Hamburg, Germany-Insisting that the new Mini Countryman is not an SUV nor even a small crossover, the engineers at BMW have nonetheless emphasized both off-road ability and people/cargo-hauling utility to give Mini a more family-friendly and spacious offering. Back in the ’60s, the original Mini Countryman was a wood-sided station wagon with only two doors, so the new four-door is the first such to wear the name. The new model, coming to America as early as next year, is not only longer but also taller and notably wider than the Mini Cooper Coupe, Cabriolet and Clubman models in dealerships today. By also expanding on feature offerings—including access to Web radio and other features via an iPhone link and Mini-specific app—and on personalization via paint and interior choices, the Countryman maintains Mini’s hipness factor even as it makes room for child seats and trips to Costco.

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