Car and Driver compares the 2012 Nissan Juke AWD, the MINI Cooper S Countryman All4 and the Jeep Compass Latitude 4X4 and puts them through a number of tests. In part, here is what it has to say about the MINI:
This swollen Mini—all Minis, in fact—would have more securely won our hearts if someone would sort out its cockpit goofiness. What seems fun at first—a speedometer the size of a basketball, window-lift toggles hidden in front of the shifter, the world’s most mismatched and insanely located switchgear—isn’t even remotely amusing during a white-knuckle midnight drive through sleet. We also noted that, with two largish males up front, this car always felt claustrophobic, full of hot air and bad breath. Also keep in mind that the rear seats in our test car comprise two buckets only, although they’re quite comfortable.
When the planets align—meaning perfectly smooth roads, sunshine, one man aboard, the sport button already located and selected by someone who knew how to find it—the Countryman proved the most fun to drive in our group, scoring points as fast as six-foot-seven, 260-pound Metta World Peace. Who, by the way, likely won’t fit inside one.
