Mini Countryman is sumo-sized version of classic motor with stunning hi-tech interior, Go-Kart mode & nods to original

WHEN is a Mini no longer a Mini?

When it’s big enough to pick on a Range Rover Evoque?

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When it costs £40k?

When you can fit a classic Mini in the glovebox?

I don’t know about you but I want my Minis to be small and cute. Not sumo-sized, like this new Countryman.

They belted out Technotronic’s dance classic Pump Up The Jam at the media launch.

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They weren’t kidding.

If the old Countryman is XL, this new one is XXL.

It’s 6cm taller and 13cm longer than before - making it a fraction bigger in all directions than an Evoque. And a Nissan Qashqai.

It’s also 56cm longer than the new Mini Cooper.

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So it’s a whopper.

But also proper.

Yes. You read that correctly. I have to concede that, after spending some time in the mammoth Mini, it actually grew on me.

From behind the wheel at least.

The interior is class. There’s no other word for it.

Simple dash and controls, like the original 1959 Mini, but also hi-tech, high quality and vegan. Knitted recycled textiles cover the dash.

You start the car by turning an actual key.

The pedals are oval-shaped.

That round OLED screen is crisp and easy.

All things that please, all nods to Minis of old.

Yet the 3D satnav, in-car gaming and “Experiences” toggle switch tell you that you are piloting something thoroughly modern.

Select the Go-Kart driving mode for example and you are greeted with a cheery “Woo-hoo”, like you’ve just landed in Mario Kart world.

It’s fast and sticky

You can also personalise the brake lights from one of three digital signatures — including a Union Flag design.

One thing you can’t fault with this car is the cabin space.

Gangly teens will have plenty of headroom in the back, plus there are USB ports, drink holders and map pockets.

Ask your parents.

The rear seats slide backwards for more legroom, or forwards to make the boot bigger.

Fold them flat and you’ve got a mini van.

The new Countryman will offer both power types — petrol and electric. But no plug-in hybrid this time.

The base petrol costs £29k and the cheapest battery car is £42k.

The black and red car you see here is the all-singing John Cooper Works ALL4 at £40k.

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It’s fast and sticky and actually feels smaller when you hurry it than its size suggests, which is a good thing.

The suspension does a good job of soothing away most bumps in the road.

But do you really need 300hp and sports car acceleration in a designer family SUV? Probably not.

You don’t want the kids to recycle their Cheerios on the way to school.

The mid-spec Countryman S is 218hp, ALL4 all-wheel drive and £6k cheaper at £34k. That would be my starting point.

Or, if you’re ready to switch to electric, Countryman E is 204hp and will do up to 287 miles between charges.

So, that’s the Countryman. Lots of Mini goodness but XXL-sized.

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Next up from Mini is the XS-sized Cooper in petrol and electric and the M-sized Aceman crossover, which is electric only.

The Cooper is much more my cup of tea.

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