Mini’s SUV can now be had with John Cooper Works power, but can it really feel more special over the Cooper S model?
What’s new?
The Countryman SUV has become the third Mini in Thai showrooms to get the racy John Cooper Works treatment after the three-door Hatch and Clubman estate.
The engine and gearbox featuring in the JCW Countryman are no other than the 231hp 2.0-litre petrol-turbo and eight-speed automatic. And like the JCW Clubman, Mini’s new range-topping Countryman comes with the brand’s All4 all-wheel drive system (the JCW Hatch is a pure front-driver).
When compared with the lesser Countrymans on sale, the JCW version is distinguished with new front bumper, bespoke 19-inch wheels and the badges themselves. The biggest differentiator inside is suede-covered bucket seats.
Performance-oriented compact SUVs are few in the Thai luxury car market with the only other being the Mercedes-AMG GLA45. But with a far more powerful 381hp performance and 4.5 million baht-plus price, the GLA45 is actually in a different class from the JCW Countryman.
That said, can the JCW Countryman really justify its near-1 million baht price premium over the 192hp Cooper S? You might already know how the verdict is turning out to be.
What’s cool?
The Cooper S never really had any problem in delivering the performance driving enthusiasts can come to expect of. With JCW tuning, the wick has simply been turned up by another step.
With maximum shove already arriving below 1,500rpm, the JCW’s power feels tractable at all times and a touch pokier than the Cooper S. The same goes for the sound-engineering of the engine whose volume has been apparently increased incrementally with the bigger heart.
As a result, the JCW feels powerful and more tuneful, whether you’re driving it in town or outside the concrete jungle. And thanks to 4WD traction and sports suspension, handling is on the very neat side of things and practically idiot-proof at all times.
And while the JCW uniform has managed to attract quite many passers-by, the appealing thing for the driver in the cockpit is no other than the seat – it looks good and is nice to sit in.
What’s not?
Although the JCW is generally fast on the move, its performance isn’t that fire-cracking and is more on the clinical side of things. Considering how well the chassis has been tailored, the JCW could certainly handle more power.
Like in the Clubman counterpart, the Countryman’s four-wheel-drive system adds around 100kg of weight. And coupled with a relatively big body, straight-line punch is somehow compromised. If you really need the best JCW-fettled Mini, it would have to be the Hatch model.
And despite coming with a generally comprehensive kit, there are some things missing in an import costing well over three million baht such as electric adjustments for the front seats.
Buy or bye?
Selling a variety of performance-enhancing models is always a welcome thing because it simply opens up choice to buyers. So if you like a fast Countryman, look no further than this JCW.
But the problem is the price premium the JCW commands over the Cooper S. The marginal increase in performance doesn’t really justify that difference of nearly one million baht (half-a-million if you specify for the Cooper S in High Trim).
Sure, the JCW’s CO2 output exceeds 150g/km, hence a higher excise tax rate by 5%. But even if the JCW enjoys the same rate with the Cooper S, the performance discrepancy is still small.
That said, the Countryman in Cooper S form is a sounder deal because it’s still quick and fun enough yet far lower in price.
