One look at it and you’ll probably mumble – ‘This isn’t mini anymore, is it?’ It’s really isn’t – think of a compact Yeti-sized tall crossover with Mini styling and the usual list of characteristically Mini idiosyncrasies and you’d get pretty close. So, in essence, think of this as the ‘Maxi’ of the Mini range, for the lack of a better (or cleverer) label. Thank God we’re not in marketing.
For many enthusiasts, for The Italian Job lovers, for Mini worshippers, this isn’t a Mini; this is a departure from what is one of the nicest and most recognizable icons in the known universe. A departure from what was one of the most iconic revivals of a brand ever in the history of mankind. That said, everyone knew that such a body style was coming all along. Don’t think that we don’t know what’s happened here – when our ever-fattening generation needed a family car, the problem was that they had to look beyond Minis because it still was a little too small for a family, though nearly not as diminutive as the classic Mini. So, the Countryman is basically a four-door, four-seat crossover for the family that looks stylish with characteristically Mini cues and at least on the face of it, promises to be a fun, funky mode of transport, a notch above the regular family car crowd.
 
They’ve pulled off the Mini family look rather well here, with the design and the detailing. With the blacked-out roof, cutesy retro-inspired taillamps and the cute curves all around, there’s only one brand that comes to mind when you see it. What we do have a problem with is the awkward, miffed-looking grille and headlamps that house what looks like Ironman’s bionic heart. No girl that saw it wanted to cuddle it and keep it forever, and for a Mini, that’s not a good thing.
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