If there was one universal complaint on the Countryman when it first hit US dealers it had to be the inability to order a rear bench seat. The reason for the delay was due to a NHTSA having a minimum width requirement for an automaker to offer three seats across. Thankfully for MINI that minimum was changed and the five-seat Countryman (in the US) was born. And as expected it went on to be so successful that rear buckets all but disappear from dealer lots. And starting with 2013 production, they will officially disappear as the standard configuration.

For 2013 MINI USA is making the rear buckets an optional extra on the Countryman. This change along with the elimination of the flat load floor requirement for the bench will give lower the price of the five seat Countryman by a $250 dollars.

From the beginning we were staunch supporters of the rear buckets even ordering our long-term R60 with them. But after 12 months and 12,000 miles they simply didn’t make as much sense as the much more versatile bench. Would we have ordered differently? Strangely no. And perhaps that’s a testament to how cool and surprisingly usable the buckets were.

Original article and commentary can be found at MotoringFile...

 

Fantastic! I love bench seat and love to save $250. Thanks for the great news.

 

Lame! Between this and moving the window switches to the doors, MINI is losing its uniqueness. Maybe the average Countryman buyer doesn't want a unique car, but that's what has kept me in a MINI for the past 8 years.

 

Meh. I can understand how a bench might be considered more practical but...

I got buckets in my CM because I agreed with the NHTSA that the seats weren't really wide enough for seating three abreast. My Passat (CM isn't due 'til next week) isn't even very pleasant. Since my wife has a bigger vehicle, I don't have much need for a car that hauls more than four people.

At least the CM had the excuse that it's a smallish car. What explanation did VW offer when offering the much larger CC without a middle space in the rear seat?

 

I can fit an infant carrier on the center seat and two adults in the normal seats. bench for the win.

 

Yeah, two uncomfortable adults. I can fit an adult in my trunk, but that doesn't mean he likes it.

 

I ordered bench seats so I can carry ski inside the car. (they are too valuable to put them on the rack)

Bench seats also give you more cargo options as you can fold each piece separately

 

i want to know can i flip up the whole Flat Load FlooR ?? i can only flip up half of it....

 

Only the back half flips forward. You can take the whole thing out by flipping it up and pulling towards the rear and up. I like the flat load floor. I keep my car bag under there as well as a car blanket. It keeps those items out of the way and if I do want to use the whole back I can simply take it out.

I got the rear bench, and have fit 3 average size males in the back. It was not the most comfortable, but it worked. For kids in the future I have have a feeling it will be easier to clean up as well with no "crap trap" or rail system back there.

Last but not least, I am not a fan of the door window switch location change. I really like having them in the middle, reduces the redundant switch for the front passenger. Please BMW go back to your old ways that died with with E46.

 

that all i can flip up at... the rear part of the flat load floor would not move a bit at all...

 

Unfortunately that is all that flips up. With it flipped up pull the whole thing back and up. Look under the flat load floor and you will see the slide out slots like for the cargo cover that lifts with the tailgate.

 

I find the minimum width requirement strange. If anyone like me has had the misfortune to drive an American 6 seater car, with three seats up front (think Buick, Ford Crown Vic), you know that the middle seat iup front s a complete joke and a death trap with only a lap strap. How that could be legal previously I have no idea.

 

My crew likes the buckets... we looked at the bench but your not putting 3 across back there unless they are very small people or children. If I still had little ones I would have probably gone with the bench seat. As it is, a 16yr old and the occasional 22yr old makes the buckets work better for us. I'd probably also go bench if I had dogs that i took along for the ride regularly. At least the buckets will still be an option should you want them and are willing to pay and order them.

 

irrelevant. my kid's safety comes first. if the full-size humans don't like it, they can bring their own car.

 

I went with the bench as it allows room for my an adult to ride with the baby in back and flat space on the seat beside put small bags or baby toys without thing falling into the cracks. I did like that there was an option for the buckets and maybe this is the best that bench becomes standard and buckets are the option

 

Can anyone here confirm that the flat load floor is no longer a requirement for the bench seats?

I'm trying to order a 2013 and my MA says the flat load floor is required (charging me $250) with the now standard bench seats. Seems kind of silly to tack on a requirement for a standard option...

 

I read somewhere (can't recall) that pointed out that there would be a $250 savings versus 2012 because the flat floor is now standard. Does anyone know if there are changes to interior color offerings for 2013 for non JCW CM's?

 

3 of the 4 dealers that have priced me for the 2013 have said the bench seat is standard BUT requires the flat load floor a $250 addition...

when asked if they could just take out/ leave out the flat load floor since it makes absolutely no sense to me why i'm required to pay for something to keep a standard option

they ignore the logic and simply state:
"If we take out the flat load floor, it turns the seats into bucket seats."

but since I refuse to give up I try again:

"I see. Does this mean the bucket seats are still the "standard" option then? Or could this be a manufacturer's mistake?
Sorry, but I just don't understand why there's a $250 requirement attached to a base model option."

and their final response:
"Both the Bench Seat and the Bucket seats are standard options but the Bench seats come with an extra flat load floor that is mandatory."

mini dealers: 1 logic: 0

if any one has found a way to convince a dealer otherwise..please do share..

 

Logic vs. profit? logic always loses. :-(

 

What does the 4th dealer say?

 

His discount off MSRP is probably about $250 less than the others.

 

pretty much. in his break down of the MSRP he based it off the 2012 list. On that list bench was $250 and flat load floor was "included" and since the bench is now standard he just crossed off the $250 w/o adding it back in for the floor.

most likely b/c he didnt hear about this "mandatory" flat load floor tidbit yet. I didn't ask of course. :P

but yeah.. $250 less than the other quoted MSRPs

 

I ordered the bench because I actually liked the way it looked.. but there are no cup holders in the back seat! Any suggestions for cup holders? I can't believe they are moving the window buttons.. however, it will make it easier for the cups in the cup holder.. But I like them where they are.

 

Maybe there will be a $250 option to keep buttons on the center console

My vote: bucket seats...your passengers will love you for them. I turned two people into buying their first MINI because of them. Since dealerships were only offering the bench seats in their 2012 inventory, my friends had to build their CM.