Mini has boosted range on its Countryman E and SE All4 models with some subtle tech upgrades – the E model in particular sees range increase to 311 miles of WLTP range from 286. The SE All4 goes from 266 miles to 290. 

The increase in range is thanks to a few software and hardware upgrades, which include a new silicon carbide inverter that’s designed to work more efficiently and minimise any losses in the powertrain. The inverter is a go-between that controls power flow from battery to motor (and vice versa when it comes to brake regeneration that charges the battery back up), converting current from DC from the battery to AC for the motor. 

Another benefit here is that the usable capacity of battery has been increased to 65.2kWh, which is up 0.6kWh out of the 66.5kWh total. Manufacturers restrict the amount of battery that the car has access to in order to ensure reliability and longevity, but clever use of software trickery can enable that usable capacity to be higher. 

A final upgrade to the Countryman according to Mini is a new design on the front axle that uses low friction wheel bearings (as opposed to whatever they had on before) to reduce rolling resistance and help efficiency. 

The upgrades will be available on the Countryman from March 2026, says the BMW-owned British carmaker. The Countryman has been on sale since 2024, and we like its bold design and personalisation options – the increase in range will no doubt add to the car’s desirability. 

Charging is a strong point – the Mini has a peak charge rate of 130kW, but manages to hold on to a higher charge rate for longer than some of its rivals that have gone for headline grabbing peak charge rates, and it’ll get from 10–80% battery in just under 30 minutes. 

One of the main draws of course is that the Countryman was recently approved for the UK government's electric car grant – check out the list of cars that get the £3,750 discount here.