It’s hard to believe that the current generation Countryman is already two years old. The BMW-built MINI is assembled in Germany, which served as the starting point for a road trip. The compact crossover embarked on a journey from Bavaria to Iceland, including a two-day ferry crossing from Hirtshals in Denmark to Seyðisfjörður on the Nordic island.
MINI chose the all-electric Countryman SE ALL4 for the adventure, painted in Blazing Blue and equipped with the Favorite trim. Given the demanding route, the choice of off-road tires was a given. A roof rack for a spare tire was also fitted, a sensible precaution given the uneven roads along the way.
Of course, the Countryman is not a real off-roader. You’d be much better off in something like an X5 Silver Anniversary Edition with the off-road package. BMW could perhaps take things a step further with a jacked up “Rugged” SUV, although the “G74” has yet to be confirmed.
However, the Countryman can hold its own for light off-road use. It’s no Jeep Wrangler, but it is the most versatile MINI ever built. The SE variant has two engines for standard all-wheel drive. With a virtually instantaneous 494 Nm (364 lb-ft) of torque, it should get you out of a sticky situation with ease. The output of 308 hp is also not to be sniffed at.
With a WLTP range of 268 miles (432 kilometers), range anxiety would obviously be a problem in remote areas. Well, at least for me. According to MINI, the electric crossover traveled from Hamburg via Denmark to the port of Hirtshals before taking the ferry to Seyðisfjörður. The most difficult section came last along Route 622. This is a 49 kilometer long dirt road in the Westfjords that connects Þingeyri in Dýrafjörður with Hrafnseyri in Arnarfjörður.
The Countryman SE ALL4 handled everything with ease and judging by the photos released by MINI, it passed the test with flying colors. Even if you’re not particularly interested in SUVs, the pictures are worth a look.
