Mini Goes Off-Road: Introducing the 2027 Countryman Untamed
The Untamed package arrives for the 2027 model year and is offered in North America on two models: the petrol Countryman S ALL4 and the all-electric Countryman SE ALL4. It is a $1,600 option on both, and it is far more than a sticker-and-plastic exercise.
Mini’s designers are framing it as a return to first principles rather than a departure from them. “The Untamed Edition highlights qualities that are already part of the MINI Countryman’s DNA: robustness, versatility and a spirit of exploration,” said Holger Hampf, Head of Mini Design. “Our goal was to emphasize these characteristics through carefully selected colors, materials and details, while remaining true to the unmistakable MINI character.”
It is a fair point. The Countryman has always been the biggest, most practical Mini, and a bit of genuine capability fits the shape better than another chrome trim pack would. The question is whether buyers of an electric crossover actually want it.
All-Terrain Hardware and Design Upgrades
The headline mechanical change is a 15 mm suspension lift, which takes ground clearance to as much as 222 mm. That is proper crossover territory, and more than most owners will ever need.
Mini has fitted Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tyres on exclusive 19-inch light-alloy wheels, and crucially has recalibrated the ABS, DSC and steering systems to suit the revised suspension and the chunkier rubber. Approach and departure angles have been updated too, though Mini has not published the new figures. It is the kind of detail that separates a serious off-road package from a cosmetic one, and it puts the Untamed in the same conversation as hardware-led machines like the 2027 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk.
Visually, the Untamed gets a vertically oriented front grille with angular inserts and an exclusive Dark Steel accent, new side sills, redesigned front and rear underbody protection, a new rear diffuser and matte black protective film across the wheel arches, side sills and Power Dome. Five colours are offered: Hideaway Grey, Nomad Blue, Frozen Nomad Blue, Nanuq White and Midnight Black, with the roof finished in either Glazed White or Jet Black.
Inside the Untamed Cabin
The interior treatment is more thoughtful than the usual black-and-orange off-road cliche. Mini has specified Vescin Nightshade Blue sports seats with knitted shoulder and headrest surfaces, Cornflower Blue decorative stitching and a Millennial Melange knit across the dashboard and centre console. There is a redesigned centre console storage box, plus rubber all-weather floor mats and a matching luggage compartment mat.
Car and Driver describes the cabin as grey with knitted cloth seat upholstery, which suggests the palette is more restrained in the metal than the names imply. Elsewhere the Countryman’s interior formula is unchanged: sustainable materials, a fabric-covered dash pad that hides configurable ambient lighting shifting colour and shape with the drive mode, and a clean, uncluttered layout.
Powertrains and Performance
Underneath, nothing changes. The electric Countryman SE ALL4 Untamed keeps its dual-motor All4 setup with 308 hp and 494 Nm of torque. The petrol Countryman S ALL4 Untamed runs a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with 241 hp and 400 Nm.
The electric SE All4 has been timed at 4.8 seconds to 60 mph in Car and Driver testing, a couple of tenths behind the petrol John Cooper Works variant. Acceleration is described as swift but without the instant off-the-line punch of some rivals, and while one-pedal driving is a highlight, the Electric’s extra weight makes it less eager than the petrol car.
Mini has not yet confirmed how the Untamed package affects kerb weight or acceleration, and adding all-terrain tyres and a lift kit rarely helps either.
Battery, Range and Charging Reality Check
This is where the Untamed conversation gets interesting, because the Countryman Electric was never a range champion and the new tyres will not help.
The standard 64.6-kWh battery delivers an EPA-estimated 216 miles on 18-inch wheels, dropping to 212 miles on 19-inch rims. Road & Track quotes 64.7 kWh for the SE ALL4 Untamed specifically. Those are US figures, and they flatter the car compared with real-world results: in Car and Driver’s 75-mph highway test, the Countryman managed just 180 miles.
DC fast-charging takes the battery from 10 to 90 per cent in 39 minutes in testing. All-terrain rubber typically costs a few per cent of efficiency, so expect the Untamed to sit at the lower end of the range spread.
Practicality, Tech and Towing
Rugged styling has not come at the expense of the Countryman’s strongest suit. The upright, SUV-like shape delivers a genuinely roomy interior and above-average cargo capacity for a Mini: eight carry-on suitcases fit with the rear seats up, and 22 with them folded. There is no front trunk.
The cabin is dominated by a 9.4-inch fully digital circular display that serves as both instrument cluster and infotainment, running Mini’s latest software with customisable backgrounds and user-uploaded photos. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, video games can be downloaded for charging stops, and a 12-speaker Harman/Kardon setup is optional over the base six-speaker stereo. Driver assistance includes automated emergency braking and lane-keeping assist. Front seats are comfortable and supportive with standard heating, and the rear bench is spacious enough for adults, though taller passengers may want more legroom.
Towing is a mixed picture. The Countryman Electric can pull up to 1,200 kg, but only with the optional trailer hitch, a $600 extra. US-market Untamed models, however, come with a factory-installed hitch and a 1,588 kg maximum towing capacity.
Pricing, Production and Launch Timing
The petrol Countryman S ALL4 Untamed starts at $45,250 including a $1,350 destination and handling charge. Mini has not yet announced figures for the electric Countryman SE ALL4 Untamed, nor any UK pricing or availability.
Production of the Countryman S ALL4 Untamed begins at BMW Group Plant Leipzig in Germany in November 2026, ahead of a global launch in early 2027. US customer deliveries are expected to begin in early 2027.
What the Untamed Trim Means for the Countryman Electric Line-up
There is something genuinely appealing about an electric crossover that admits what it is for. The Untamed package gives the Countryman a character it has lacked, and the engineering behind it, from the recalibrated chassis electronics to the revised underbody protection, suggests Mini has taken the brief seriously rather than raiding the accessories catalogue.
The catch is range. The Countryman Electric already trails rivals such as the Kia Niro EV and Tesla Model Y at a similar price point, and fitting all-terrain tyres and raising the ride height will only widen that gap. For a car whose appeal rests on everyday usability, that is a real consideration.
Still, the electric SUV market is filling up with vehicles chasing the same aerodynamic, range-maximising formula. A compact EV that trades a few miles for mud-plugging attitude and a cabin full of knitted textiles is a refreshing alternative, and it sits neatly alongside the broader trend of premium electric off-roaders, from the Range Rover Sport Electric to the softer, more luxury-focused Aston Martin DBX GT. Whether buyers will accept the range penalty for the look is the question Mini will get an answer to in early 2027.
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