Serious off-roaders know you need a heavy-duty vehicle to conquer the unpredictable road conditions that lie ahead. And while some crossover SUVs are equipped to handle rough terrain, you might want to take it easy with the Mini Countryman.

Here to go over the Countryman’s off-roading capabilities is

Jerry

, the top-rated

super app

that saves drivers money on

car insurance

. We’ll look at crucial specs like ground clearance and torque, along with some off-roading alternatives to the 2022 Mini Countryman.

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Can the 2022 Mini Countryman go off road?

No, it would not be advised to take the Mini Countryman off-road. If you want to keep your Mini Countryman in proper running condition, you’ll want to stick to driving the compact crossover on paved roads—or maybe a smooth dirt road at the most. Starting at $28,400, the latest Countryman is still a fun ride and an excellent choice for easily navigating yourself around city streets.

Let’s look into what you should consider when you’re thinking about getting an off-road vehicle and how the Mini Countryman compares.

Ground clearance

If you’re looking to go off-road with your vehicle, you need to know its ground clearance, also known as ride height. The 2022 Mini Countryman’s ground clearance stands at 5.87 inches off the ground, which doesn’t make the crossover a great choice for going off-roading.

Typically, you’ll want a ground clearance of at least 8.8 inches or higher to help prevent damage to your vehicle's undercarriage when driving through rough and bumpy road conditions. Unfortunately, the Mini Countryman greatly misses the off-roading mark by a little less than 3 inches.

Torque

When it comes to off-roading adventures, you need low-end torque—or high amounts of torque at lower rpm—when driving through rough terrain. This is because turning power is more important than speed when it comes to tackling trails.

The base Mini Countryman comes equipped with a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine that gets a maximum torque of 162 @ 1250 RPM. The John Cooper Works modelfeatures a turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder that delivers 331 @ 1750 RPM. If you must go off-road, the turbo Mini Countryman might provide you with enough power to get away with driving through some gravel roads, but with a low ground clearance—it’s still not ideal for intense off-roading trips.

Tires

The 2022 Mini Countryman comes with P225/50WR18 tires, which are standard all-season tires. These types of tires provide the essential traction required for driving through a wide range of weather conditions and other uncertainties when driving on the roads. But if you’re looking to take your vehicle off-road, you’ll want some good

all-terrain tires

for added stability when you’re behind the wheel.

Drivetrain

For serious off-roaders, you really need a vehicle with all-wheel drive when venturing off into unknown territories. But the 2022 Mini Countryman comes standard with front-wheel drive, which isn’t the best option when driving through rough and bumpy terrain.

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Angles

Off-roading is all about angles:

Approach angle: the maximum angle your vehicle can ascend without conflict

Departure angle: the maximum angle your vehicle can descend without conflict

Generally, you’ll want a minimum angle of at least 20 degrees for light off-roading adventures. And with an approach angle of 18 degrees and a departure angle of 24 degrees. That’s enough to handle some gentle uphill and downhill excursions, but don’t go overboard.

Off-road rating: Don’t Try It

Where does the 2022 Mini Countryman stand on

Jerry’s

DIRT rating system? Here’s how we break it down in the table below:

Rating	Meaning	Description
D	Don’t Try It	Vehicles better suited to highway conditions
I	In a Pinch	Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances
R	Rough and Ready	Vehicles designed for casual off-roading
T	Trail Boss	True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain

Surprise, surprise—but we have to give the 2022 Mini Countryman a D rating.While the compact crossover can certainly take you out on paved and light dirt roads in the country, it wasn’t designed for extreme off-roading. If you’re looking to take the road less traveled, then opt for a heavy-duty SUV like a

Jeep Wrangler

or a

Ford Bronco

for the best off-road experience.

MORE:

The best old-school off-road vehicles

The best alternatives to the 2022 Mini Countryman

Not an off-road type after all? If you’re happy driving on paved roads—we get it. And there are plenty of alternatives similar to the 2022 Mini Countryman:

Alternative	Model	Price	Description
Best affordable alternative	2016 Volkswagen Beetle	$20,600	If you want to stick with a cute, compact car for city driving at a lower price range, look no further than the classic Beetle.
Best upscale alternative	2019 BMW 230	$35,300	By now, you know to expect nothing but luxury with most BMW vehicles, but the 230 also come equipped with more power and all-wheel drive for an exciting daily commute.
Best light off-road alternative	2022 BMW X2	$36,400	If you want to test out your off-roading skills, you might have an easier time with the X2 compact SUV and its 7.2 inches of ground clearance.

MORE:Cheap off-road trucks

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How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles

Regardless of whether you go with a Mini Countryman for zipping through the city or opt for a tough SUV for off-roading adventures, you’ll want to make sure you have adequate insurance coverage to protect yourself before you hit the road. And comparison super app

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