The Essentials

• Price from £16,510
• What Car? says:
• Fuel economy: up to 64.2mpg
• What is it? Kids or a Mini? Now you can have both, although you'll forfeit a little bit of the Mini-magic in this crossover model

• Drive

  More of a skip than the scamper you'd get with a three-door model, but plenty of grip and a wide engine range

• Inside

  Driving position is higher than in a normal Mini, and there's lots of adjustment to get you comfy. Dash remains a triumph of retro style over functionality

• Safety

  Stability control and optional four-wheel-drive to keep you on the road; airbags and a good crash-test record if you come off it

• Reliability

  Could do better

• Space

  Choose either a big boot or lots of legroom by adjusting the sliding rear seat. The most practical Mini yet, but still best for four

• Standard and extras

  Plenty as standard and lots of options to personalise the car to your taste

• What's it like to drive?

  The Countryman is much bigger than a Mini hatchback, and not as much fun to drive as a result. Those extra kilos mean it doesn't feel quite as nimble on its feet, and there's more road and wind noise to disturb the peace, too.Worse still, the Countryman suffer from a decidedly jittery ride whatever your speed, with too much shimmy over bumps. Engine choices range from the 89bhp One D, which averages 64mpg, to the 215bhp JCW, which does 38mpg. We'd go for the Cooper D version, which uses a 110bhp 1.6-litre diesel engine to give reasonable performance and a claimed average of 64mpg.

• What's it like inside?

  There's nothing mini about the space inside the Countryman. The sliding rear seats means you can adapt the rear space to give leggy teenagers room to stretch their pins with a slight compromise on luggage space; or, with smaller kids on board, slide the seats forward to make extra room for luggage or a three-wheel pushchair (although a Phil and Teds Sport fits easily with the seats still in their rearmost position). The mid-way position gives a good compromise between the two. The Countryman has three rear seats, but the middle doesn't get much shoulder space. The retro dash looks fabulous, but the contrived design means it isn't that intuitive. The Countryman's lofty driving position is useful, though, because it gives a good view of the road ahead. Mini is usually a bit stingy on equipment, but the Countryman gets a good amount of kit as standard. Whichever version you choose, you'll get air-conditioning, four electric windows, rear parking sensors, roof rails, Bluetooth and a DAB radio with a USB socket for your phone or MP3 player.

• How reliable is it?

  Mini's reliability record isn't brilliant, with owners of the three-door and Clubman versions rating mechanical reliability as only 'average' in the latest JD Power survey. All versions of come with lots of safety kit, though, including stability control and six airbags. The Countryman has been tested under the most recent Euro NCAP crash-testing programme, and received 84% for adult safety and 83% for child safety. That makes it a less safe option than a VW Golf.

• Should I buy one?

  The Countryman isn't a great car, but it makes sound financial investment. Minis are renowned for holding their value, and the strong desirability of this crossover model means you'll recoup around half of your cash if you sell after three years. Prices are competitive against the VW Golf and running costs are impressively low, too.