Mini Countryman: Which Should You Buy, 2020 or 2021?
Most significant changes: Redesigned LED headlights and new Union Jack taillights; new optional digital instrument panel; Oxford Edition not currently available for 2021
Price change: $700 increase for Cooper Countryman and Countryman All4; no change for Cooper S Countryman and Countryman All4; $600 increase for Cooper SE Countryman All4; $100 increase for John Cooper Works Countryman All4; no change to destination
On sale: Late summer
Which should you buy, 2020 or 2021? If you’re looking for the cheapest possible Countryman, go for a 2020 Oxford Edition, which has an MSRP $3,200 less than the least expensive 2021 Countryman model. A 2021 Cooper S with or without all-wheel drive gets you the upgrades at no additional cost; for the other trim levels, you’ll have to decide if they’re worth the extra cash
Mini’s popular Countryman SUV gets some very mild upgrades for 2021, and some mild price increases accompany those changes — though not for all trims, as the Cooper S version goes without an increase to its starting price. Signature trim versions of the Cooper S, Cooper SE and John Cooper Works versions of the Countryman will get the new 5.0-inch digital instrument panel. Other changes are mostly cosmetic inside and out, and won’t be noticeable to all but the most die-hard fans of Mini.
The price changes are similarly modest, though the bargain Oxford Edition is not currently available for 2021. The now-base model is the Cooper Countryman, which is priced from $29,950 for a front-wheel-drive model, just $700 more than the 2020 but also $3,200 more expensive than the 2020 Oxford Edition.
Step up to the Cooper S Countryman with front-wheel drive for $32,750, the same as 2020. There’s also the plug-in hybrid Cooper SE Countryman All4, now $600 more expensive at $42,350, and the more powerful John Cooper Works Countryman All4 is also priced at $42,350, $100 pricier than its 2020 counterpart. All prices include an $850 destination fee, and All4 all-wheel drive can be added to the Cooper and Cooper S for an additional $2,000.
For cosmetic changes and a modern gauge cluster, the price increases may seem worth it to some buyers. However, those who prefer traditional gauges or are looking for a more affordable Countryman may be better off considering a 2020 model.
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