Mini India has opened pre-bookings for the locally assembled Countryman C, a two-wheel-drive petrol SUV built at BMW's Chennai facility.
The model is expected to be priced around Rs 55 lakh, making it roughly Rs 10 lakh more accessible than the existing JCW All4 variant.
Mini India has officially opened pre-bookings for the Countryman C petrol SUV. This move comes roughly two weeks after the brand confirmed it would begin local assembly of a lower-specification, two-wheel-drive petrol version of the third-generation Countryman at BMW's manufacturing facility in Chennai. It is worth noting that the Countryman Electric and the performance-oriented JCW All4 variant will continue to be imported as fully built-up units, keeping the Countryman C as the sole locally assembled option in the current lineup.
This is not the first time Mini has taken the local assembly route in India. Earlier generations of the Countryman were assembled domestically as well, with the first starting in 2013 and the second following in 2018. The revival of this strategy signals Mini's intent to make the nameplate more price-competitive once again.
Expected Price and Where It Stands Against the Competition
Pricing has not been confirmed officially, but the numbers being discussed are rather encouraging. Given its relatively lower positioning in the lineup and the benefits of local assembly, the Countryman C is expected to be priced much lower than the JCW All4, which currently retails at Rs 64.9 lakh ex-showroom. Industry estimates suggest it could be priced around Rs 55 lakh, potentially making it about Rs 10 lakh more accessible than the top variant.
For context, the previous-generation Countryman petrol was priced at approximately Rs 48 lakh when it was last sold in 2024. However, inflation, a weaker rupee against the pound since then, and the costs involved in upgrading to the new generation make a higher price tag expected.
At around Rs 55 lakh, the Countryman C would find itself squaring off against some well-regarded names. Its key rivals will include the BMW X1 at Rs 50.9 lakh, the Mercedes-Benz GLA at Rs 52 lakh, and the Audi Q3, which is priced between Rs 43.67 lakh and Rs 53 lakh.
Design Details That Set the India-Spec Model Apart
Exterior Styling with a Distinct Finish
The Countryman C carries forward the familiar rounded design with smooth body lines. It gets matte champagne-coloured trim around the grille, on the C-pillar, and on the front, side, and rear skid plates. Even the Mini logos and the Countryman badge are finished in the same champagne shade.
The alloy wheel design on the India-spec Countryman C mirrors the 19-inch wheels seen on the Countryman Electric, again with the champagne finish. At the rear, matrix LED tail-lamps feature a customisable light show that activates when the car is locked or unlocked.
What to Expect Under the Bonnet
The Countryman C is built on the same front-wheel-drive platform, codenamed UKL2, as the BMW X1, which is also assembled in India. Mini India's website confirms a turbo-petrol engine paired with a 7-speed automatic gearbox, suggesting the model may use the same 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine found in the BMW SUV.
In the X1, this unit produces 136hp and 230 Nm of torque, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Official pricing and launch details are yet to be announced, but with pre-bookings now live, a formal introduction should not be too far off.
Also read: