Just when I thought I couldn’t love you anymore…

You bring out an all-wheel drive, 4-door version of yourself and I fall head-over-heels all over again.

First impressions of the MINI Countryman S?

Love it.

But, it’s not without its faults. I’d love to say it’s pure perfection; that it’s heaven on wheels, incarnate. But it’s not quite there yet.

It’s heavy for a MINI. I’m glad I drove the Cooper S last week (however short that week became after Wednesday night’s debacle) as I now have a direct and fresh-in-my-mind comparison for the Countryman S. It feels large in the corners and while the acceleration is blissfully free of torque-steer thanks to the AWD system, it feels a wee bit sluggish compared to the slim and trim coupe Cooper S.

Sometimes we can’t have it all, and I think that’s why I’m still pretty madly in love with this little number. MINI maintains that the Countryman is a MINI through and through — and I’d agree with them on that. But it’s still not a Cooper — duh. It’s a Countryman, so it’s bound to be different.

Variety is the spice of life and MINI just sprinkled a little zest on me this week when I needed it most.

Drive on,
– M.

~ by drivingmsmiranda on March 1, 2011.