Mini Countryman John Cooper Works test drive since 2012 crossover

Comparative test: Mini Countryman against Nissan Juke. And the battle of mini -wheel drive will begin!

Every time the Germans produce a car that does not fit into any of the existing market segments, they say that they invented a completely new class of cars. So it happened with the Mini Countryman compact universal-sports car. Most likely. How new is this category? Toyota Rav4? Kia Soul? Mitsubishi Outlander Sport (ASX)? In the conditions of the real market, Countryman will not be able to succeed as a new invention. He will have to fight for the right to be better than an opponent.

Mini has the initial advantages of an improved engine from a Cooper S we know (a Valvetronic system was added to the existing turbine and direct injection, which additionally regulates the degree of opening of the throttle), the electronic central differential of the optional all -wheel drive system and a complex multi -leaved rear suspension.

But all this does not make Mini unique. The new Juke from Nissan has its own 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with direct injection, a multi-link suspension, and it has a more interesting distribution of torque through the axes and wheels in the all-wheel drive system.

So, we put Mini and Juke in one line. This happened during the official launch of Countryman in Europe, which means that we were not able to verify the official data on the speed speed and other parameters. But we did everything in our power: we swept through the German autobahn (where there is no speed restriction), a good country road, a more winding mountain track and city streets. Our mini was equipped with an all -wheel drive system ALL4 and a six -speed manual gearbox. Juke had a variator (with six virtual speeds), since it is it in combination with all -wheel drive. The front -wheel drive Juke has a simpler torsion rear suspension. In Mini, it always remains multi -link, regardless of whether it has an all4 system or not.

A cursory glance at the list of Mini characteristics helps to without much difficult to isolate the shortcomings of the option with all -wheel drive. In accordance with the manufacturer data, the four -wheel drive adds 59 kg of weight and 0.3 seconds when accelerating to 100 km/h (the result of 7.9 seconds). And in fact, the car seems a little constrained due to excess weight, a slightly heavy one does not expect this from the Schildik Cooper S. On the autobahn, a sharp acceleration of 130 km/h required a transition to one, or even two gears down. The torque from the turbine is not enough to overcome the frontal resistance of a high body and accelerate considerable weight. At high speeds, the motor sounds slightly tight. Perhaps this is due to the vibration of the Countryman body, and it may be the fault of this is a new version of the Valvetronic system, which makes the Mini engine sound in this way.

Nissan officially declares a slightly more modest Juke results when accelerating from a place to 100 km/h 8.4 seconds (although for the most objective comparison it should be compared with Countryman on the machine; its acceleration is 8.3 seconds). Despite the difference in numbers, Juke very rarely felt slower than Mini. If you block the distribution of torque, the moves of the gearbox lever between the plus and the minus become very clear. The worst thing in this engine is his thin unpleasant sound. Compared to Mini, we did not notice significant failures in the presentation of the moment. It is worth noting that at high speeds the engine noise does not turn into a problem, since it simply drowned in the noise of the oncoming flow of air.

If the all -wheel drive systems negatively affect dynamics and economy (and in the case of Nissan also on the useful space of the luggage compartment), do they offer an advantage on a winding highway in return? Mini engineers proudly claim that they managed to preserve in Countryman the Proportion card characteristic of all cars under this brand. But it didn't seem so to us. Yes, Undoubtedly, Countryman has a very light informative steering wheel, the first movement of which easily sends the car to the turn. But then everything goes wrong. Behind this immediate response to your movement follows the disappointing roll of the body and a small delay in the rear of the car, which does not seem to keep up with the front. Then the steering wheel becomes a little lazy and viscous. And if you go into a turn at too high speed, you will receive insufficient rotation, which cannot be adjusted by adding power. It is best not to rush at the entrance and hurry at the exit from the turn.

Do not understand us viciously. For the Countryman crossover, very mobile and cheerful. But for Mini, unambiguously unfinished. Perhaps the optional sports suspension can slightly correct the situation for the better, because it lowers the landing a little. Do not forget that our car was on small 17-inch wheels. Larger diameter discs are also an option.

Juke also demonstrates a light roll of body, but it is more mobile, and he manages to cope with insufficient rotation. The torque distribution system clearly does its work, unobtrusively directing the back along a wider trajectory, providing the muzzle you have chosen. At first it seems that the roll of the body is about to grow into a skid, but here you just need to learn how to believe him and not remove the leg from the gas pedal. Despite the outstanding abilities, Juke is unlikely to compete with the best hatchbacks, since it has too light steering wheel, and, as a result, you do not receive information about what is happening on the road.

Well, you will still be rewarded for the desperate battle with the body of the body in Juke and Countryman. Both cars can smoothly carry you both on city potholes and on irregularities on the highway.

The total Juke length is 4,114 mm, it is 2.5 cm longer than Countryman. But thanks to a slightly longer Mini wheelbase, and especially due to its tidy back, there is enough space in the Countryman salon. The spaciousness of the mini salon can be compared with the older brother Juke, Nissan Rogue. This makes sense Countryman is positioned as mini for people who need a spacious car, while Juke is designed to be the smallest, smallest and stylish in a large Nissan family. Therefore, he is excusable to sacrifice the capacity of the salon for the sake of style.

It is worth noting that in this pair of Juke is definitely a brighter appearance, with its several headlights and huge wheel arches, supporting a curved glass vault, a sloping roof and an upturned tail. You can’t call him sophisticated, but the more time we spent with him, the more he liked him. Countryman forms turned out to be a little more difficult. He looks like a flashed parody of a two -door Mini hatchback. But some resemblance to the original mini still visible, and therefore we forgive him his unattractiveness.

Inside, Countryman is also very reminiscent of mini, with rows of eccentric and so warmly beloved by all the switches, a strange location of the devices, because of which it seems as if the speedometer is generally removed from the field of view. It is as if you are forced to constantly peer into an additional digital speedometer indicator. The driver’s position in Mini, as always, is excellent legs in front, the shoulders are perpendicular to the lines of the hips. In comparison with the hatchback, it has become higher, although it does not reach SUV. In a word, high enough so as not to be afraid of trucks passing by (if this happened to you in an ordinary low -set mini).

And, of course, Countryman has a full -sized rear seat, convenient for adult passengers, which is strikingly different from the eccentric sofa Mini Clubman. If children are located on it, then you can safely move it forward, thereby increasing the trunk space. The basic equipment includes four full -fledged seats, separated by the guide, which built various stands and pockets necessary for placing trifles (phones, circles, players, etc.).

Another innovation is the Mini Connected optional system, consisting of an application for your iPhone, which can display the Google search engine and even your Twitter page on the navigation system monitor, as well as voice the news through a voice synthesizer.

Nissan also has a lot of new products in the interior. If, when developing the central Mini panel, practicality was put at the forefront, then the Juke panel is more like a motorcycle tank. It is cunning and difficult, but in principle it is pretty, since no one else has this. And there is no harm from this the required number of holders for glasses and ashtrays. Passengers in the back seat will be crowded: there is little space over their heads. And at the all -wheel drive version, moreover, the trunk is ridiculous. As a sample of the layout, it can be tried to be perceived as a super -miniature version of the BMW X6.

What about the novelties in the Nissan salon? These include the HVAC buttons and the monitor leading the second secret life. Click the D-Mode switch, and the air conditioning buttons, as if by magic, change, offering you to choose between the sports/ordinary/economical mode of the steering, fuel card, transmission and air conditioning systems. In this mode, information on the pressure of the boost, the economy, route and schedule for the distribution of torque in real time mode is alternately displayed on the HVAC monitor. The last chip is borrowed from GT-R, it gives a lot of pleasure to passengers, well, certainly not the driver who, at the time of redistribution of traction, should look anywhere, but not at a small display in the lower part of the central console.

Both of these cars bring something of their own: good dynamics, comfort on the road, new interiors. As a compact crossover for asphalt roads in Mini, brilliant prospects. He is the most practical in this pair, plus, he has a little more chic. The problem is that he does not quite correspond to our dreams of him. It looks like mini, but, unfortunately, goes differently.

Juke also does not go exactly as it should, judging by Nissan's hints that it is equipped with a full-wheel drive system similar to the one that is installed in GT-R. But it is much more exciting and more fervent Countryman both in dynamics and design. If you want a car that looks like no other on the road, then Juke is definitely your choice.

First place: Nissan Juke
It looks strange, rides fervently. Juke is not a joke, but still leaves you with a smile on your face.

Second place: Mini Countryman All4
Cute, but when it comes to turning, it does not behave in a gentlemanly. It looks like mini. But it goes worse.

Source: Motor Trend