Quick Car Review: 2020 Mini Cooper Countryman All4

An unlikely road trip car exists in the Mini Cooper Countryman.

I recently took this 2020 All4 model with four-wheel drive on a day trip to Liberal, Kansas, and my family loved the car as much as the journey.

Thanks to Tim and Jerri's Auto Sales in Garden City for letting us drive this fun little car for a while.

Yes, it is on the small side for what some people would consider to be the "perfect" road trip vehicle, but that size is utilized cleverly. The interior is lined with cubbies and spaces for anything and everything. A large Sonic cup fits in the front door storage pocket, which tells me this Countryman was designed with long journeys in mind.

On the highway is where the Countryman is meant to be. It's smooth -- so smooth in fact, I kept thinking I was driving a larger car. Bumps and uneven surfaces are absorbed by the suspension like a fresh sponge. My partner and stepson enjoyed the ride and appreciated the Mini's spacious insides but more compact stature. I appreciated the Mini's comfortable seats and kitschy interior notes, like a toggle switch for the engine start/stop.

This Mini Countryman sports a 189-horsepower, mildly turbocharged four-cylinder engine that begs for a manual transmission, even though a stick shift isn't offered. The standard eight-speed automatic is fine and performs well on the highway, but can be awkward at low speeds in town. The gearing of the transmission, coupled with smooth suspension and a quality stereo system, make this an ideal interstate blaster.

Speaking of the stereo... The infotainment system in the Mini Countryman should only be operated when stopped, as it features many layers of settings and customizations. Everything from radio presets to custom driver settings and more are controlled through the touchscreen, or via a mouse-like button on the console below the shift knob. Additionally, the Park gear is not selected by physically shifting the car into Park. The Mini is parked by the click of a button labeled "P" on the shifter, something many car buyers may not care for. 

Once you get used to its quirks, the Mini Countryman is a fun little car that feels bigger than it is. It'd be perfect for the young couple who enjoys taking day trips, or someone with a long daily commute who just wants a car that'll make them smile when they walk out to it every morning.

You can check out this 2020 Mini Cooper Countryman All4 at Tim and Jerri's Auto Sales in Garden City, Kansas. 

Quick Car Review: 2014 Dodge Durango R/T

For a more than 5,000-pound SUV, the 2014 Dodge Durango R/T is a quick sucker.

I got to drive this one recently. It's on the lot right now at Tim and Jerri's Auto Sales in Garden City, KS.

The Hemi V8 provides plenty of oomph to plow asphalt with this beast -- or at least it feels like it's plowing. You might find yourself at 10 miles an hour over the speed limit without trying. The R/T Durango requires some attention when it comes to applying the gas pedal.

That being said, no finer road trip vehicle exists. The Hemi will get you around slow-moving tractor-trailers on the highway with ease, but the mid-row captain's chairs will keep your friends planted as you cruise along. Adults over six feet tall will fit comfortably in the back. A third row means this SUV seats eight total.

If your passengers aren't a fan of more intense acceleration, this Durango features an "Eco" button which relaxes the throttle and suspension, plus helps with gas mileage. The gauges are digital, as well as the climate controls and the controls for the radio, seat heaters, plus the other gadgets this car comes with that I didn't explore.

If you choose this car specifically, the black leather interior will require some cooling if you don't want your passengers (or yourself) to roast immediately upon entering on a summer's day.

The seats have a fun "R/T" logo sewn into them and are lined with baseball-type stitching. They are heated, but not cooled, which would've come in handy on the 98-degree afternoon I drove it. Thankfully the A/C system cooled the big SUV off relatively quickly.

Another mildly interesting part of the Durango is the shift knob. It's a dial that you twist to select Drive, Neutral, Reverse or Park. For an old-school car guy like me, who is used to a lever or knob to select gears, the dial feels strange. The parking brake is also electronic, in the form of a button on the center console. Both items work as designed, thankfully.

In all, a family of hereditary leadfoots would love this 2014 Dodge Durango R/T. Or if you're just a fan of SUVs (especially bright red ones) this Durango has plenty of bells, whistles and power for anyone needing a solid people-carrier and highway cruiser.

You can learn more about this vehicle and others at Tim and Jerri's Auto Sales in Garden City, KS.

Quick Car Review: 2018 Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is still a quality small car that punches above its weight.

I've not personally owned a Honda vehicle, but I've driven plenty of them. I bet I can identify driving a Honda while blindfolded -- not that I'd condone that kind of experiment.

Either way, the point is simple: A Honda Civic is always a safe bet. They're extremely reliable, economical, parts are available pretty much everywhere, and they're inexpensive to maintain. Well-kept Hondas are easily capable of lasting beyond 250,000 miles.

This black 2018 Civic has about 69,000 miles on the odometer, and it's available now at Tim and Jerri's Auto Sales in Garden City, KS. 

The most recent generations of Civic have proven to be snappy under throttle, even at a base trim level, which makes gearheads like me happy. This version is an EX trim with a sunroof and two-liter four-cylinder engine, which provides plenty of power to keep up with all traffic. The Civic's acceleration is among the highest rated in the compact car segment. The ride is also sublime, as the suspension easily soaks up all the bumps and holes in southwest Kansas roads.

Inside, the seats are tan with black accents, and they are extremely comfortable. My six-foot frame has no problem finding a relaxed driving position. The whole car feels roomier inside than it looks on the outside. I also fit behind my adjusted driver's seat, which is a nice perk for folks who carpool and commute more regularly.

I do have one nitpick, and it's something that's been previously mentioned in other long-term tests. The infotainment system -- a.k.a., the big screen that controls everything in the car (which I have an issue with regardless, but I digress) -- is a bit difficult to operate if you're not used to modern touchscreen in-car systems, which, to be honest, I'm not. 

Accessing the radio and climate controls can be a bit tricky if you're actively driving, so I recommend setting up your stereo and climate presets before taking off. If you're not technically challenged, then all of this is no big deal.

All told, anyone would be happy with this Honda Civic, including me. 

If you think you'd be pleased with this punchy car, it's available now at Tim and Jerri's Auto Sales in Garden City, KS. 

Quick Car Review: 2021 Ford EcoSport

SUVs aren't always necessary, but when they are, a small one is most fun to drive.

Case in point: This 2021 Ford EcoSport SE, available now at Tim and Jerri's Auto Sales in Garden City, KS.

I have a lot of experience driving the Ford Escape, and this EcoSport feels just like the Escape's younger sibling, a more compact SUV that would serve a young family or older couple well. 

This metallic red, front-wheel-drive compact people-carrier is fitted with a one-liter, three-cylinder EcoBoost engine that Ford uses in its smaller vehicles globally. That means it'll be efficient in town, easily touching the 30 mile-per-gallon mark with careful driving. Getting up to speed on the highway will require a touch of patience, but for most customers, this is a non-issue, as they'll appreciate getting decent mileage out of a crossover.

The front seats are comfortable for those of us who are vertically gifted, and the rear seats are great for young children or pets. The rear cargo space offers adequate storage for all the toys your kid absolutely must bring with them on road trips, and the cloth seats are easily washable in case your doggo leaps in with muddy paws.

This EcoSport, and other Ford vehicles, are equipped with an Auto Start-Stop feature. It appears as a button on the lower dash, showing the letter "A" surrounded by a circular arrow. Essentially, this feature shuts off the engine while it's idling, like when you're sitting at a stoplight for an extended period. It's an efficiency measure meant to save gas; a press of the button switches this feature off. I bet it'd be much more useful in a city, where drivers sit for hours in traffic jams.

The EcoSport doesn't drive like an Escape, even though it shares parts with its bigger sibling. It's more agile, more nimble, but a bit bouncier on rough roads. I doubt this will bother most customers, though. 

The EcoSport is plenty cute and roomy enough for most folks who seek cargo space in a small package. Plus, this example comes with a sunroof, so people can let their dogs hang out of the top and wag their tongues in the wind. Or not, it's whatever.

This 2021 Ford EcoSport SE is available now at Tim and Jerri's Auto Sales in Garden City, KS. Many thanks to them for allowing a test drive! 

Quick Car Review: Fiat 500 Convertible

I love driving a fun compact car.

I was surprised then to actually enjoy driving a convertible for the first time in my life. It came in the small pistachio-colored form of a Fiat 500C.

This 2016 model is what I'd call "pistachio" green, and it's available now at Tim and Jerri's Auto Sales in Garden City, KS. 

I wanted to test drive this car, first to see if I fit, and second to see if it was as fun to drive as it was to look at. All six-foot-two-inches of me fits behind the wheel reasonably comfortably and I appreciate the splash of matching green on the dash.

As it's a convertible, the cloth top on this 500C folds back, somewhat like the original Fiat 500 from the 1960s. With the top folded all the way back and the windows rolled down, the little car becomes quite airy and the fun factor increases. 

The Sport button on the dash helps the car come alive. It's nimble in its normal everyday mode, but when Sport is selected, the whole car tenses up like a cat ready to pounce. The pouncing, or acceleration, isn't unmanageable with the 1.4-liter, 101-horsepower four-cylinder engine. I'd recommend using Sport mode just for daily errands; there's a certain amount of fun we should allow ourselves to have during our day-to-day slogs around town.

The Fiat 500 is already an excellent city car, with nearly turn-on-a-dime steering and a standard 30 miles per gallon in town. It also earns points for being cute, with plenty of design cues inspired by the original tiny runabout. An absorbent ride, even on antique brick streets, and a quality stereo system are welcome creature comforts to the car's personality.

For the person who's happy with an efficient, cute coupe, this Fiat 500C is the perfect little pistachio to bop around in. 

This 2016 Fiat 500C is available now at Tim and Jerri's Auto Sales. Visit this link for more details.