Electric Car Awards 2023: Best used hybrid small SUV

For a Mini, the Countryman isn’t very, well, mini at all, but what it does is successfully take the style of the traditional Mini hatchback and apply it to a much more practical, family-friendly package. It adds in this excellent plug-in hybrid variant, too.

The Cooper S E All4 combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for impressive performance and fuel economy. Officially, it’ll average 134.5mpg. From a fully charged battery, you have up to 26 miles of electric-only range to play with, meaning you could complete the school or shopping run without burning a drop of petrol.

Sure, there are a few rivals  (such as plug-in hybrid versions of the Hyundai Ioniq, Kia Niro and Peugeot 3008) that can better that range, but they’ll cost you more to buy. You can buy a 2020 Countryman for around £18,000 now, and that looks great value to us.

On top of that, those rivals aren’t as plush and premium inside as the Countryman. Its interior features smart design details and build quality to eclipse that of other small SUVs; in this respect, it can even challenge bigger, more costly cars such as the Volvo XC40 Recharge T4. What’s more, the Countryman’s infotainment system is easier to use on the move than those of rivals, thanks to a rotary controller between the front seats.

Navigating the various option packages that have been offered on the Countryman can be a confusing task when searching the classifieds. The main one to keep an eye out for is the Chili Pack, because that’ll grant you dual-zone climate control, LED headlights and automatic lights and wipers. You’re also likely to want the Comfort Pack for its heated front seats and rear parking sensors.

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