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There's real head and legroom, and the rear seats can be adjusted back and forth to create more space in the boot as required.
Inside, the Countryman feels significantly less cozy than your standard Mini Cooper coupe—driver and passenger bang elbows less often, and the rear seat is a place where adults can sit for longer than a quick trip out to dinner.
...the Countryman delivers adequate legroom without demanding a sacrifice from the folks in front. Again, the floor height had my knees raised a bit, but it was plenty comfortable regardless.
The elevated seating provides a commanding view of the road and excellent all-around visibility.
We're glad that Mini opted to use a standard liftgate on the Countryman as opposed to the dual barn doors on the Clubman. It's better for loading and visibility, not to mention design cleanliness.
QUALITY | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
There's real head and legroom, and the rear seats can be adjusted back and forth to create more space in the boot as required.
Top Gear
Inside, the Countryman feels significantly less cozy than your standard Mini Cooper coupe—driver and passenger bang elbows less often, and the rear seat is a place where adults can sit for longer than a quick trip out to dinner.
Popular Mechanics
...the Countryman delivers adequate legroom without demanding a sacrifice from the folks in front. Again, the floor height had my knees raised a bit, but it was plenty comfortable regardless.
Los Angeles Times
The elevated seating provides a commanding view of the road and excellent all-around visibility.
Inside Line
We're glad that Mini opted to use a standard liftgate on the Countryman as opposed to the dual barn doors on the Clubman. It's better for loading and visibility, not to mention design cleanliness.
Autoblog
The front seats are roomy, with plenty of hip and head room for all but the largest adults, and they're adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of body types with comfort. The rear seats are just as good, with ample headroom for six-footers, even with the optional sunroof installed. Knee room isn't fantastic, but it's more spacious than larger crossovers like Acura's ZDX. The rear buckets even slide on rails, trading cargo space for leg room as required.
Cargo space, on the other hand, isn't expansive. At just 12.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, many sedans offer more--in their trunks. With the rear seats folded forward, however, that opens up to a more useful 40 cubic feet, though the smallish dimensions of the area will prohibit larger hard items.
In terms of build and finish, the Countryman is very good--at least initially. Materials are mostly quality, though there may be a bit more hard plastic than you'd like to find in a car in this price range, and the assembled bits fit together well. Over time, however, like other MINIs, squeaks and rattles have a tendency to present.
Conclusion
Despite its MINI package, the Countryman offers impressive space for passengers in all positions, but it lacks a bit in cargo space.
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