Car Advice
News & ReviewsLast 7 days
A plug-in hybrid Mini is destined for Australia early next year and the early signs are all positive.
Sure, the Mini Countryman is no longer all that mini, but it's still a stack of fun to drive and undercuts its BMW X1 donor vehicle. Is it worth a closer look?
The 2017 Mini JCW Countryman is pretty much what we've come to expect from the go-fast arm of the BMW-owned British brand – and it's more practical than ever before.
The new Mini Countryman benefits from being based on the excellent BMW X1. Rather than a compromised hatchback, it's now a purpose-built SUV.
Small SUVs, especially 2WD variants, are something of an anomaly in the makeup of the modern motoring landscape. They rarely offer the same space or practicality as a comparable hatchback, and they almost never deliver driving ability or comfort anything like that of an SUV. Therefore, in objective terms, they don’t seem to do anything especially adeptly – on paper at least...
Mini UK has announced a revised model structure across all its ranges, with each line available in three new 'styles' – Classic, Sport and Exclusive. Designed to streamline the specification process and make it easier for customers to choose their car, the company claims the new model structure will allow buyers to create their vehicle using five steps...
BMW Australia has recalled the current-generation 'F60' Mini Countryman with the three-cylinder petrol engine, over concerns about the high-pressure fuel pump. According to the company a crash protection plate wasn't installed for the high-pressure fuel pump, meaning the pump could be damaged in a severe front-end accident...
It's a Sydney special! Joining Mandy Turner on the panel this week are CarAdvice CEO Andrew Beecher, founders Alborz Fallah and Tony Crawford, along with Trent Nikolic and Paul Maric. In car news, Holden has announced $28 million for autonomy and electric vehicle development, General Motors has stated there is 'no exit plan' for Holden, and reckons it's 'certainly capable' of getting Cadillac to Australia...
UPDATE, 13/7/18: Mini's local division has confirmed the plug-in Countryman will be available from Q2 2019, along with supplying some local images. See article for details. BMW Group Australia has confirmed the Mini Countryman S E All4 PHEV (deep breath) is coming to Australia, due to land in the second quarter of next year...
If you are like me and were tasked with the job of teaching your kids to drive, you will know that the hardest thing about getting a licence is the reverse park and the hill start. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t got a clue about going round corners, correct braking techniques or travelling at speed on a highway in traffic, so long as you nail those tricky slow-speed manoeuvres...
