Asian brands, EVs dominate 2025 Best Buy Awards
The 2025 Best By Awards, announced by Kelley Blue Book, reflect the rapidly shifting landscape of the automotive market not only in the USA, but also elsewhere.
- Industry News
- 17 April 2025
MINI’s brand-new Countryman is now available in South Africa with the range consisting of four different models.
Exterior:
The new MINI Countryman is 13 centimetres longer and eight centimetres higher than its predecessor. The upright silhouette with clearly designed surfaces and the redesigned octagonal front grille contributes to the model's appearance. Typical of the brand, short overhangs underline the agile vehicle character with distinctive LED headlights and rear lights.
Interior:
Inside, there is more room for passengers and luggage with the back seat that can be moved up to 13 cm.
Still in typical Mini fashion, at the centre of the minimalistic interior design is the round OLED display with a diameter of 240 mm. The new central instrument with a high-quality glass surface allows all infotainment and assistance systems to be operated through touch or voice command. All driving functions can be controlled via the characteristic MINI toggle bar.
Range:
MINI Countryman C (R724 819.70):
This model covers the entry level in to the Countryman range. Equipped with a 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, it delivers 115 kW and 260 Nm of torque. Ground clearance is 202 mm.
MINI Countryman S ALL4 (R795 074.00):
The new and largest MINI model combines the flexible options of a crossover with intelligent all-wheel drive. It has a 2-litre turbo-petrol engine pumping out 150 kW and 320 Nm of torque.
MINI JCW Countryman (R965 767.80):
Although not confirmed, the 2-litre twin power turbo petrol engine, will in all probability come with a mild hybrid system that will see and extra few kilowatts added to the engine’s 150 kW output. This model also looks sportier to go with the JCW’s character.
MINI Countryman SE ALL4 (R1 086 000.00):
Two powerful electric motors with a total output of 230 kW and torque of 494 Nm guide the MINI Countryman SE ALL4 through any terrain. Together, they accelerate the vehicle from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 180 km/h. The powerful battery has an energy content of 66.45 kWh. With rapid DC charging at up to 130 kW in just under 30 minutes is enough to charge the battery from 10 percent to 80 percent.
The 2025 Best By Awards, announced by Kelley Blue Book, reflect the rapidly shifting landscape of the automotive market not only in the USA, but also elsewhere.
Kia took the top honours for the second consecutive year when its all-electric compact crossover was named World Car of the Year during the New York International Auto Show in the USA this week.
The African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) is strengthening its commitment to the industrialisation and development of Africa’s automotive sector with the establishment of a new regional office in Tunisia.
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