New Mini Countryman JCW revealed: sporty family SUV gets 300hp
November 09, 2023 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
Following the reveal of the Mini Countryman, there’s now a hot JCW version. Read on for all you need to know about this sporty family car.
- New Mini Countryman JCW revealed
- Hot version of the family hatchback
- 2.0-litre petrol engine courtesy of BMW
- 300hp and 400Nm of torque
- Sporty exterior styling
- On sale now from £42,420
This is the new Mini Countryman John Cooper Works. It follows the reveal of the all-electric Countryman earlier this Autumn, however it’s drastically different to that car.
Rather than being a green electric car, this is a 2.0-litre petrol-engined performance model with enough power to frighten the Volkswagen Golf GTI.
New Mini Countryman JCW engine and performance
Let’s talk about that 2.0-litre engine. In essence, it’s the same one as you’ll find in the recently-revealed BMW X1 M35i, putting out 300hp and 400Nm to all four wheels.
Being a similar size to the BMW, 0-60mph is dealt with in exactly the same 5.4 seconds. That’s a smudge quicker than the Mercedes-AMG GLB 35, however it’s around half a second slower than the Audi SQ2.
It may be the performance model, but the JCW isn’t actually the most powerful Mini Countryman you can buy. That honour goes to the all-electric version with 313hp. That car will be heavier though thanks to the added weight of the batteries, and the JCW is geared more towards handling.
New Mini Countryman JCW chassis and driving
To help make the JCW more fun when the going gets twisty, it gets a healthy handful of upgrades under the skin.
It has wider tyres than the standard car, mounted on larger wheels to give you more grip in the corners, and the brakes have been uprated as well to make sure it stops as well as it goes. Add in the adaptive JCW suspension which can adjust itself on the fly to minimise body roll and you’re left with a family car which should be a right laugh through the bends.
New Mini Countryman JCW design
Those opting for the Countryman JCW are probably going to want the styling to be just as shouty as the sports exhaust, and thankfully it delivers in this department.
You get a much more aggressive-looking front end with a chequered flag motif in the grille, as well as much larger air intakes than the standard car has.
This sporty spin-off also gets 19-inch alloy wheels on the front and 20-inch wheels at the rear, giving the car a more muscular stance. These paired with the chunky side skirts and contrasting black roof help separate this from the standard Countryman.
No performance model would be complete without some shiny tailpipes, and the Countryman JCW gets four of them. You also have a deeper rear diffuser and some blacked-out badging to complete the look.
New Mini Countryman JCW price and specs
You can order a new Mini Countryman John Cooper Works right now, with first deliveries expected at the start of 2024. As for the price, this sporty SUV starts from £42,420, over £12,000 more than the entry-level model.
Obviously you’re paying the extra cash for added performance, but it comes with more than just that. As standard you get a premium sound system, dual-zone climate control, heated sports seats and a head-up display, in addition to the sporty exterior styling and uprated suspension.
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