Building a bigger Mini -- but not too big.

#8. It has no direct competition.

Even more than other Minis, the Countryman is in a class by itself. It has a slightly raised seating position, but is much smaller and more fun to drive than a compact SUV. It is sized like a subcompact hatchback, but it costs considerably more. Mini says its core competitors will include the Kia Soul, Scion xD and xB, and Toyota Matrix, and it should also grab sales from the likes of the Honda CR-V, Audi A3, Nissan Juke, and Volkswagen Golf. But none of those vehicles offers the same feature set as the Countryman. We see it as a step-up model for current Mini owners who need more room to haul people and cargo. It may also take customers from the hardtop and Clubman, but given its greater utility, it could become the brand’s best seller.