Used MINI Countryman Buying Guide: Which Years to Buy

The used MINI Countryman most people should shop is a 2017-2024 car (the second generation, called F60), ideally a Cooper S with the 2.0-liter turbo, because it is roomier, better built and less fragile than the 2011-2016 original. Skip the 2018-2024 plug-in hybrid unless the price is low and the recall records are clean, and on any 2025 or newer car, ask whether the brake-system recall 26V422 has been done, since owner letters only went out starting August 21, 2026.

The Countryman is the MINI you buy when a Hardtop is too small. A 2012 and a 2022 wear the same badge and are completely different cars, so figure out the generation first, then check the recall list that goes with it.

First generation, 2011-2016: cheap, and cheap for a reason

The original Countryman was MINI's first four-door and the first one with ALL4 all-wheel drive. Car and Driver ran a 2011 Cooper S Countryman ALL4 for 40,034 miles, and the long-term test wrap-up is a blunt read. Rattles showed up in the logbook at 10,502 miles and never really left. The car went in twice for low-oil warnings: once for a leaking timing-chain tensioner, and 4,400 miles later for a failed oil-pump solenoid, both fixed under warranty. They still liked driving it, which is the first-gen Countryman in a nutshell.

That warranty is long gone now. On an R60 Cooper S, ask about the timing chain first and have a mechanic listen to a cold start. Our used MINI Cooper buying guide goes into the same N-series chain tensioner service bulletins for the smaller cars, and most of that applies here too. Honestly, a cheap R60 with no service history is a project; price it like one.

Second generation, 2017-2024: the one to buy

For 2017 MINI moved the Countryman onto the platform it shares with the Clubman and the BMW X1. Car and Driver's 2017 Countryman overview lists a 134-hp turbo 1.5-liter three-cylinder in the base Cooper and a 189-hp turbo 2.0-liter four in the Cooper S, with ALL4 optional. The body grew 7.8 inches. C/D called the three-cylinder too weak for a 3,300-plus-pound car, so I would spend the extra on an S. If you like the car but not the MINI styling, the used BMW X1 buying guide covers its BMW twin.

The plug-in hybrid needs its own warning. The 2018 Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 test found 221 combined horsepower, an EPA electric range of just 12 miles from a 7.6-kWh pack, and a 9.5-gallon fuel tank. It also took 193 feet to stop from 70 mph, 17 feet longer than the regular S, and the brake pedal had a dead spot at the top. Unless you plug in nightly, it is a heavier Cooper S with a smaller tank.

Third generation, 2025 and newer

The current Countryman, sold in the U.S. from spring 2024 as a 2025 model, is bigger again and comes with all-wheel drive standard. Car and Driver's 2025 Countryman page lists 241 hp for the S and 312 hp for the JCW, with a seven-speed dual-clutch the only gearbox. There is also an electric SE ALL4 now, which reuses the old hybrid's name. Used ones still cost close to new, so confirm the recalls below are closed.

Countryman recalls I checked on October 17, 2026

When I ran NHTSA's plain recall search this morning, it came back empty for several Countryman years that NHTSA's vehicle lookup says do have recalls. So never trust one empty search; check the VIN. These are campaigns whose NHTSA summary names the Countryman:

• 12V008 and 18V248, 2011-2012 Cooper S Countryman: the electric auxiliary water pump that cools the turbo can overheat its circuit board, which raises the fire risk. BMW told owners to park outdoors until 18V248 was repaired.
• 18V557, 2017-2019 Countryman: some cars may be missing a crash protection plate near the high-pressure fuel pump, which can lead to a fuel leak in a crash. The NHTSA entry still only describes interim letters from October 2018, so make the dealer show you that the plate was actually installed.
• 20V490 and 20V601, 2020-2021 Countryman SE plug-in hybrid: problems inside the hybrid battery cells (loose weld beads in one, debris in the other) can cause a short circuit and a fire. The 20V601 record told owners not to charge the car until it was repaired. Ask for dealer paperwork showing the battery work.
• 24V104 and 26V422, 2025 Countryman S ALL4: the integrated brake system can lose power assist or knock out ABS and stability control. The 26V422 record says letters were expected August 21, 2026, and that cars already repaired under 24V104 or 24V739 need the new remedy too. An "already done" from the seller may be out of date.
• Also on 2025-2026 cars: 24V697 (brake module welds), 24V711 (front structure bolts), 25V616 and 25V717 (seat belt retractors).

Our MINI recall check by VIN post shows how to confirm each one. For the ALL4 and engine details, run the VIN through our MINI VIN decoder guide.

Paperwork and the report

Look up the title on NMVTIS, then read a full history for accidents, odometer readings and gaps in service. A seller's PDF is easy to edit, so pull your own. The CARFAX history report page lists what a report covers. CarVins is a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller and is not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian or MINI. In mid October 2026 one report through us is about $5.50 as a guest or $4.50 as a member, or about $6.75 for both, versus $39.99 to $44.99 at retail. Those numbers move now and then, so go by what checkout shows. Cross-shopping a Mercedes? Our used Mercedes GLA buying guide is the closest rival.

Sources

• Car and Driver: 2011 Cooper S Countryman ALL4 long-term test
• Car and Driver: 2018 Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 test
• NHTSA: recall 20V601
• NHTSA: recall 26V422
• NMVTIS (U.S. DOJ)