Our long-term 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman All4 has served out its time in Northern California and is set to head down to LA later this month. But before it departs the sunny side of the bay, I've got some closing thoughts after a few months behind the wheel.

To begin with, Mini has succeeded in creating a livable, entertaining crossover that's nothing if not unique and hasn't diluted the brand's core values... much. Particularly in S and All4 guise, the Countryman has just the right amount of sport to keep us interested and enough functionality to make it an everyday vehicle. Sure, I'd like a little more cargo space, but there's ample room for a family of three – maybe four – to make a weekend trip up to the hills or out to the coast and enjoy the spaces in between.

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