First Drive: 2017 Mini Countryman Diesel

Diesel is a dirty word. Not so much in the context of South Africa perhaps, where our vehicles’ pollution standards are not as stringent as they are in Europe and North America.

But abroad, particularly in the wake of the Volkswagen group’s infamous omission of truthful emissions figures, there are plenty doomsday prophecies about the fate of the oil-burner. Funny, though, since diesel engines were once lauded as the future in passenger car applications.

A richness of torque, a parsimonious approach to fuel and (relative) cleanliness are all merits. Frugality is always going to be a sweet selling point. Diesel is cheaper than petrol at the moment, at R13.61 per litre compared to the R14.01 you would pay for 95-grade petrol.

The Mini Countryman you see before you, posing in front of the Tshwane skyline, is pretty important. This derivative marks the first time the brand has ever offered a diesel choice in the local market. Was there a surplus of Countryman D models that they couldn’t flog to mistrustful shoppers overseas?

Not according to the manufacturer. “We are pleased to finally be introducing an alternative engine derivative, this has been a goal for some time now and the market introduction of the new generation Mini Countryman presented us with the perfect opportunity to do so,” it said in a statement.

Having spent four days with the newcomer, we’ve got a sense that the introduction should have come sooner. The virtues of a diesel motor are most flattering to Mini’s most practical offering – and for a second let’s forget all those “fun-to-drive, go-kart” promises extolled by the brochures.

If you find yourself facing the paradox of wanting a big Mini, for a lifestyle entailing children, pets, the urban jungle and the odd getaway, this is for you. They’re also using the Countryman as a platform upon which to offer their first plug-in hybrid model. This will arrive on our shores in 2018.

Think of the Countryman as a BMW X1 in a different frock. After all, the duo shares a platform – dubbed internally at BMW as the UKL2 architecture. And the engine employed in this case is essentially the same one that sees duty in the sDrive20d version of the sport-utility vehicle, albeit detuned.

Here, the 1995cc, four-cylinder mill has an output of 110kW and 330Nm. In the BMW those numbers look more impressive, at 140kW and 400Nm. Of course, the price of the car with the propeller emblem is also greater.

Our Countryman D test unit was equipped with a six-speed Steptronic transmission, although a six-speed manual is offered – but nobody’s likely to opt for it. And why would they? In this guise, the sizable Mini is all about ease-of-use. Nosing the car out of our Braamfontein offices, through the tight spaces and frantic pace of the cityscape, its agreeable and compliant nature was apparent.

It must be said though, that hearing the mild grumble of that engine conjures up different thoughts than what we’re used to, upon starting up a Mini. It’s more cruising down a dirt road en-route to a Sunday afternoon lunch spot, than buzzing through the back roads at a fair lick on a Saturday morning.

Still, this is the Mini for mom and dad. And it’s going to leave change in the piggy bank for nappies, school fees and iPad contracts. The manufacturer claims a combined consumption figure of between 4.4l/100km and 4.6l/100km. Over a stint from Sandton to Pretoria, we attained 4.2l/100km. That run was conducted with the car’s most efficient driving mode engaged.

The air-conditioning was on and the sunroof was in its tilt position. In the more spirited driving setting, our car returned a figure of 5.7l/100km, which is still easy to palate. Theoretically, on the open road, you could eke a distance of 1243km out of its 51l tank. As the self-proclaimed economy run champion of this publication’s motoring team, the challenge was tempting.

On the downside, we were expecting a much softer ride, given the plump tyre sidewalls and small alloys worn by our tester. We suppose they sought to retain the inherent firmness of products from the stable – but this is probably the most comfortable Mini you could get. It rolls on runflat tyres, although you’ll find a space-saver spare wheel nestled in the boot.

All things considered, the Countryman D is a likable product and one that is easy to recommend. In our view, it’s the one to pick from its stable. The substantial margin by which it undercuts the cousin from BMW also makes a strong case. – Brenwin Naidu (Pics: Waldo Swiegers)

Pricing as of October 2017:

MINI COUNTRYMAN D: R457 000

MINI COUNTRYMAN D STEPTRONIC: R475 000