Mini’s brand of German-British punk carries into 2018 with two new powertrain options for the Countryman, a few switcharoos in its funky interiors, new features added?and a few taken away.
Price increases from 2017 range from $6500 (Cooper Hardtop) to $2100 (Countryman S), although the average spike among all 19 models and trim levels is $820. The new John Cooper Works Countryman, at $38,650, is the priciest Mini; trailing it by $1000 is the first-ever Mini hybrid, the Countryman Cooper S E ALL4, a plug-in with an EPA-estimated 12 miles of electric range.
At the opposite end of the lineup, the 2018 Cooper Hardtop starts at $22,450. Adding two doors will run you another $1000. Clubman models with the barn doors out back start at $25,650. Adding all-wheel drive to a Clubman costs $1850; it’s standard on the JCW. The Countryman starts at $27,450, but here, ALL4 costs $2000 extra on the Cooper yet is only $500 more on the Cooper S. Going roofless with a Cooper convertible costs a minimum of $27,550.
Backup cameras and rear parking sensors are now standard across the lineup, while front parking sensors and automated parallel parking (formerly a $500 upgrade) are now included in the Technology package. That package includes Apple CarPlay but only for Clubman and Countryman models. Moonwalk Grey paint (also formerly $500) is a no-cost option for all cars. A driver-attention monitor is standard on the Clubman and Countryman. The new Countryman swapped BMW’s aggr...