2017 Mini Countryman S E hybrid model on sale this June

The distinctive three window profile has been retained, but the rearmost side windows are now much longer, helping to underline the car’s increase in size. Mini says all models will get large silver roof bars to help mark the car out as a true crossover

Another new styling feature is the use of distinctive hard edges — unusual on a Mini model produced under BMW’s ownership of the brand — pressed into both the front and rear wings.

Opening the doors reveals notably tall apertures which make getting in and out exceptionally easy. The extra length in the wheelbase has liberated impressive rear leg room, too, and although the driving position remains solidly upright, it’s not necessary to climb up into the driver’s seat.

The dashboard design is also all new, rather than being borrowed from its Clubman sister model. It retains the giant ‘dinner plate’ central screen, although it now has rectangular air vents in a move away from Mini’s traditional circular vents. The interior architecture remains distinctively Mini, but the build quality and material finishes are designed to signal that this car is more upmarket and less frivolous than the somewhat eccentric original Countryman.

Mini product boss Nicolas Griebner said 85% of Mini sales are to private buyers specifying their own car. To that end, personalisation touches such as dual-colour door trims and options including piped and quilted leather trim are intended to allow buyers to specify the Countryman “up to the level of a luxury car”.

Ultimately, this new Countryman is intended to be big enough to act as a sole family car as well as being more upmarket and versatile than a conventional hatchback. It has a bigger boot than the typical C-segment hatch (a useful 470 litres), as well as the option of a rear bench seat that will slide 13cm and a rear seatback that reclines and splits into three sections (40/20/40).

The new Countryman range kicks off with the turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol Cooper model which has 136bhp and 162lb ft. The Cooper S gets a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine tuned for 192bhp and 206lb ft.

The base Cooper D is a 2.0-litre unit with 150bhp and 243lb ft, while the Cooper SD gets 190bhp and 295lb ft. A tweaked version of Mini’s All4 four-wheel drive transmission is available as an option on all four engines, costing around £1600.

The new Countryman is significantly more expensive than the outgoing model, its £22,465 starting price falling between those of the smaller Audi Q2 and the Q3. However, Mini says the Countryman comes with a “high level of standard equipment”.

This equipment includes standard sat-nav, 17in wheels, rear parking sensors and Bluetooth. Collision warning and city braking will also be standard, features that are becoming necessary in order to achieve five stars in the latest Euro NCAP crash tests.