From July, MINI will be increasing its range of all-wheel drive models by offering both the Cooper Countryman and Cooper Paceman with the company's ALL4 drivetrain.

The latest models bring MINI's ALL4 range up to a total of ten examples; with other all-wheel drive versions of the Countryman and Paceman coming in Cooper D, Cooper S, Cooper SD and John Cooper Works guises.

Whilst the added traction of the ALL4 system gives drivers reassurance on slippery and twisty surfaces, both the Countryman and Paceman have suffered on the performance front. Fed through its standard six-speed manual gearbox, the 112hp, 1.6-litre engine provides a 0-62mph acceleration time for the two-wheel drive Cooper Paceman of 10.4 seconds. The new ALL4 version takes 11.8 seconds to reach the same speed.

Fuel economy has also deteriorated due to the new system. In front-drive form, the Cooper Paceman manages 47.1mpg on the combined cycle, but can only achieve 40.9mpg when fitted with the extra hardware.

Bearing this in mind, are the new entry-level ALL4 models really worth it? Those who want a sporty all-wheel drive MINI will likely opt for the top spec John Cooper Works version; while everyone else will probably pick the torque-rich diesel models.

James Giddings - 4 Jun 2013