Mini builds a car that’s not so mini | ClassicCars.com Magazine

When Mini hits When the Mini was introduced to the U.S. in 2002, it was a refreshing car that was fun to drive, well marketed, and had decent performance in the Cooper S model. Over the past few years, the brand has gone through several changes that have hurt what Mini is all about. For 2025, the worst model we have right now is the redesigned 2025 Mini Countryman.

I once owned a used first-generation Mini Cooper S with a six-speed transmission and tons of options. It was the first time I realized the adage “German cars are meant to be rented, not owned.” It was the most troubled car I’ve ever owned. Everything started to break down at the classic 100,000-mile mark, but I complained about it every chance I got, like someone who loves Alfa Romeos. Am I such a masochist? I never thought of it that way, but here I am, writing this article complaining about the size of every SUV test vehicle that passes through our office.

The Mini Countryman has been around since the 2011 model year and quickly brought the Mini brand a large Mini utility vehicle while also delivering the fun (and frustration) that Mini is known for. A 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual transmission were available, which helped deliver the spirit of the Mini on the road, though the model was given freedom to go beyond the Mini spirit. For 2017, the Clubman was redesigned and is now based on BMW’s X1 architecture. From the outside, the packaging is familiar, but the new Clubman is eight inches longer. Oops! Then, the six-speed transmission will be discontinued for 2020.

So, when does a Mini stop being a Mini? The all-new 2025 Mini Countryman is now another 5 inches longer. Sure, backseat passengers will appreciate its new interior dimensions, but one can’t help but feel the brand has gone down a path of corruption with the disappearance of the manual transmission (now also in the Mini Cooper), the reduction in S trim levels/power, and the availability of pricey EV models that can’t drive from Phoenix to the City of Angels on a charge. Check out the current lineup of Mini Coopers sold in the U.S.:

• Mini Cooper 2-door
• Mini Electric Double Door
• Mini Convertible
• Mini Cooper S four-door
• Mini Countryman S ALL4
• Mini JCW Countryman ALL4

An EV version of the Mini Countryman is planned for the 2025 model year, and an electric Aceman is also possible for the U.S., but neither car fits the brand philosophy that Crispin Porter + Bogusky taught us 20 years ago. Maybe Mini simply provides a more affordable entry point for BMW to enter the market, and Mini needs to use BMW’s platform to keep the brand alive? However, Minis are not cheap compared to their stateside competitors, at least in the United States.

Based on the recent news that Porsche has discontinued the Boxter and Cayman, we probably shouldn’t be surprised that the pocket-sized brand has become an oversized transport device, because the world as we know it is no longer the same.