Part | Price (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake pads (set) | £64.99 | Pattern part; OEM specification |
| Oil filter | £12.99 | |
| Engine air filter | £18.99 | |
| Cabin pollen filter | £21.99 | |
| Front wiper blades (pair) | £27.99 | |
| 12V battery | £109.99 |
Pros
- The most practical Mini: a genuine 450-litre family boot
- Distinctive facelift styling that is easy to spot at a glance
- Around 44.8mpg (automatic) keeps running costs sensible
- Strong towing ability for the class at 1,500 kg braked
Cons
- Factory warranty has normally expired on a 2021 car
- Below-average reliability data, with costly engine claims
- Owner-reported electrical niggles and cooling-component failures
- 2017 Euro NCAP rating has expired under current protocols
