2012 MINI Countryman Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
IIHS Crash Test
Good
Source   IIHS.org
MPG (up to)
23 -27 City / 30 -35 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
121 -181
Seats
4
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Karla R
My mini is mini and really adorable.
Even though the trunk is a bit small, the car is generally perfect. It is compact - hence the small trunk - so is easy to find street parking for. It also does not come with an extra tire, but when I asked about it, I was told that the tires that come with the car can run up to 50 miles if something punctures it, allowing enough time to find a mechanic.
accountCircle Leonard Spears
Handling
The car is great to drive. Lots of power, good on fuel, 4 weel drive.We have had the car for 7 months and we still don't know how to use all the features. We do love the car.
accountCircle Donna M
It is super fun to drive; also comfortable on long trips, like a 12-hour day.
I love the way it looks and handles, I love the options that were offered like sport mode and rear bucket seats. I dislike the ridiculously small rear cargo area, and the gas mileage is not so great.
accountCircle Leonardo W
My mini countryman experience.
Is very safe at driving, comfortable with great sport performance. With friendly user features, just need time to get used to them. The Bluetooth features do not work as expected but not a bIg deal. Can use the mini app with the car and works perfect.
accountCircle April L
It's FAST and surefooted - the combination of the turbo and the All4 system makes it the perfect car for me!
I absolutely LOVE my Mini! I enjoying the distinctive styling, the gauges, and the speed. Mostly I love that it's a turbo AND a 4 wheel drive!
accountCircle Richard G
It a good investment car down the road . It only takes premium gas.
It a fun car. Did not have any major problem and great gas mileage.
accountCircle Abby B
Extremely fun car for quick turns and road trips.
Due to the small engine, there is a bit of hesitation with speeding up quickly, but once the car is already moving, it speeds up very quickly. Mini's are very stylish and fun to drive.
accountCircle Tobin B
Mini improvements for the mini.
Cup holder design not convenient. Rear should have had extra seat. Rear seat rail between the seats seems to have no purpose. No rear cup holders. Gas mileage is good and handling is good. Speakers could be upgrade for such a luxury car. Window tinting should come standard in certain climates.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Benjamin Z
It requires a lot of maintenance, and the parts are very expensive.
Multiple failures at lower mileage: alternator, sway bar links, spark plugs, pcv valve.... Fun to drive.
accountCircle Margaret T
It is beyond fun to drive when you hit the sport button.
I love my car. I honestly do. But it is so expensive to maintain and you never know if the person you are taking it to knows what they are doing. So I always take it to mini and I feel ripped off. I want a car with updated features.
accountCircle Shannon J
Beautiful and fun sporty car.
Auxiliary water pump goes bad. Sensitive shift lock assembly, spilled a sweet tea in my car and it ended up being a $1400 repair. Huge oil leak. I love this car inside and out, its sporty and zippy and fun. That is what made me buy the car in the first place. Repairs are always expensive, no matter what it is. Also, my two blinkers on my two front doors just popped out and flew off so now there's just wires sticking out there.
accountCircle Terrilyn C
Fast and fun but cantankerous and costly
Very easy to maneuver; Sporty yet classy body style; Gas efficient; love the double sunroofs and leather interior. Drawbacks: Regular maintenance is very expensive; parts & labor for repair is astronomical; Not worth the price tag...
accountCircle FREDERICK J
Great vehicle, but has issues when it comes to parts
If the spark plugs aren't just right, they'll misfire. This ends up cutting the engine to half power. Sometimes the trim around the headlights comes loose. I had to chase a piece down that flew off in the highway. The car is very spacious. Finding parts can be a pain. If I get a flat tire, I have to wait a couple of days because none of the dealerships or tire stores ever have the correct tires in stock
accountCircle Sumreen K
Its my helper. It helps me get through the cold winters and lets me easily get to places regardless if it has minor issues
I like that it can take me to work and back. I dislike how the steering wheel cringes. But im thankful for a car
accountCircle Emily W
Mini countryman 2012. My second and last mini.
I have had a lot of maintenance issues like the amp went out and it was > $1000 to fix. There is always an alert about something. Also run flat tires are incredibly expensive and if you have to replace one tire then you have to replace all of them. The end.
accountCircle Jasmine C
That it has good airbags and it rides smoothly.
I love the fact that my mini is a family van but what I do not like is that I cannot open the back windows.

MINI Countryman Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
Base
121 HP 27-30 MPG 4 Seats
car
S
181 HP 26-28 MPG 4 Seats
Photos may not match model

2012 MINI Countryman Owner Reviews

4.17
54 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 41%
4 stars 41%
3 stars 15%
2 stars 2%
1 star 2%
accountCircle David P on June 14, 2021
Highly distinctive dashboard. I love it is individuality.
It is absolutely a blast to drive and it is a perfect car for an urban environment: highly maneuverable and able to park anywhere. Tremendous at cornering and getting through tight squeezes. Really fun to take out on the highways as well. My only complaint is that like a lot of European cars, when it breaks down it really bites you in the wallet.
accountCircle Owen C on June 10, 2021
5 years and still going strong.
I have owned my mini for about 5 years now and it was used when it was initially purchased. Still works great even after some problems over the years. I have had to replace the battery after it completely died on me about a year after the purchase. When I am low on gas, I can feel my car sluggishly moving along until I fill it up again, although that might just be a general car thing. But when it is performing great, it feels great. The mini cooper countryman is just big enough to fit everything I need, and it feels very maneuverable because of its size. I have hit a few sizeable and memorable potholes in the years that I have driven, and I have never gotten a flat tire, which is pretty good. It is an automatic, but my steering wheel has paddle shifters to change gear and one time I must have hit one of them by accident and didn’t realize it, and my car started making weird noises and the dashboard lit up saying there were engine issues. After starting my car again, it persisted, but then went away upon starting my car for a third time. Still do not know for sure if that was the issue, but it seems to have corrected itself. All other functions of the car still work great, including gas pedal, brakes, headlights, windshield wipers, horn, etc. I am very happy with my purchase even to this day, and I may even consider purchasing another mini in the future, but for now I am still enjoying my current car.
View All Reviews (54) chevronRightAlternative

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Mary A.

Small yet roomy. Good gas mileage. Plenty of headroom. Large enough to transport items. Handles like a sports car. Has 4 doors for easy entry and exit. Comfortable seats. Easy to wash and dry. Handles great on the rode.

likeFilled Elle A.

Small and compact. Great for city driving. Can basically park it anywhere. Spacious. Cheap gas. Fast. Reliable. Good for a small family. Lots of room if you lay down the seats. Double sun roof lets in lots of sun.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Mary A.

There is not any cons, I love the car and how it handles and how comfortable it is, it is small and easy to wash and dry. Has plenty of legroom for taller passengers and plenty of cargo room for transporting items, it is excellent on gas mileage and handles well on the roadway.

dislikeFilled Elle A.

Burns gas quickly. Slow to accelerate. Old models do not have updated sound system. Cannot play music too loud, the base gets overwhelming. No touch screen. Not good for a big family. Not good for cross state driving, you'll have to stop and refuel.

Ranks #15 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2012 MINI Countryman has an average owner rating of 4.17 out of 5 which ranks it #15 of 23 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
2012 Land Rover LR4
4.67
2
car
2012 Honda CR-V
4.52
15
Tie
car
2012 MINI Countryman
4.17

Ranks #3 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2012 MINI Countryman has a combined MPG of 31 which ranks it #3 of 23 other Compact SUVs.

1
Tie
car
2012 Dodge Caliber
32 MPG
1
Tie
car
2012 Toyota Matrix
32 MPG
3
Tie
car
2012 MINI Countryman
30 MPG

Is The 2012 MINI Countryman A Good Car?

It is a really nice car. It is pretty fast cause I have a turbo engine. I had couple problems with my brakes but nothing too serious it is just cause my car is kind of old.
Albina M.
Yes it is, it gives me good gas mileage and it's very comfortable driving around town or long distances. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested.
Courtney S.

How Reliable Is The 2012 MINI Countryman?

It is very reliable. I had couple problems with breaks but nothing too serious. It is just because my car is 7 years old.
Albina M.
It has been reliable, the only complaint I've received is that it's not very comfortable riding in the back seat
Lauren M.

Is The 2012 MINI Countryman A Good Value?

I bought it in beginning of 2019 for 15000$ including 2000$ warranty. I bought it in very good condition with some little scratches but nothing that cannot be fixed. It was a good value.
Albina M.
The Mini Cooper Countryman costs around $30000, I feel it's an average value compared to other vehicles in its class.
Rebecca B.

Related Articles for 2012 MINI Countryman

From the Vehicle History blog

car
A Detailed Look at the 2012 Mini Countryman S Trim

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test
(Not Rated)
*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety