MINI Countryman receives 5-stars at Euro NCAP

The MINI Contryman has passed with distinction the Euro NCAP crash testing as it received the top 5-star score. In the internationally recognised test programme, which has been further tightened in 2009 by the addition of more test criteria, the Countryman was convincing thanks to its wide range of standard-fitted safety equipment designed to ensure highly effective occupant protection for both adults and children in various types of collision.

Besides its high levels of active and passive safety designed to reduce the risk of injury inside the MINI Countryman, the work made in terms of pedestrian protection was also important for this top rating.

The passenger cell of MINI Countryman showed much amount of stability in the frontal collision at a speed of up to 64 km/h, which forms part of the Euro NCAP crash test. Only a slight risk of injury was detected, irrespective of the size and sitting position of the passengers.

One of the categories were the MINI Countryman obtained the maximum number of points was on the occupant protection in a side-on collision. The Countryman also received a low risk on injury to the cervical vertebrae in a rear-end collision. The crash test results were also positive when it came to the use of seat systems for three-year-old and 18-month-old children. Both in the frontal and the side-on collision, a stable position and minimal head movements at the moment of impact were registered in each case.

The holistic safety concept which is applied to all MINI models is responsible for the high degree of occupant protection found in the Countryman. The robust load-path structures and precisely defined deformation zones are responsible for the absorbing in specific areas of the impact forces in a crash. They also keep them away from the highly rigid passenger compartment. The load-path structures in the floor section, side members, bulkhead and front and rear of the vehicle are paced in a way that distributes the impact force to as many body elements as possible, not reaching the passenger cell.

To enhance its safety inside the MINI Countryman, the model is equipped with front and side airbags, curtain head airbags covering both rows of seats, three-point inertia-reel seatbelts for all seats and ISOFIX child seat attachments in the rear. The front seats have belt tensioners and belt force limiters, while the safety steering column of the MINI Countryman also comes with a deformation element.

In order to minimize the consequences of any type of collision, the body structure, restraint systems and safety electronics are perfectly coordinated.

Active safety on the MINI Countryman gets the technological contribution of the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), which is fitted as standard. This system includes ABS anti-lock brakes, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Brake Assist and Hill Assist. The MINI Countryman is also equipped with a runflat indicator, a system that monitors the tyres and uses a visual signal in the on-board computer display to alert the driver to any tyre damage.