Thanks to Prentice Portadown MINI – I was able to test drive the new Mini Countryman for the weekend.
This is a fun sporty car, with bags of space…. I loved the rugged exterior styling, well bigger than it’s predecsessor and a possible rival to the Audi Q2, BMW X1 and Mercedes GLA. The Countryman is a whopping 20cm longer than the one before.
The interior is high quality with some features quite astounding…. on level with BMW (BMW is Mini’s parent company) for executive feel of materials, build and quality with a number of options for individualization. Dialing up different drive modes causes the dashboard LED ring the size of a dinner plate to change colour. The switches, infotainment screen and sat-nav are all top notch.
CHECK OUT OUR 360 Tour of the Mini Countryman
Another feature that was impressive was the SOS button. If you have a crash, the eCall system automatically contacts the emergency services and uses GPS (like a sat-nav) to pinpoint your location, even down to which side of the carriageway you’re on, allowing police, fire and ambulance services to respond as quickly as possible. The system will activate automatically if the airbags deploy, but there is also a button which can be pressed to activate the system as well.
I had a great #Miniadventure drive to Bishop’s Gate Hotel in Derry.
A beautiful day for a #miniadventure @PrenticeMini @BGhotelderry pic.twitter.com/c8XnN6XKPw
— Love Belfast ❤️ (@love_belfast) February 13, 2017
The new Countryman continues Mini’s tradition of spunky, expressive styling and engaging driving dynamics while adding welcome space for both cargo and people. You’ll still pay a premium for the trademark Mini personality, but the Countryman’s upsized dimensions make it a more practical entry in the subcompact SUV category. Even if the new Mini Countryman hardly is mini in size, it’s still an absolute joy to drive.
The staff at Prentice Portadown were fantastic and I had an excellent tutorial of the workings of the car and felt confident in driving a new car.
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