Automobile, in its January "
Four Seasons Update" of the 2011 MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 muses -
What little precipitation we have seen has shown the Countryman's all-wheel-drive system and the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-60 snow tires in a good light. "The car's performance in snow and slush is excellent," writes associate web editor Jake Holmes. "I can already tell this will be a formidable steed come the depths of winter." Deputy editor Joe DeMatio agrees: "The all-wheel-drive Mini is extremely surefooted on snow-covered gravel roads and is capable of transforming itself into a highly entertaining and confidence-inspiring rally vehicle. I actively sought out snow-covered pavement, and getting up my brother's long, steep, unpaved, snow-covered muddy driveway was a cinch."
It also took the Countryman in for service at a little over 14,000 miles -
The month ended with the Mini calling for its first service. (Like BMWs, Minis don't follow a set service schedule; instead, the onboard computer diagnostics let you know when it's time for service, based on the car's mileage and use patterns.)
In addition to the expected oil and filter change, our Countryman had its peeling chrome trim fixed. Brand new moldings replaced the original ones that caused the trim's shiny film to fall off. We'll see how that holds up.
Another problem affecting early-build cars like ours (those built before July 1, 2011) is surging or hesitation under acceleration, between 3000 and 4000 rpm. We have observed that on a few occasions. A software update is now available to address that issue. With that done, we're hoping that the Countryman can enjoy smoother sailing through the second half of its year here without a need for any further fixes.
