New MINI JCW Countryman Review: More Mischief, More Magic
There it stood in all its glory: A magnificent red beast looking as sleek and luxurious as ever. Seeing the new MINI John Cooper Works (JCW) Countryman was love at first sight. The MINI logo lit up the road below as we opened the driver’s door. The circular screen swirled to life while the backlights started their Union Jack animation. Setting the car into drive, we launched out of the parking lot – sunroof wide open – with the wind nipping at our ears. Music blasted out of the Harman Kardon speakers, making us feel young and alive.
An Exterior That Exudes Energy
Chilli Red & Union Jack Animation
The 2025 MINI JCW Countryman showcases a blend of performance-oriented design elements and distinctive styling cues that set it apart. Its exterior is eye-catching and exudes luxury and style.
We toured Joburg in our JCW Countryman which became a trusty companion to all our late-night events and early-morning meetings. The Chilli Red colour of the machine was spectacular! However, the options of Legend Grey, Midnight Black, Smokey Green, Nanuq White and Melting Silver still remain.
Off we zoomed to Settebello for their La Ciccia: Seven Stops of Northern Italy offering. The aerodynamics of the JCW Countryman were otherworldly with a compact silhouette and wide stance. Whether we were thinking fast around quick corners or dodging potholes, we barely felt a thing. As we walked away from our vehicle and it automatically locked, we watched the backlights put on a show. While the Union Jack animation was our favourite, more options exist in the MINI’s settings, making the vehicle totally customisable.
Boujee Wheels & 'MINI' Details
Revving on over to Hyde Park Corner for the Hydraulics in the Park store opening, we were perched atop 20” JCW Flag Spoke 2-tone wheels, complete with JCW Sport Brakes adorned with red calipers. Undoubtedly a fashionable arrival!
Our Chilli Red roof and mirror caps (which can actually be found on all JCW Countrymans) made us feel like royalty. The next morning, we rolled up in our MINI to meet South African Mountaineer Angela Yeung before making our way to the office. A full day’s work has never been so exciting and exhilarating!
Interior Integrity: Over the Mountains
Heads-up Displays, Stitching & Storage
But, the MINI JCW Countryman yearns for greener grass, cleaner air and bluer skies. While it is considered the ideal urban car, it is just as perfect for road trips and day adventures. The magic of MINI comes alive in these settings, giving it a status of wild and free.
Settling into our seats for the journey ahead to Sun City, we noticed the sporty feel of the seats. Red stitching, perforated Vescin, head restraints and shoulder areas in a 2D knitted material added to the design. Additionally, we were in for a gripping ride with the three-spoke JCW sports steering wheel in Vescin. It had been newly designed to include a silky-smooth decorative fabric strap.
The many storage compartments of the MINI also impressed us – all seamlessly integrated into the interior’s design. Their wireless phone charging pad was game changing for convenience whilst on the go. And, the boot space is a shopaholic or a traveller who always packs too much’s dream!
The heads-up display rose from the dashboard as soon as we hit the unlock button for the vehicle. (Side note: You can lock and unlock your MINI from the MINI app!) The heads-up display offers a sleek dashboard when it recedes into its hidden home if not in use. Visible only to the driver, the display shows your speedometer, maps, music playlist and phone calls.
We set our Experience Mode from Core to Green, then Vivid, Personal, Balance, Timeless and finally, Trail. Each experience mode has their own signature lighting, soundscape and design. It is like a new car is spawned every time you push the Experience lever up or down. Choosing to stay on the Trail mode, it showed us our elevation and direction of travel, which was perfect for navigating new roads.
Apple CarPlay synced perfectly and MINI’s Sound System had us in awe. Equipped with Harman Kardon speakers, our JCW Countryman danced and sang along to our road trip tunes. In addition, the sound of the engine could also be heard in the cabin of the vehicle, thanks to their sound symposer.
Opening the panoramic sunroof, we could see the entire expanse of sky above us. With the wind twirling through our locks, we realised that “if comfort is king, the MINI JCW Countryman can be considered a throne.”
Technological Testaments: Under the Stars
MINI’s Spike and Assisted Driving
The road between Johannesburg and Sun City is long and windy. However, we barely had to steer at all, never mind actually push the accelerator and breaks. The JCW Countryman’s assisted steering and cruise control literally take the wheel. We could sip on our steaming coffee and munch on our road trip snacks without a worry.
Furthermore, a 3D model of the vehicle appears on the infotainment screen, showing any other vehicles on the road as well as the lane lines. There will be no drifting lanes or bumper bashings where MINI is concerned!
The technological advancements do not end there, though. Driving back home at night, we discovered the full capabilities of MINI’s technology. Digital innovation is redefined in the JCW Countryman with Spike, MINI’s Intelligent Personal Assistant. We simply had to say “Hey MINI” and Spike was ready to attend to our needs. We asked Spike to “give us directions home” and the circular screen transformed itself into a map leading to the “spot marked as X.” The on-screen map even became a video stream at intersections, ensuring that we never missed a turn-off. Life changing!
Assisted Parking, Climate Control & Selfie Central
Well into our night drive, we saw dazzling lights in the distance: Nando’s. Of course, we made a pit stop for some late-night snacking. It was a very busy scene and parking was a nightmare, but MINI’s Assistant Parking was there to save the day. We simply drove up to an empty parking spot, pressed “Start Reverse Parking” and our JCW Countryman took the wheel. Spinning this way and that, we watched in awe as the MINI manoeuvred itself into the tightest parking spot with ease.
Once we had our nibbles and we got settled back into our seats, we personalised the vehicle’s climate control. With heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and artsy vents, we were at a perfect homeostasis to resume our drive. However, before we set off again, we also found the Interior Camera feature. Smiling wide whilst holding up our Nando’s as proof of a successful road trip, we documented our spontaneous night out with MINI in just a click.
Mechanical Magic: Against the Current
Go-Kart Mode & Statistics
Whilst the JCW Countryman is considered the epitome of luxurious living, it also serves some power and performance. Welcome to Go-Kart Mode! With red interior lights, a heightened sound symposer, stiffer steering wheel and enhanced suspension, we drove out to a long, quiet road and put our JCW Countryman to the ultimate test.
We were revving at the starting line and could feel the 312 horsepower and 400 Newton Metres of torque in our vehicle eagerly waiting to be let loose. Our JCW-tuned 2.0 litre turbo engine spurred to life with Launch Control. Like a rocket, we shot off, reaching 100km/h in just 5.2 seconds. The 7-speed automatic dual clutch transmission and ALL4 intelligent all-wheel drive had us feeling like Formula 1 drivers.
Crackle & Pop Exhausts
The quadruple exhaust system has a signature crackle and pop to it when the car is put in sport mode. This instantly syncs you with the vehicle. To make you feel like Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen, the car even has paddle shifters so you can control the car’s gearing.
Being a four-wheel drive, the JCW Countrymasn is protected against wheel spins in all weather and road conditions. Also, MINI’s track car comes to life with sporty accessories like the racing flag patterns on the bonnet and bumper and JCW signage in the vehicle’s interior and exterior.
The MINI JCW Countryman proved to be quite the head-turner every time we took it for a spin. It is the perfect urban car, making you feel safe and secure no matter the time of day. However, it really comes to life on longer stretches of road or when adventuring on rocky roads. Whilst the JCW Countryman is not the mini-est MINI, it can fit the whole family and more inside. It is the ultimate memory-making machine.
PS: The MINI Countryman is a finalist for the SA Car of the Year Award. Vote for your favourite here.
