You know...I've tried really hard to like the Countryman.....when I first saw the pics I kept on telling myself that it would look better "in person."....and then I kept on telling myself..."It'll grow on you!".....but sad to say it just ain't happening......now I know "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and all that but...it's just plain ugly! Sorry.......it just doesn't do it for me....It's not that it's big for a MINI or it's got 4 doors or whatever....it's just ugly! I see no redeeming feature whatsoever. There,.......I've got that off my chest, now I feel better..............
Philip

 

Beauty IS in the eye of the beholder.

I think the Countryman is the second best looking car Mini makes (I think the coup and its coming cousin the Roadster are terrific looking).

The Clubman is just revolting to me and the hardtop is just a plain jane.

To me the Countryman is a very good jack of all trades, it can be used in mountain climates, it sports more storage space for long distance travel, it's economical and yet it maintains that traditional British track car handling and styling.

 

Interesting. I find the Coupe to be unattractive, the Countryman to be "meh", the Clubbie to be nice, and the Hardtop to look the best. I haven't seen a Roadster yet.

More evidence about the eye of the beholder.

(As long as it isn't the eye that casts "death ray"...)

 

MINILLA, sorry, but I think your Clubman is the worst looking mini by far. Awkward looking. I like the CM, as I bought one. But no offense personally, not trying to be an a--. But glad you vented! Now a Nissan Cube doesn't work for me!

 

Ha ha my boyfriend has a Cube and I have a Clubman. I think I like the MCSs better but needed the space the Clubbie gives. Definitely to each his or her own!

 

Yeah, I'm not sure I like the Clubman either.....I did really like our First Gen MINI Cooper CVT Auto (which I traded at 62,000 rather than wait for the CVT to go out ) and MINI Cooper S Stick shift...we traded the MINI for the Clubman and got a great deal....still have the S....but right now I'm having more fun in my Dodge Challenger.....whoooohooooo!

And you're all right...thank God we're all different ...I mean I even like the look of J.Lo...and the 500 come to that...

 

I'm with the OP. I really do not care for the looks of the Countryman - and the Coupe as well for that matter. It looks like a MINI convertible wearing a very awkward bike helmet.

The Clubman is a decent looking car, but I like the classic R50/R53/R56 hatch.

 

That's funny!

I don't see how anyone can like the looks of a Clubby. It looks like a squashed hearse.

I also don't see how anyone can not like the looks of the Coupe or Roadster. These models resemble the classic Aston Martin and stand out among the hoard of boring cars on the road.

 

**Opinion only**

When it comes to beauty in my eyes, it all comes down to even proportions and flowing design language. With proportions, the right length/height/width of one thing in relation to another thing is what makes a car good looking.

I don't believe that the Countryman is ugly at all. It has great proportions, it's slick-looking and it uses even design language. From some angles I think it looks even better than a Porsche Cayenne... on top of being a much better size. Occasionally, it does look like an angry pig from the front.

Here are a few photos from our Countryman Photos thread:



And the angry pig look:



So what is disproportionate to me? A Clubman, because the rear was lengthened, but the front length stayed the same. I agree with the hearse musings by others. Don't even get me started on the afterthought-looking taillights...

Photos from our threads:




What is using design language that doesn't flow? The Coupe. The front and rear are nice and angular with strong lines, but then the top is this bulbus/ultra curvy dome that looks like a baseball cap worn backwards. It just looks way out of place. If it were angled like the rest of the car then the Coupe would look ultra bad ***.




**Opinion only**

 

I agree with the proportion aesthetics as a definition of beauty. Even the Greeks used the "Golden Section" to design beauty in architecture.

But it is hard to argue that this soon to be released new Roadster isn't the sexiest mini going.

I'm buying the JCW edition as soon as it becomes available. Or maybe the second year if there are a few bugs in the first edition.

 

***IMHO Disclaimer***

I'm a huge fan of the Cooper (hardtop and convertible).

I hated the Countryman when I first saw pictures of it! I even laughed along and mocked it with Jeremy Clarkson when they addressed it on Top Gear. The first couple of times I saw it in person, I still thought it was funny-looking. But... it did grow on me! And I ended up loving it, and ultimately ordering one. Part of that is I do like the styling and design, and part of it is that I've always wanted a Mini, but really sort of needed the functionality and extra space of a 4-door car (especially since we're thinking about kids in the next couple of years, AND have 3 dogs, AND my husband is an ex-rugby player and therefore a BIG GUY...you get the idea). I love that I can have both now!

I do think the Clubman is a bit awkward-looking for the most part, although I think the Hampton Clubman is pretty hot. Seeing my dealer's Hampton Clubman actually made me think twice about what I should be ordering! :D

I also have to agree with Christomapher. I think the Coupe is ugly with a capital UGH! I think it's awkwardly proportioned and sort of looks like someone stepped on it and then cut off its tail. The new Roadster is pretty good looking, though--first time I've seen pics of it.

But again, to each his own! I'm not ******* anyone else's car choices, or saying they have to like mine! It's pretty interesting, actually, that we all love our Minis but have such different thoughts and opinions on the various models.

 

I obviously like the Countryman, and I respect that some people don't like it. I have to totally agree with b&WCM that it does a great job of being the versatile MINI without losing the MINI vibe. I think it's a pretty extraordinary car in its capability and its looks.

 

I enjoyed driving it allot

 

I think all MINIs are the same, good looks wise, and all of them have plenty of potential. Stock, all MINIs are boring and fairly ugly. If the owner is creative, and does something with the car, they are some of the sexiest cars I've ever seen. I know I'm biased but DAMN...

 

I was thinking about the Countryman, being that I was driving an SUV, at the time. Add to that, my kids are older & we are close to being empty nesters. I wanted cargo space & leg room, for the occasional rear passenger, but wanted better handling than the Countryman, so I went for the Clubman. I'm glad I did. I haven't had a car that is this fun, in years. It has room for a couple computers & monitors (I'm an IT guy), it still seats 4 but is harder to get into the rear seats, & it goes where I point it, when I point it. I think it looks great.