The Untamed is an off-road ready Mini Countryman, with a catch

Meet the gnarliest Mini Countryman yet. Modern, BMW-run Mini celebrates its 25th year in 2026, so a rich seam of special editions was always on the cards. What we’d not anticipated was a trail-ready crossover like this.

The Untamed Edition has made its grand debut in the States, a place where stuff like this is rife. Plenty of carmakers gussy up their core SUVs for buyers who genuinely wish to take them off the beaten track, whether for a brief meander out or a properly off-grid camping expedition.

The big news concerns its ride height, which climbs as much as 19mm over a standard Countryman with the combination of new, 15mm-higher suspension and specially developed Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain tyres. Mini has tweaked the car’s steering, ABS and stability control to complement the rejigged hardware and its newly knobbly tyres house steelie-looking (but actually lightweight alloy) 19in wheels. We’re promised optimised approach and breakover angles when overcoming obstacles too.

But there’s a catch. US customers who tick the Untamed box get all of the above across the car’s various petrol and electric powertrains (barring the lower, tauter Countryman John Cooper Works, inevitably). Those of us in Yoo-rup can only spec the taller ride with an electric Countryman E or SE, our petrol models limited to a more visual makeover.

Which may actually suit most folks fine. There’s a new, vertically slatted grille, a reprofiled rear diffuser and a gamut of matt black decals which are stuck in places that might otherwise suffer stone chips during loose-surface driving. Even the ‘power dome’ on its bonnet gets some protection. The Countryman’s oddly enormous C-pillar finds a purpose – housing the bright blue, mountain gear-inspired Untamed logo – and you’ve a fresh bunch of colours to choose from, new Hideaway Grey and Nomad Blue being exclusive to the Untamed.

The interior also gets a host of bright blue details while there’s a smattering of knitted textiles and its centre console storage gains some elasticated straps as a twee nod to the backpacks you’ve likely slung in the boot.

Then there’s the (presumably optional) roof tent, developed in collaboration with Italian firm Authome, which opens in seconds thanks to gas struts. Useful in a rainstorm. “Weather-resistant materials, panoramic openings and a thoughtfully designed interior make it a highly practical companion for outdoor adventures,” we’re promised. Helinox camping furniture is design to sit neatly beside the car, echoing its colour scheme.

Not convinced it’s the real deal? Mini is whisking one straight off to the 2026 Rebelle Rally – an all-female competition that covers 1,500 miles across the Nevadan and Californian desert – with Felicia Killman and Erika Ferrer as its driver and co-driver. They’ll have scant time to sample the new table and chairs, we’d wager.

Production begins in Germany towards the end of the year ahead of sales in early 2027. UK prices start at £33,595 for the front-wheel-drive Countryman C Untamed with its 168bhp three-cylinder petrol, representing a £550 rise over an equivalent car in Sport trim. Another seven grand gets you the 215bhp, four-pot Countryman S and its ALL4 all-wheel drive.

There’s a larger, four grand price hike for the EV owing to its more thorough mechanical makeover. Prices start at £37,255 for a 201bhp, single-motor Countryman E or £40,755 for a 302bhp, dual-motor Countryman SE ALL4. Those gnarlier tyres are a £600 option.