Recently in MINI Category

The Independent have published a review of the Mini Cooper SD. 'A car called "Mini" is all about smallness, you would think. In relative terms a current Mini hatchback is indeed quite small, but in absolute terms it is quite large and poorly packaged. We've got used to it, and the Mini name retains some credibility. But not a lot; the recently launched Countryman derivative is absurdly huge - its cabin is practically big enough to swallow an original, real Mini whole. And now there's the option of a new 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine in all four Mini body shapes (hatchback, convertible, Clubman estate car and Countryman SUV). Two litres! In a Mini! Oh Lord, what have we done?

A review of the new MINI Countryman has been posted over at Paul Tan. 'Let's start with the looks. It may be the first MINI measuring over four metres and the first modern MINI with four doors, but there's no doubt which family the Countryman belongs to, thanks to the cartoonish face and those familiar proportions. Like the hatch, this is something you'll either get or don't, though. I wasn't crazy about the hatch's looks when it came out, and it still hasn't grown on me all these while; perhaps I'm not the trendy buyer they're targeting either. But the Countryman did grow on me after awhile... The headlamps aren't exactly round here, but they're large, and the main projector is very prominent. There's an extra slat of grille to mark out the Cooper S variant, but the "bridge" between the A pillars and front wheelarches are standard across the range.'

LeftLane have published their "test driven" review of the 2012 MINI Cooper Countryman. 'This is the first MINI product to have four doors and an available "ALL4" all-wheel-drive. Additionally, it is a four-seater with a quad of buckets, which offer a high seating position and recline in both the front and the rear of the vehicle. During our time with the MINI Cooper Countryman, we sampled the manual transmission, all-wheel drive, navi-equipped, leather-swathed version. It might not be the most common variant, but it offers everything an enthusiast could want. As a bonus, it rides higher than any other MINI before it. Able to leap gravel moguls on backcountry dirt roads, as well as plow through snow, it has the ability to go places the standard two door MINI Coopers have heretofore not been able to (intentionally) go.'

A review of the Mini Countryman has been posted over at The Independent. 'This is a cartoon car, an automotive comedy act. Its proportions are those of all Minis through the decades, so it has huge wheels (19in examples are an option), hefty headlights and a truly giant speedometer in the middle of the dashboard. This £22,000 Mini is as big as the old Austin Maxi, and somewhat heavier. Calling the new car Mini is necessary for visual and marketing reasons, but given that "Mini" alludes to small size it's close to oxymoronic.'

The Car Enthusiast have published a review of the 2009 MINI John Cooper Works convertible. 'The John Cooper Works (JCW) model brings with it a more aggressive stance courtesy of the front spoilers and grille, side skirts, alloys and big bore exhaust, but other details marking out the new Convertible as just that are limited to things like the removal of the retro hinges on the boot lid. Options to personalise the MINI are as broad as ever thanks to the colours and patterns on offer. MINI's interior is beginning to feel a little dated now and gimmicks like the G-Meter on the dash don't remedy that situation.'