The tag Sports Utility Vehicle is generally a bit of a misnomer. Among the latest breed of SUVs, there's not too many you could legitimately label as sporty. Utilitarian, yes. But sporty, not so much.

While most tend to focus on comfort rather than cornering, there are some exceptions, from twin-turbo V8-powered BMWs, AMGs and Porsches... and the latest Mini Countryman John Cooper Works.

Mini had a crack at injecting its 'go-kart' feel into the original Countryman SUV but that car wasn't much bigger than a regular Mini hatch and, as a result, didn't capture as much of the SUV boom as it should have.

Having realised the error of its ways, Mini’s second-generation Countryman is a bigger car all-round, with real space in the rear. And now that the JCW treatment has been applied yet again, the result is a vehicle that better combines sport and utility to create a compact family truckster that ought to keep the driving enthusiast of the household happy.

As the flagship of the Countryman range, the John Cooper Works sits at the head of the five-variant range and includes all-wheel drive as standard, matching the one-step-down Cooper SD Countryman as the only two variants with all-paw grip.

There’s a whole swag of standard JCW improvements too with a more powerful 2.0-litre turbo charged four-cylinder engine (with 170kW and 350Nm), specifically-tuned adaptive suspension, Brembo four-piston brakes, and unique aero parts - among other changes - to help justify the $57,900 (plus on-roads) price tag.

Apart from the go-fast bits, the Countryman JCW comes standard with leather interior trim, dual-zone climate control, multi-colour ambient lighting, keyless entry with push-button start, a powered tailgate, LED headlights and 19-inch alloys.

There's also Mini's top-shelf infotainment system with an 8.8-inch colour touchscreen that has sat nav, a 20GB hard drive, rear-view camera, digital radio, smartphone mirroring and a 12-speaker Harmon/Kardon audio system. 

As with lesser Countryman models, the JCW version boasts a much longer wheelbase and plenty of extra interior space compared with its predecessor. But it's still not a big car and looks every bit the compact SUV, but it’s now possible to add a car seat for the kids without the need to shift the front seats, or take a couple of extra passengers along without fielding complaints about squeezy rear seat space.

The story is similar for the boot; at 450 litres there’s workable space back there for prams or camping gear (depending on which stage of life you’re up to), with a deep sub-boot under a false floor, plus plenty of cabin storage nooks.  

The John Cooper Works Countryman is powered by the same engine, transmission, and all-wheel drive systems as the low-riding Clubman JCW with identical 170kW/350Nm outputs from its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine - itself a derivative of the engine used by BMW in its four-cylinder cars.

It’s a purposeful sounding engine, with a sports exhaust system (and a little artificial enhancement) creating a stroppy soundtrack to liven up the driving experience. Australian buyers will get an eight-speed automatic as standard, but a six-speed manual is also available by request.

The JCW engine tune certainly isn’t lacking for urgency, able to blast from 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds in automatic form, making it marginally slower than the smaller, lighter JCW hatch but no less entertaining to drive.

Mini’s ALL4 all-wheel drive system is a pre-emptive one, meaning torque gets sent to the rear wheels from takeoff to quell wheelspin and torque steer, while cornering and low grip conditions also encourage the system to share the torque around.

To demonstrate the system’s prowess Mini picked out an undulating gravel track, with the added bonus of plenty of rain. Not only did ALL4 keep the Countryman shiny side up, but, as promised, the JCW treatment made the whole experience an involving and engaging hoot.

Sharp steering remains a Mini hallmark, and the firm but not overly-tight suspension keeps all four wheels in close contact with the ground, be it on gravel or tarmac. Body roll is well mitigated, despite the Countryman’s higher centre of gravity compared to the Mini hatch range, too.

Make no mistake though the JCW Countryman isn’t a go-anywhere machine. It offers the security of extra traction, but is still predominantly road-biased with a little extra security on gravel roads or rain-soaked tarmac.

The eight-speed automatic isn’t the fun-sponge you might imagine it to be; it’s perhaps a little docile in day-to-day commuting, but drop the transmission into its sport-shift mode and it delivers downshifts with near telepathic clarity and even creates a little upshift bark like the best dual-clutch autos.

Its level of comfort is always on the firm side but not so jarring with two modes for the adjustable dampers - mid and sport, which firms up the ride but is probably more of a gimmick than an absolute necessity in most driving situations.

The idea of a one-size-fits-all automobile is something of an urban legend, but in the case of the John Cooper Works Countryman, Mini has successfully infused the sporty driving dynamics of its flagship performance model into the bigger, heavier and far more practical frame of its SUV.

It won’t fit all budgets, but Mini isn’t trying to be mainstream. The brand realises it can continue to ride a wave of exclusivity (and nostalgia) to its benefit, pitting the JCW Countryman against rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 or in-house rival, the BMW X1 sDrive 25i (with its identical powertrain).

For uniqueness the Countryman is unmatched with a curious mix of retro and new-age design themes that shoots straight for the heart of fashion conscious buyers, while delivering a more family-friendly package without the soulless drudgery of another box on wheels. 

2017 Mini Countryman JCW Price and Specifications

Price: $57,900 (plus on-road costs)

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol

Power: 170kW at 6000rpm

Torque: 350Nm at 1450-4500rpm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic, AWD

Fuel use: 7.4L/100km

- For more information visit our Mini showroom