Hello all, first post here. I have a 2005 S Convertible and have loved it since day one! Now, we are looking at a 2013 Countryman for my wife. She currently has a 2004 BMW X3 that we are going to get rid of. We have looked at many other cars in the same class as the X3 (too $$$ for a new one) like the Murano, RAV4, Highlander, etc.... We really like the Countryman but the hangup is that the boot is half the size of what we currently have.

So my question is for prior owners of a bigger SUV that ended up with a Countryman. How did you get over the smaller space size in the long run? We know the Mini will be more fun, better mileage, etc... but the space is a serious consideration. We have a dog that would be in the back seat a lot so putting down all the seats is not an option.

I did look through many pages on this forum but couldn't find any discussion like this so if there is one feel free to point it out. I did find one with pictures of things in the trunk, which helped but not much discussion on getting over the smaller space.

Thanks in advance!

Steve

 

I can relate to your situation, I came from a Land Rover Discovery. I downsized all the stuff I felt I needed to carry (that's alot w/a Land Rover) My 90lb "Golden" owns the rear seats but still leaves room for things I need to carry.

The gas mileage & SPM (Smiles Per Mile) were the determining factor. Zero regrets.

 

Had a Jeep Grand Cherokee as the snow / dog / carry all car before the CM. I was a little concerned with the decrease in cargo space but 90 plus percent of the time it fits the needs.

We drive from San Francisco to Reno / Tahoe almost every week in all kinds of weather with two dogs and junk for two adults. Return trips to the Bay Area include recyclables because NV still has not implemented the same level of recycling as the Bay Area and I can't bring myself to discard items that I know can be recycled. It is sometimes a little tight, but we make it work.

I like the utility aspect, all weather capability with the All4 and winter tires, and the gas mileage. That being said the weak point of the CM seems to be the clutch on the All4 (not the base and not the S FWD.) If you are looking for a manual I would recommend you take a look at other alternatives due to uncertainty about the clutch on the All4. Other than the All4 clutch which is still a question mark on the 2013's all the other "teething" issues seem to be resolved, so if you are going for the automatic then the CM is a cool and practical little car.

 

Went for a week vacation to Oregon, family of 4 (kids 6 and 2 years old) and our luggage, including a child stroller, it all fit. No roof box.

 

I can relate to this conversation also. I have owned an eight passenger GIANT SUV and now own a Countryman. I find the CM just right, no space is wasted. Most times in those large SUV you are not using all the space effectively , in comparison the CM teaches you to use every inch and it surprisingly works. Also the trick is to not leave things in it that you do not need, in other suv i would always just leave stuff in the back causing a cargo space of clutter vs usable space. Just pack it in tight and use the cargo space under the floor in rear and it works well. Good luck and make the jump to the MINI world.

 

I had an XC 90 I got a roof box for road trips with the family. Unless it's vacation, I had plenty of room without the roof box, but had plenty extra when I mounted it. I bought a skybox 16s I think.

 

My freinds went from a Caddy Escalade that they used to haul their chesapeake bay retriever and tow their boat to the Colorado River with. They were lucky enough to buy a place at the river and now store their boat there. So they updated to a 2012 Mini Countryman and love it. They generally put their rear seats down and the retriever rides in a dog crate. Everything has worked out well so far. I plan to go with them soon, so the rear seat will get the split treatment for a party of three and the dog...

They are enjoying the mileage difference BIG-TIME!

 

I wore out three suburbans (9 pass.) then moved to a Honda Pilot (8 pass.) until the last kid got out of college (no more swim team). The move to a 5-door hatch with AWD was deliberate, and storage space was one of the important factors. Reading on NAM, I learned some tricks that helped make the CM4 adequate for most things.
The CM4 spends extended time with the rear seats down and boot cover stowed. I use a ratchet strap to pull the seats flatter. You can put an amazing amount of stuff in this two-person mode. Taking 4 people to the airport, taking out the boot cover with all seats up let us put all the luggage in the back.
We regularly haul family dogs, gardening supplies and equipment, and stuff. We go on long trips with gear, ice chest, 3 people without difficulty, although we think about it before going. I agree with lots of the other comments.

 

Like others have said, the CM is pretty versatile for its size. But it goes without saying there comes a point when things just won't fit. In that case, we have an old pathfinder that we use. Just depends on what your needs normally are.

 

I puchased a 2012 mini r56 S.. loved the car it was my little go kart ...darting around town and to work and such, but I shoulda known from day 1 the wife commented negative and absolutley hated the unpracticality of the car ( I guess it didn't help that I took her for a few 'FUN" rides ala The italian job),along with canyon carveing, doing donuts and just generally being a speed demon with her in the car didn't help my cause. Anyways long story short there came the time to have to either continue with hearing the complaints or move on....I just couldn't part with the "fun factor" of the MINI brand... hence the compromise & the purchase of my 2013 R60. Much more practical for everyday living and driving for those times when she wants do use it but I still get to have my fun factor , hahahaa anyways thats my story and how my r60 CM came to be... im still in the process of "modding" and will post some pics when i feel its good enough for the members of NAM to view, until then I wish you all happy and continued motoring!

 

A week long vacation and no roof box? I'd need a roof box just for my wife's shoes and hair-primping tools

 

I had SUVs for years. Mazda Navajo, Explorer, 2 4Runners, then switched to an Audi A3. I sold the A3 last year for the Countryman.

I was always surprised by how much I could carry in the A3, compared to the SUVs.

So yes, the boot in the Countryman is small, even compared to the A3. However, with the seats folded down, it's roomier than the A3, and not too far off from a bigger SUV. It's just my partner and I for the most part, so vacations won't be an issue.

I did take a road trip in November, four adults for a weekend, and we had no trouble getting all our stuff in the boot.

 

LOL.

 

Good thread.

My wife and I plan to get a new car with *just a bit more* utility (LOL) than our R57 convertible (though you'd be surprised at how much stuff you can haul with the top & rear seats down!).

I've narrowed it down to two compact utility vehicles: the Mazda CX5 and the Countryman S. I plan to keep the new car for a long while.

CX5
+ Only around $30k fully loaded
+ A lot of cargo room
+ Handled pretty well during my test drive (but obviously not as "go-karty" as the CM).
+ Good gas mileage (similar to CM)
+ Probably more reliable than the CM
+ The 2014 model will get the 2.5l option. The 2013 (2.0l) is too slow.
- Wife isn't too fond of the look (although I like it).

Countryman S
- The one I configured online is $38k ($8k more than the CX5).
- Obviously not as versatile as the CX5. I pick up/drop off ppl at the airport once in a while; I wonder how many ppl and large 32" suitcases the CM can fit simultaneously?
+ Had a loaner CM for a week. Typical MINI handling. Enough said.
+ Good gas mileage (similar to CX5)
- Probably not as reliable as the CX5
+ Good power (I think will feel similar to 2014 CX5).
+ Both my wife and I love the look!

Can't decide!!!

 

I switched from a 2-seater w/tiny trunk (Nissan 350Z) to the Countryman. Frankly, it frightened me when I'd get a notice to pick up some package from the post office, because I never knew if it would fit in my car until I saw it.

The performance of the CMS was good enough that I found it more than a fair tradeoff for the added practicality.

 

Steve,
You might give this thread a peak ->https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ountryman.html

 

Calsonic, I think the obvious choice by any member here would be the CM. I really do not see the comparison from a MINI to a MAZDA. I think you said it best when you said " Typical MINI, enough said". As far as price not sure how you got a CM to $38 grand. I have A CM S all4 very well equipped with msrp just shy of $35 grand. I think you can reconfigure a very well equipped for a bit less, thus making the financial aspect less of a decision maker. Put it this way a MAZDA is not going to turn many heads or be that fun to drive, the MINI on the other hand will cause you to look for reasons to go for a drive.

 

NOOOOOOOO to the Mazda.....japanese crap very poor reviews....mini is the way to go!

 

I added the JCW body kit. That pushed the CM to $38k. For $30k, I think the CX5 is a good value. Not sure what rayzmini is talking about, all the reviews I've seen for the CX5 are good.

Long term reliability, I think the CX5 (non-turbo motor) will win. I drive over ~20k mi every year.

I think the CX5 handles better than all of the CUVs out there, EXCEPT for the CM.

You are right about the CM, it will definitely turn more heads.

Anyway, I think the ultimate deciding factor will be whether it gets approval from my wife, whch the CM does, and the CX5 so far does not. Guess I should just save up more for the CM purchase and repair fund.

 

well, this post is pretty much based on nothingness.

 

It's not hard at all. My 2012 All4 stickers at $38.7, and that was without any JCW add ons.

 

Going back to the original question & like many other people have said on here. I always had an SUV as a family vehicle (Expedition, Pathfinder, Acadia) and traded it in for a Silverado for myself and my wife traded in my work car for a CM. Now we use the CM as a family care ( two kids) cause of the room, gas, and how fun and comfortable you travel in it. We traveled in the Silverado to Mexico and filled the 5'8" bed with tonneau cover up with luggage and the trip was expensive and comfortable. 6 months later we went again with the MINI and the trip was amazing. I took out the covers and stuff thats in the back and all 4 suitcases fitted. The ride to Mexico was quick, inexpensive, fun, and We were less tired than in the Pick-up. My only complaint on the CM is that its a little harder to vacuum and clean out after 2 kids dropped all kinds crumbs everywhere.

 

Thanks to everyone who chimed in here, really appreciate it! We ended up taking some luggage and our dog to the dealer to see if it all fit and as current owners know it did. It alleviated many of our fears. Of course for a really long trip we'd get something to put on the rails.

We're still deciding, my wife needs to look at the RAV4 before we make a decision. That one is mainly on price as the Mini ends up in the $35-38K range with all the options we want.

Plus we need to decide if it's worth it...have a BMW X3 with only 70K on it but out of warranty and will be traveling quite a bit this year we hope....but the Mini is such a fun car.....

Again, thanks everyone!

Steve

 

yes just look at the online configurator on mini's website. Unfortunately it's not difficult at all

 

We did the same thing almost a year ago and couldn't afford the CM we wanted so we got the CX5 we could afford and it even had a few more features standard for $25k than the $33k CM we wanted.