The all-new 2017 Mini Countryman received its crash test rating from the insurance institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and it's a good one. In fact, it's a Top Safety Pick when equipped with the optional front crash prevention system
The new Countryman, factory designation F60, received good crashworthiness ratings on all the tests, including the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint tests. The Countryman's optional advanced-rated front crash prevention system helped mitigate collisions in track tests between 12 and 25 miles per hour by reducing the impact speed by 7 miles per hour in both tests.
“The new Mini Countryman is not only the best equipped Mini we’ve ever sold, but it’s also the most technologically advanced and most versatile model we’ve ever offered,” said Thomas Felbermair, Vice President Mini of the Americas. “We have seen strong demand for the Countryman since it went on sale back in March and we are thrilled to be able to add the IIHS Top Safety Pick award to the growing list of reasons why people head to their local dealer and take a test drive.”
While the Mini Countryman made the coveted Top Safety Pick level, it missed out on the Top Safety Pick Plus award because in order to attain that level, a vehicle must have headlights that are rated as good or acceptable. The Countryman's headlights fell a bit short of the higher rating.
Earlier this year, the 2017 Mini Countryman was awarded the top five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test, signifying that in those crash tests, the new Mini provided outstanding protection in all seats in all the tested situations.
The 2017 Mini Countryman is all new this year. Despite it being completely redesigned and reengineered and the largest Mini to date, it still retains the Mini look and go-kart handling feel. The 2017 family of Mini Countryman vehicles available now include the Cooper, Cooper ALL4, Cooper S, Cooper S ALL4, Cooper S E ALL4 plugin hybrid electric, and John Cooper Works performance variants.
The new Mini Countryman has been on sale in U.S. Mini dealerships since March 2017. The Mini Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 plug-in hybrid became available in June.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of BMW AG.]
