Models Covered:  5dr SUV (1.6 petrol JCW)

The first generation version of MINI’s five-door MINI Countryman might not seem like the obvious choice for hot hatch John Cooper Works treatment but the result might just surprise you.

No other MK1 model MINI Countryman offered more power, enough to skittle you to 62mph in just 7.0s, helped by prodigious a-wheel traction. It's quite a package.

What You Get:

This is certainly no Countryman for old men. In fact, it’s actually quite a stylish thing in this guise, which might surprise those who may have dismissed more mundane versions of this model as being rather frumpy.

In JCW trim, the muscular nose gets a big, wide grille, huge air intakes and a beefy spoiler, into which are set piercing front foglights.

A bodykit completes a ground-hugging appearance emphasised by a 10mm lower ride height and offset by a dynamic set of 18” or 19” alloys.

It all rather disguises the fact that like any Countryman, this one is actually a relatively large car – and one that would appear positively enormous were you to park it next to a 1960s original Mini.

Most original buyers went for two individual rear seats, but there was also the option of a rear bench. The individual rear seats can recline for greater comfort on longer journeys and slide backwards and forwards so that you can have a large boot or plenty of legroom.

Sadly, there’s not quite enough space for you to have both at the same time. Still, the VW Golf-rivalling 350-450-litres you do get is double that of an ordinary MINI, even if the seats-folded total of 1170-litres isn’t quite as class-competitive.

What To Look For:

INI Countryman build quality is pretty good but there are a few issues you’ll need to look out for. There have been reports of heavy clutch wear on ‘ALL4’ 4WD models like this one.

Look out for things like dashboard creaks over bumps, annoying buzzing sounds from the doors and peeling exterior chrome beltline trim.

There have been reports of surface rust taking hold on some components, specifically the water pump and the wheel nuts. Plus corrosion has been reported on the optional two-tone alloy wheels.

Finally, we came across a couple of owners who reported that the interior reading lights had a mind of their own, switching on when the car was locked.

Replacement Parts (approx based on a 2014 MINI Countryman JCW excl. VAT):

rake pads are between £23-£30 for cheap brands and up to £44 if you want an expensive make. Brake discs start in the £25 bracket, but you can pay in the £50 to £110 bracket for pricier brands.

Air filters sit in the £9 to £13 bracket. Oil filters cost between £5 and £6 depending on brand. A water pump is around £44-£65.

A headlamp would cost in the £178 to £217 bracket. A radiator would set you back about £233, while a wing mirror glass would cost around £11.

On The Road:

There's no getting away from the fact that this car is quick. Seriously rapid, smashing through the 62mph mark from a standing start in just 7.0 seconds.

The package is based on the Countryman Cooper S ALL4 model, which means that a 1.6-litre petrol turbo beats beneath the bonnet, distributing its power via a four-wheel drive system that can split power equally between the axles in normal driving but if necessary, can send up to 100% to either end, depending on where traction is needed.

And there’s certainly enough power on offer to ensure that the tractional hardwear will be fully used. Poke from the little engine was rated at 211bhp at launch, boosted to 218bhp in 2015, a figure that in this era was equalled only by the head-banging limited edition MINI GP.

But where that car feels like a race track refugee, this one is far more refined in the way that it delivers its pulsating punch. The tyres don’t smoke away from rest. Nor does the steering wheel tug away at your arms when powering out of slow corners. It’s all very un-John Cooper Works-like.

Overall:

The John Cooper Works Countryman is never going to be the obvious answer to any 'which car?' question. It's just too niche a thing for that.

Even so, we have a sneaking suspicion that this MINI might suit quite a significant number of used market people very well, assuming that they could be persuaded to consider it in the first place.

It's very fast, brilliant fun, is nicely built, looks good, feels unique, swallows a small family and won't cost a fortune to run.

If those don't sound like the ingredients for a very promising car, then we’re not sure what does.

By Jonathan Crouch