Building a bigger Mini -- but not too big.

#5. The handling isn’t exactly go-kart direct, but it’s still fun.

The 2011 Mini Cooper Countryman rides on its own all-new platform. It’s longer, rides 1.2 inches higher, and the weight is up about 240 pounds over the hardtop. All these factors make it less nimble than the smaller Minis, with more lean in turns and more tire squeal when it’s pushed hard. Still, the Countryman is quite fun to drive. After that initial lean, it takes a nice set through turns, and it reacts quickly to fast changes of direction, though not as fast as its smaller siblings. Like those cars, though, the steering is practically telepathic, but it is weighted slightly less. It turns with razor sharp precision and offers plenty of road feel. The S model’s Sport mode firms up the steering a bit, while also increasing throttle response and holding gears longer in automatic transmission models.