The Mini Countryman C Is Now Made in India: Rs. 10 Lakh Cheaper Than Imported Model!
Mini has launched the Countryman C in India at Rs 47.50 lakh, ex-showroom. It is the first Countryman variant to be locally assembled at the BMW Group plant in Chennai, and that local production is the reason it arrives at a price roughly Rs 10 lakh below what the fully imported JCW All4 commands. The Countryman C is the third variant in the current Countryman line-up, sitting below the JCW All4 in specification and price, and above the Countryman Electric in terms of practicality for buyers concerned about charging infrastructure.
The Chennai assembly route is significant because it brings the Countryman C into a bracket where it competes directly against the BMW X1, Audi Q3, and Mercedes-Benz GLA. All of which are also locally assembled in India. Previously, the Countryman was only available as a fully imported product, which made it considerably more expensive and limited its competitive positioning in the entry-level luxury SUV space.
The Countryman C is powered by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 156 bhp and 240 Nm, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. It is front-wheel drive only, with no all-wheel-drive option in this variant. The 0 to 100 kph figure is 9.0 seconds, and top speed is rated at 212 kph. Claimed fuel efficiency is 15.92 kmpl.
The Countryman C shares its UKL2 front-wheel-drive platform with the BMW X1, which is also assembled at Chennai. The same 1.5-litre engine family is used in the X1, where it is tuned to 134 bhp in its base configuration. In the Countryman C, the tune produces 156 bhp, reflecting a different state of tune rather than a different engine family.
Boot capacity is 505 litres, expanding to 1,450 litres with rear seats folded. The rear bench slides up to 130mm and reclines up to 25 degrees, which is a usable feature in a car that will mostly operate as a premium city vehicle with occasional longer runs.
The Countryman C is offered in a single Favoured trim. The feature list includes a 9.4-inch circular OLED touchscreen, a head-up display, a panoramic glass roof, powered front seats with a massage function for the driver, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, 360-degree camera, dual-zone climate control, wireless charging, and an interior camera. ADAS coverage includes front collision warning, lane departure warning, active pedestrian protection, and reversing assist. It carries a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
The exterior gets adaptive LED headlamps, 19-inch crystal-cut alloy wheels, flush door handles, and the Union Jack LED tail-lamp signature. Five colour options are available: Chilli Red, Slate Blue, Nanuq White, British Racing Green, and Smokey Green. A champagne gold finish is offered on the grille surround, front skid plate, and side sills.
At Rs 47.50 lakh, the Countryman C undercuts the BMW X1 sDrive20i, which retails from approximately Rs 49.50 lakh. It is also cheaper than the Audi Q3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA 200, both of which sit between Rs 48 lakh and Rs 52 lakh at their entry points.
The Countryman C has the smallest engine of the group, with a three-cylinder 1.5-litre unit against the four-cylinder 2.0-litre motors in most rivals. That trade-off is real, reflected in the 9.0-second 0 to 100 kph figure, but the platform, safety hardware, and feature set are fully competitive.
For buyers who want the Countryman nameplate with a growing service network, and pricing within reach of the segment's volume leaders, the Countryman C makes a strong case at launch.