Bedford MINI Showroom Experience Ranked Among Most Satisfactory

MINI's eccentric, fun-to-drive vehicles are known to provide satisfying driving experiences on the road and track, but according to a recently released study by J.D. Power and Associates, satisfaction also extends to the showroom. MINI dealerships ranked best among mass-market brands in the consumer information agency's U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study for the second-consecutive year, easily beating the likes of Buick, GMC and Volkswagen.

Based on survey results from 24,045 car buyers who purchased or leased a new vehicle in May 2011, the 2011 SSI explores not just those dealerships that earned business, but also dealers that were shopped and rejected. Satisfaction for rejected dealers was weighed across five measures, including the salesperson, fairness of price, facility, inventory and the negotiating experience. Meanwhile, satisfaction for dealerships that ultimately earned the shopper's business was calculated by four measures: working out the deal, salesperson, delivery process and dealership facility.

"MINI has an incredibly loyal fan base and that's partly because MINI dealerships go above and beyond to make the buying process as fun and stress free as possible," said Marshal Cabot, general manager of New Hampshire MINI dealer MINI of Bedford. "Our MINI showroom is packed with informative displays that make it easy to make an informed decision, and the MINI delivery process is something no other automaker can match."

MINI dealerships scored 723 out of a possible 1,000 points in customer satisfaction, higher than any brand in the study, including luxury marques, and this positive news comes on the heels of the automaker's impressive November sales. MINI's U.S sales were up 70.5 percent last month when compared to the same month in 2010, breaking its old record for November. All told, MINI sold 4,750 units last month compared to 2,786 the year before, thanks in large part to the perennially popular MINI Cooper Hardtop and all-weather-capable MINI Countryman.

The largest vehicle in the lineup, the 2012 MINI Countryman, is still small compared to most SUVs, but packs a lot of capability in its tidy package. With two engines to choose from, including a 1.6-liter with 121 horsepower and a turbocharged version with 181 horsepower, the Countryman combines the ability to scoot through traffic with slick road stability coming from the available ALL4 all-wheel-drive system.

Inside the Countryman, there is room for four, or even five with the optional rear bench seat, and a surprising amount of cargo room. Space is maximized with a rear-load floor that can open up to reveal a well underneath in order to fit taller items or remain down to create a flat loading surface. With the rear seats folded flat, the Countryman can hold 41.3 cubic-feet of cargo, enough space to fit the gear of hikers and bikers or a weekend's worth of home-improvement supplies.

"The Countryman packs a lot of fun and capability into a small footprint," Cabot noted. "That small size means it's still fun to drive too. It may be bigger than other models on our lot, but it's still very much a MINI."