THE words “big” and “Mini” still look odd together, but one blast in the John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 Sport is enough to make the contradiction disappear in a haze of exhaust noise and grins. This is the biggest Mini yet — taller, wider, roomier — and yet somehow it hasn’t lost that mischievous, go-kart soul that’s defined the brand for 60 years. It’s the performance SUV that thinks it’s still a hot hatch, and that’s exactly what makes it such a riot.
The John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 Sport sits at the top of the Countryman family, powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine producing a healthy 300hp and 400Nm of torque. With all-wheel drive as standard and a slick 8-speed automatic gearbox, it blasts from 0–62mph in 5.4 seconds and keeps pulling to a top speed of 155mph.
But what makes this latest JCW Countryman special isn’t just the power — it’s the personality. Mini’s engineers have reworked almost every component: uprated pistons and connecting rods, a dual-drive exhaust turbocharger for sharper response, and optimised mounts to keep the engine tied down when you’re wringing it out. Then there’s the ALL4 system, which juggles power between the front and rear axles so quickly that traction loss is basically theoretical.
Design
Visually, the new JCW Countryman is all swagger and stance. The upright silhouette gives it presence, but the minimalist surfacing keeps it from feeling fussy. The octagonal black grille, horizontal LED headlights in JCW Signature Mode, and Chili Red roof and mirror caps make it instantly recognisable, while the updated JCW logo — reworked in black, red, and white — adds a crisp finishing touch.
The 19- and 20-inch wheels exclusive to JCW fill the arches perfectly, and the twin exhausts with their active flap system ensure it sounds as muscular as it looks. Even standing still, it looks like it’s revving in anticipation.
The Countryman’s increased size makes it more imposing than ever, yet still manages a drag coefficient of just 0.26 — remarkable for something shaped like a bulldog in running shoes. It’s a car that commands attention without resorting to gimmicks.
Interior
Inside, the JCW Countryman balances race-ready with refined. Mini has gone for a minimalist design that swaps clutter for clarity. The first thing your eyes land on is the new 14.5-inch circular OLED infotainment screen sitting proudly in the middle of the dash — a feature that redefines what a Mini interior feels like.
The dashboard is wrapped in a textured two-tone fabric made from recycled polyester, proof that sustainability doesn’t have to mean dull. The sporty black and red JCW seats are supportive enough for enthusiastic driving but comfortable enough for long journeys. Even taller adults will find plenty of room, a welcome improvement over previous generations.
In the back, the rear bench slides forward or backward by up to 13cm, so you can prioritise legroom or luggage space. With the seats up, the boot offers 460 litres, expanding to 1,450 litres with them folded. That’s enough for a weekend away, a family shop — or, in our case, a day trip to Glamis Castle in the heart of Angus.
The Infotainment Screen – A Circle of Influence
That screen deserves its own chapter because it’s unlike anything else on the road. The 14.5-inch circular OLED display dominates the cabin, replacing traditional dials and toggles with one high-resolution porthole into Mini’s digital soul. It’s crisp, colourful, and feels like something Apple would design if they built cars.
Everything lives here — navigation, entertainment, climate, driving modes, and even your car’s ambient “moods.” It sounds like a gimmick, but it isn’t. The interface is intuitive once you’ve lived with it for a few days, with smooth animations and logical menus. The voice assistant responds naturally to phrases like “Hey Mini, I’m cold,” or “Take me to Glamis Castle.” It even appears as an animated avatar on the screen, a playful touch that feels right at home in a Mini.
Then there are the Mini Experience Modes. Select Go-Kart Mode and the screen turns red, the gauges mimic a race car, there’s a distinctivly Mario-Kart like ‘Woo-Hoo’ and the exhaust adds an extra snarl. Vibrant Mode, on the other hand, transforms the interior into a living light show, with a subtle dashboard projection casting shifting patterns across the cabin.
Beneath the fun, it’s genuinely functional. Navigation is clean and fast, the media menus are snappy, and Apple CarPlay integrates neatly. The climate controls appear as glowing rings that ripple when you adjust the temperature — once you get used to it, you’ll wonder why no one else has tried it. It’s playful, clever, and properly integrated into the driving experience.
Driving Impressions
To give the JCW Countryman a proper workout, my wife and I took it on a run to Glamis Castle. It’s a route that’s perfect for a car like this: a bit of motorway, some A-roads, and plenty of tight, twisting B-roads that really test a chassis.
The drive out was pure entertainment. The turbocharged engine fires with a purposeful bark and settles into a growl that hints at the mischief to come. On open stretches, the 300 horsepower delivers relentless thrust; the car feels like it’s straining at the leash even in Comfort mode. Engage Sport or Go-Kart mode, and it turns into something much more alive. The throttle sharpens, the steering gains weight, and the exhaust starts to snap and burble on the overrun. It’s utterly addictive.
The twisting A-road leading to Glamis was the highlight. The JCW’s steering is pin-sharp, and the all-wheel-drive system claws into the tarmac with astonishing grip. It changes direction far more eagerly than you’d expect from a crossover, the nose diving into corners with hot hatch enthusiasm. You can feel the engineers have done everything possible to hide the extra height and weight — and it works. The car feels smaller than it looks.
Even the journey home, which was marred by heavy rain, couldn’t spoil the mood. The ALL4 system made light work of the slippery surface, the Countryman feeling planted and confidence-inspiring even when standing water tried to unsettle it. The wider tyres and all-wheel-drive traction gave it composure that would shame some larger SUVs.
That said, there’s no escaping the firmness of the ride. On smooth roads it feels taut and controlled, but over broken surfaces it can start to fidget. The damping is impressive, but the car’s stiffness means you’ll feel every bump. It’s part of the JCW’s personality — eager, always ready to play — but after a few days it does make you realise that this is not the Mini you’d choose as a daily driver. For shorter blasts, though, it’s a joy.
Technology & Safety
The JCW Countryman might look playful, but beneath its cheeky styling lies one of the most technologically advanced systems Mini has ever put in a car. Beyond that striking OLED screen, it’s a rolling showcase of digital intelligence and driver assistance that manages to be genuinely useful rather than intrusive.
The Driving Assistant Professional system is the headline feature. It delivers Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capability, meaning the car can accelerate, brake, and steer to keep itself centred in its lane on motorways and dual carriageways. On a long stretch of the A90 heading north, I tried it — and it worked brilliantly. The system tracked the road markings cleanly, adapted its speed smoothly when traffic slowed, and required just the occasional hand on the wheel to confirm I was still there. It’s not self-driving, but it’s impressively close to what most people would call it.
Adaptive cruise control is similarly polished, maintaining a precise distance from the car ahead and adjusting instantly when you indicate to change lanes. In traffic, it can come to a complete stop and pull away again without drama, making the stop-start grind almost relaxing.
Blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert are standard, along with a clever lane change assistant that gently guides you into the next lane when it’s clear. It’s the sort of subtle intervention that helps rather than hinders. Mini’s engineers clearly understand that driver aids should make life easier, not more irritating.
The head-up display deserves a mention too. Projected crisply onto the windscreen, it shows your speed, navigation directions, and even audio info, so you can keep your eyes on the road. It’s bright, well-positioned, and free of the clutter that plagues some rivals’ systems.
Parking is equally well covered. The Parking Assistant Plus system uses four surround cameras and 12 ultrasonic sensors to give a 360-degree view of the car’s surroundings. It can detect spaces, steer itself in, and even reverse out of tight spots with minimal input. Add in automatic reversing assist — which remembers your last 50 metres of steering inputs and retraces them if you get stuck in a narrow lane — and it’s almost impossible to get flustered in a car park again.
There’s more subtle cleverness, too. The ambient lighting system isn’t just for show: it interacts with driving modes and warnings, pulsing amber if you’re too close to the car ahead or flashing red during emergency braking. It’s as if the cabin itself communicates with you. The OLED screen also adapts its colour temperature depending on ambient light, so it’s never dazzling at night.
Safety is, predictably, top-notch. The body shell uses a blend of high-strength steels for rigidity, while an army of airbags — front, side, curtain, and even a central one between the front seats — ensures protection from every angle. The ALL4 system adds to the sense of security, maintaining traction where lesser cars might flounder.
Together, these systems make the JCW Countryman feel both cutting-edge and confidence-inspiring. You get the sense Mini didn’t just throw tech at the car for the sake of it — they made sure it enhances the drive.
Ownership & Practicality
For all its performance credentials, the JCW Countryman is a practical car. The 460–1,450-litre boot makes it easy to live with, and the sliding rear seats mean you can quickly adapt it for people or luggage. The ALL4 system gives genuine year-round usability, especially for drivers who live in areas prone to snow or rain — something that proved its worth on the drive back from Glamis.
Fuel economy sits in the mid-30s mpg if you’re restrained, though spirited driving (and let’s face it, that’s inevitable) will see that dip. Servicing is straightforward under Mini’s fixed-price plans, and the three-year warranty provides peace of mind.
Rivals
The JCW Countryman’s rivals include the Cupra Formentor VZ2, which offers similar power for less money but lacks the Mini’s character. The Audi SQ2 is more clinical and sharper through corners but feels detached by comparison. Then there’s the BMW X1 M35i — effectively a more serious twin — which trades fun for polish. Against this lot, the Mini wins hands-down on personality.
Verdict
The Mini John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 Sport is proof that growing up doesn’t have to mean settling down. It’s fast, grippy, loud, and unashamedly fun — a crossover that still knows how to make you smile. The new infotainment system feels like the future, the handling feels alive, and the whole car is shot through with a sense of humour that too many performance cars have lost.
The best thing about it is how complete it feels: every part of it, from the OLED screen to the exhaust crackle, exists to make driving an event. The weakest point? That firm ride, which makes it more of a weekend thrill than a daily companion. But if you want something practical that still gets your pulse racing every time you start it, there’s nothing else quite like it.
Final word: A big Mini with a big grin factor — proof that growing up doesn’t mean slowing down.
- AT A GLANCE:
- Mini John Cooper Works Countryman All4 Sport
- OTR Price: £41,500 (special offer until 05/01/2026)
- Engine: 2.0 turbo Petrol
- Power: 300 bhp
- Transmission: DCT Automatic
- 0-62mph: 5.4 secs
- Top Speed: 155 mph
- Combined Economy: 35.6 mpg
- C02: 180 g/km