I have three little ones, so I need a bench seat in the back. I had read that in the US market we would not get that option. I tired the UK config but could not find anything.

Is there any bench seat option in any country?

 

The rear bench option will be coming later in 2011 to the US

 

Yeah, I feel bad.. A little time and I found the information. I guess, my question is when now or is there any new information?

 

There is a no cost "5 seat configuration" option in the UK configurator.

 

Countryman rear bench seat option available as early as March 2011 production for the U.S. market

Source: http://www.motoringfile.com/2010/10/...h-seat-option/

MINI USA: Show me a bench seat and a factory JCW option, and I'll show you a check

 

Here's a pic

http://www.bmwblog.com/wp-content/up...ntryman-22.jpg

 

Thanks for the photo of this upcoming option. Our dog might like this configuration better.

 

Ditto on the dog liking the bench better. We have a German Sheppard and can't trade our Clubman S until the bench version arrives.

 

Just FYI, I was informed yesterday by one of the MAs at my dealership that the bench seat will not be available as an option until the 2012 models begin production.

Now, as with everything - always check with your own sources. I wanted to let everyone know because for some of us it does make a difference - whether it's about dogs, children or whatever.

 

this is what my MA told me too--not until at least 2012! we have two small dogs and a child on the way and the bench would make our lives much easier, but we're going with the bench-less countryman for now and figure we can trade in when it's available.

 

Maybe that's just a way for the salesman to pressure a quick sale of a 2011 model for people who don't want to wait another year for a bench. I'll stick to motoringfile's prediction for a 2011 bench option early in the spring.

 

I was told by my MA when I ordered mine, that the bench wouldn't be available until around March or April production. But who really knows?

 

It's possible that my MA was giving me a line, but he's already sold his allocation of the Countryman, and he had 20 to sell, which is apparently more than most dealers. We don't need the bench now, but if we have another kid in several years, it sure will make life easier so I'm willing to wait.

 

Yes, I'll stick to what Motoringfile says too.
Thanks to Motoringfile and their awesome amount of information, I have a wealth of knowledge on the Countryman. I find I know more info about the vehicle than many MA's.
I had mentioned to our MA, prior to ordering our car, that I had the price sheet for all of the options. She didn't believe it was legit at first. I told her it had been released from BMW that day and it had written on the bottom pages: 2010 MINI Division of BMW of North America, LLC.
It seems like the dealers are clueless when it comes to the bench option. I can't figure out how Motoringfile gets their info and the dealers are in la la land.

 

Well, that MA is surely misinformed. The rumors have it as 2011, certainly not 2012.
We ordered the 2 piece rail system so that once the seat option is available I can remove the rail. Then I would order the bench option and install it myself. It appears the 2 bucket bottoms are also different on the bench option, so the seat bases will need to be ordered too.


Article below from Motoringfile:

This just in! We’ve received word from Gabe at the MINI 2011 Launch Event that the rear bench seat for the Countryman will be an available option for the US market. This means that a 5-seater Countryman is now an option if the rear buckets aren’t enough for your people-moving needs. Previous NHTSA regulations mandated a minimum seat width for rear seat passengers that the Countryman bench seat didn’t meet, albeit just barely. Rather than re-engineer a US-only rear bench seat, MINI opted to wait for a probable change in the regulations.
The wait paid off. Our sources are telling us that back in March, the NHTSA updated the minimum width regulation and the OEM Countryman bench seat is now compliant. While the rear bucket seats will remain the R60’s standard equipment, expect the bench option to become available in the next 6-8 months.

 

We did the same thing--ordered the split rail, just in case the bench option could be installed later. Again, everyone has to try and comb through the rumors, info, and mis-information the best they can and make the best decision for themselves. At this point, it was better for us to have a 4-door, 4-seat, 4-wheel drive MINI ASAP since we have a little one on the way

 

Time will tell. I hope you are correct and that the dealership where I have bought my last three MINIs is wrong. But remember the 2012 models come out well before the year 2012. I'm not sure if it's September 2011 when the 2012 are going into production or earlier. I have an '09 but it was a September '08 build.

 

A little bird just told me that it may be in June that the bench seat will be available. This bird heard it from their MINI rep. Of course this is not "official" but I like the sound better.

 

I told my MA and sales manager the same thing. They played it down and said they hadn't heard anything.
The 2012 thing is just absurd.
Motoringfile has had a pretty darn good track record and some reliable insiders give them news on upcoming things.
That said, the seat configuration has been approved for use here in the states. So that is not the issue anymore. The question is, is it something that's in short supply and they fear the U.S. will deplete it?

 

Fingers crossed that it will happen sooner, rather than later - purely for selfish reasons.

I've been going back and forth between the Countryman and the Volvo V50 wagon... I know, I know - two completely different types of cars.