The crossover or compact SUV sector is fiercely competitive and we are seeing more models arriving regularly. So, consumers are faced with some difficult choices. Here we explore three very different rivals vying for sales and they each have their own individual appeal. We check out the MINI Countryman - the first 4x4 model to carry the MINI badge. Who would have imagined in years gone by that MINI would have such a huge car in its line-up?
Then there is the latest Nissan Juke with its jaw-dropping design that is both modern, quirky and practical. It also comes with a very tempting price-tag. And finally, BMW X1 which is the poshest of these competitors and covers all the performance bases we expect from the Bavarian carmaker.
Price
As you might expect, It's the Nissan Juke that comes out tops when it comes to cost with prices starting from £19,200. Nissan describes the Juke as 'the intelligent SUV of today' and we have to agree. It boasts a cutting edge design with sharp lines and a V-motion grille plus a feature-rich interior that's totally driver-focused. Trim levels are visia, Acenta, N-Connecta, Tekna and Tekna+, along with a special limited edition Batman-inspired Juke Kiro for 2022, Priced from £18,375.
The BMW X1 is available in petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid guise with prices starting from £30,555. Clearly this is quite a jump compared to the Nissan, but it's worth remembering that BMW is a premium brand and its vehicles also deliver exceptional performance. It looks like a powerhouse of a car and with a sub-seven-second 0-62mph sprint time on some models, it will have its very own fanbase. Watch out for optional extras though as they will see the costs soar.
The MINI Countryman costs from £25,305 but as you step through the grades to the dynamic John Cooper Works models, the price increases accordingly and reaches £38,325. And that's before and options are factored in. There are no diesel Countryman models, but there is a plug-in hybrid version costing from £34,500 and that JCW model is for the thrill seekers with its 0-62mph dash time of 5.1 seconds, maxing out 155mph.
Practicality
The Nissan boasts a spacious interior with a boot that can swallow 422 litres of kit. Drop the split-folding rear seats and that capacity increases to 1,305 (it is slightly less at 409 and 1,292 if there is a spare wheel). This car is two-wheel drive only.
The BMW X1 stretches 4,447mm in length, is 1,821mm wide and about 1,582mm high (depending on the model as some have added ground clearance). The boot can hold between 505 and 1,550 litres of kit and this car is available with BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive set up. It can also be used to tow a trailer which is another plus point.
The MINI Countryman was met with mixed opinions when it was first launched - after all how could a car that stretches 4.3 meters be a MINI? However, the Countryman offers all-wheel drive so this MINI will go where no other MINI has gone before! The boot can accommodate from 450 to 1,390 litres of luggage depending on the seating configuration. (405-1,275 on the plug-in hybrid model).
Efficiency
With Nissan ditching diesel on its latest Juke, customers are more limited when it comes to choice. But the range of economical three0cylinder, 1.0 litre petrol engines should not be overlooked and customers have the option of manual or automatic gearboxes. Depending which version you opt for, the combined fuel efficiency is about 48mpg with carbon emissions from 134g/km.
There is a wealth of choice when it comes to BMW X1 powertrains so customers can choose between punchy petrol, economical diesel or hybrid models that brings its own financial incentives. These hybrid versions can deliver up to 157mpg with carbon emissions from 41g/km, so would be ideal for any business driver looking to make tax savings.
MINI recently introduced a plug-in version of its versatile Countryman and this model can deliver up to 166mpg with carbon emissions from 40g/km. This would only be achievable if the car was regularly charged and driven fro much of the time in Ev mode. It does introduce cash incentives though, especially if driving through Congestion Charge zones. the powerhouse that is the Countryman JCW model is not quite so frugal, offering up to 37mpg (if you are careful) with a CO2 from 174g/km.
Offers
The Nissan Juke DIG-T 114 manual Acenta grade has an OTR price of £20,800. It is available on PCP with a £1,500 customer deposit along with a £500 contribution. This is followed by 37 monthly payments of £290 with an option to buy at the end of the contract for £10,510. This would be an overall payment of £22,977. there are terms and conditions to the Nissan contribution scheme of £500 at the start of the plan.
When it comes to the BMW X1, there are all manner of PCP offers. For example, the X1 sDrive20i M Sport has an OTR price of £38,040. On PCP, customers would pay a deposit of £4,699, followed by 48 payments of £469. This includes a contribution by BMW of £1,104 towards the deposit.
Finally, the MINI Countryman where once again, there is a wealth of PCP choices available. If you are looking for a Countryman Cooper S Exclusive, with an OTR price of £30,915, the deposit would be £2,000 followed by 48 monthly payments of £440 with an optional final payment of £13,613.
All the PCP offers quoted here were available from the manufacturer's own websites, but there are terms and conditions that need to be read carefully and the offers may also be time sensitive. However, there are lots of deals across the trio of cars at various dealerships, so it's worth shopping around.
So, which takes your fancy?
Each of these models has its own individual charm, The Juke, with its attractive styling and even more attractive pricing, is perfect for anyone on a slightly tighter budget. The X1 has all the premium styling and performance capabilities we have come to expect from the German brand. And the MINI, which is anything but mini in its production, added a new dimension to the company's karting-inspired line-up.
