[Jalopnik] The 301 HP 2020 Mini JCW Countryman Proves More Power Fixes Almost Anything

William Clavey
11/18/2019

When the Mini Countryman crossover first appeared almost a decade ago, I remember thinking it would be a failure. After all, by definition, a crossover—something big—is like the Anti-Christ to Mini’s rabid fanbase.

Yet the Countryman ended up doing more than alright for Mini, with over 160,000 units sold in the U.S. and Canada since its launch. It’s now the brand’s best-selling model, and it even comes in a hotter John Cooper Works version.

I drove a JCW Countryman last Spring, and while I came at it with a lot of prejudice, I was actually immensely satisfied by how fun it was to drive; arguably the most entertaining small crossover I’ve driven in my entire career, even if it looked really weird.

So when Mini announced it cranked up the juice to a much healthier 301 horsepower, I figured it could only mean one thing: even more smiles behind the wheel.

(Full disclosure: BMW flew me and Jalopnik Big Boss Patrick George to Spartanburg, South Carolina for Test Fest East, where they put us up in a hotel and fed us fancy food and then let us drive their cars however we wanted.)

Full article and more photos to be found at Jalopnik!

 

.....more power can't fix ugly.

 

yeah the looks is something im not a big fan of, but i love my r60. im taking my time weighing up this f60jcw and x2 m35i

 

and i would fully agree about the power!!! 2020 JCW countrymans def feel like you have plenty of power and then some.. also.. 45-50mph cloverleaf freeway onramps... check...
as for looks.. get it in blue or a color and blackout the chrome but to each his/her own. (says a prev R58 owner.. hehe)

 

We had one here in the pre 301Hp, most guys like the interior and the seats which are now recaro. I have not driven one with the new powerplant.

 

yea.. you def need to get in the seat of one.. i swear this is a completely new MINI beast.. the handling/steering feels so smooth and isn't nearly as heavy as my R58s which i love!! and the startup pops in normal mode? likey! and the handling for a SUV/SAV is freak of nature like.. 45mph around a cloverleaf w/no tire squeel? yup.. check!!