Tested: The 2027 Mini Countryman Untamed Edition Increases the Adventure

The Story

Lifted suspension and all-terrain tires mean this new variant will go a little farther past the pavement than the regular Countryman.

MINIJump to:How Does It Drive?What Is It Like to Live With?Should I Buy One?Highlights and LowlightsThe crossover and the SUV continue to cross-pollinate, with rugged-looking versions of road-biased models being cash crops for automakers these days. The aesthetic of these “adventure-ready” crossovers definitely feels more natural for some brands than others, with Mini not an obvious inclusion on that list given styling traditionally focused on cuteness. With a suspension lift and some aggressive all-terrain tires, can the new Countryman Untamed Edition change that perception?.

The new 2027 Mini Countryman Untamed Edition will be available in both gas-powered and EV versions. All Untamed models receive a 0.6-inch suspension lift, Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires, and model-specific 19-inch wheels. Ground clearance rises to 8.75 inches on the gasoline model. Mini has also reprogrammed the ABS, stability control, and electrically assisted steering for mild off-road use and improved both approach and departure angles. Exclusive blue sport seats freshen up the interior.

The heart of my Countryman S All4 Untamed Edition was entirely familiar: The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder has been used in various Mini products since 2014. In the Countryman Untamed, the engine makes a healthy 241 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. As with my experience in previous Countryman models, the Untamed felt peppier than its on-paper performance suggested, thanks to ample low-end torque and the short gearing of the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

As in other versions of the Countryman, the Untamed has a multitude of drive modes—Go-Kart, Core, Green, Vivid, Timeless, Personal, Balance, and Trail. Core mode offers a softened but still direct steering experience, though I preferred Go-Kart mode for its tight steering feel and eager throttle mapping on the road.

A lift kit and all-terrain tires usually make for a bouncier, noisier ride on asphalt, but Mini has mitigated most of these annoyances on the Countryman Untamed. Instead of lifting the crossover with a taller spring, Mini elongated the strut itself. The result is a comfortably firm ride, reminiscent of lying on a fresh mattress, and confident handling on twisty paved lanes. Similarly, the Pirelli all-terrain tires didn’t drone or buzz enough to intrude on the quiet cabin. The only real difference between the Untamed and a standard Countryman S was a noticeably taller seating position.

Given its camp-ready positioning, Mini wanted to show off the Countryman Untamed’s off-road abilities. I followed a lifted Jeep Wrangler up a trailhead in South Lake Tahoe, and the lifted crossover was surprisingly capable off-road. While 8.75 inches of ground clearance isn’t much, the Untamed didn’t bottom out on a trail full of divots. The Countryman’s unibody construction and hatchback suspension aren’t suited to articulation, and it teetered from wheel to wheel on more technical sections. I wasn’t uncomfortable in the cabin, but the Countryman proved its mechanical updates go further than most are likely to need.

Similarly, Mini’s traction control system worked hard on slippery surfaces, grabbing individual wheel brakes to limit wheelspin and adjusting torque splits on the fly. With some patience, the electronics would catch up and power the correct wheel, but I was forced to back up and get a running start on two sandy slopes. Like most Haldex-style AWD vehicles, the Countryman Untamed demonstrated a clear front-wheel bias, spinning the front axle for seconds before finally transferring power rearward. And if a wheel floated into the air, the AWD system was hesitant to deliver power to any wheel.

My biggest gripe with the Countryman Untamed was excessive intervention from various systems. Mini offers the aforementioned dedicated Trail drive mode, but you cannot turn off stability control in this off-road mode. So, Mini set up the Countryman in Go-Kart mode with the stability control switched off for loose-surface driving, but the safety system still cut power completely on the steepest trail slope. The transmission does have a “Low” mode, essentially holding lower ratios while still working as an automatic, but I found this was often one gear too high when descending. I applaud Mini for offering some real mechanical changes in the Untamed, but its driving electronics often felt half-baked.

The Untamed shares its interior with the standard Countryman, with a knit material used on the dashboard and door cards that is satisfying to touch and looks fresh. It also gets model-exclusive Vescin Nightshade Blue sport seats with Cornflower Blue accent stitching, which were comfortable and looked great. Fitting its adventure-ready mission, the Untamed also gets rubber floor mats as standard.

As in other Mini models that use the system, I found the 9.4-inch OLED circular screen was difficult to deal with. This is a strange shape for a display, especially when using smartphone mirroring, and I found a strong push of my finger was required to adjust climate settings or swipe through menus. More irritating was the way each drive mode redesigns the center screen, forcing me to remember where certain features were. There are dual USB-C ports up front, as well as a stylish, removable center cubby.

If you can get past the infotainment woes, the Countryman Untamed does offer some respectable usability for a vehicle in this class. U.S. Market versions will come standard with a factory-installed trailer hitch that’s able to tow up to 3500 pounds. That isn’t going to haul a big load, but it is plenty sufficient for a family-size bike rack or trailering a motorcycle. And with car camping all the rage, the Untamed accommodates up to 165 pounds on the roof while moving and up to 661 pounds when stationary. Mini says it plans to offer a host of camping accessories through dealers as well.

Why It Matters

My biggest gripe with the Countryman Untamed was excessive intervention from various systems.

CarMotion Daily’s Take

The new 2027 Mini Countryman Untamed Edition will be available in both gas-powered and EV versions. Watch this space over the coming weeks. Markets rarely reward single announcements — execution over the next two to four quarters is what closes the gap between press release and customer. How this lands depends less on the announcement itself and more on the rollout, dealer support, and after-sales story behind it. Specifics on pricing, availability, and regional rollout will tell us whether this moves from headline to delivery. Independent verification and follow-up coverage from rival outlets tend to firm up the picture within days.