The automotive industry is full of inconsistencies, like… biggest MINI. Well, that’s what this MINI Countryman has been since it arrived for 2011 as the brand’s first SUV. Well, time flies when you’re having fun driving a MINI, so a third generation is already arriving. Let’s find out if that still means big fun for this now not quite so small crossover.

MINIs may not attract the kind of attention they did when the Cooper returned to the U.S. market for 2002, but that’s mostly because they’ve become mainstream, with an expanded lineup that even includes an SUV, this 2025 Countryman S ALL4.

But what hasn’t changed, is that MINIs still look cool and are even more enjoyable to drive. No surprise, the suspension in this latest Countryman, which shares its chassis with BMW’s X1, is very firm; but that’s what gives it that precise go-kart feel that we love in all MINIs. Though that also makes it more primed for backroads exploring and short trip commuting than for extended highway travel.

Continuing another MINI tradition, things inside remain quirky seemingly just for the sake of being quirky, the latest example being the fabric tether-like spoke on the steering wheel. For better or worse, MINI still puts all driver and multimedia information in the same central circle. Perhaps it’s the improved touchscreen, or maybe just that technology has caught up to it, but we think it works better now than ever before; delivering a lot of information. The flip-up Head Up Display helps too, as it keeps you from having to look over to see how fast you’re going.

Good use of space inside as always, with plenty of room for adults up front and lots of useful storage places. And with 40/20/40 folding of the rear seatbacks, there’s more flexibility than most other small utilities. In back, there’s underfloor storage space as well as room for 25.0 cubic-feet of cargo, expanding to a max of 56.2 cubic-ft, 18% more than last gen.

As of right now, there’s no “standard” Countryman. Its only available as a Countryman S ALL4, which means power comes from a turbo engine and all-wheel drive is included. BMW’s 2.0-liter turbo I4 outputs 241 horsepower here with a stout 295 lb-ft of torque. But a JCW version is also available, which cranks the 2.0-liter up to 312 horsepower. All Countryman work with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission; no manual transmission available. MINI Experience Modes set the stage for your preferred driving style. It was Go-Kart mode for us, as we headed to our Mason Dixon Dragway test track.

Things were actually pretty calm off the starting line, but once it got crankin’, speeds built quickly, and we were off to 60 in 5.9 seconds. The DCT was very direct and firm with shifts through the first couple of gears, but they smoothed out noticeably in the higher ranges; power delivery stayed strong throughout the 14.3-second quarter-mile finished at 98 mph.

Being the SUV of the MINI lineup, there was more body roll through our handling course than you’d experience in a Cooper, but we could still carry a lot of speed through the cones. MINI’s ALL4 torque vectoring all-wheel-drive system distributes power to whichever wheels can put it to the best use, helping the Countryman feel well planted while turning in eagerly. Brakes were solid and mostly fade-free with stops averaging just 105 feet from 60. That stable and steady feel at the track is the result of a platform that’s grown slightly larger in both wheelbase and track. Overall length grows just under 5 inches.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 24 City, 32 Highway, and 27 Combined; we averaged a fine 26.6 mpg on Premium. That’s slightly better than average for the Energy Impact Score; 11.0 barrels of yearly oil consumption with 5.3 tons of CO2 emissions.

Pricing starts at $39,895 for Signature Plus trim; Iconic packs in a lot of additional features and starts at $43,095.

The 2025 MINI Countryman S ALL4 is much more than just a nifty machine that’s perfect for living the city life; it’s a fun-to-drive getaway mobile that can also add a big dose of excitement into your daily duties. And even more thrills are on the way with an all-electric version of the Countryman, coming soon.