Countryman vs classic Mini: how small is "mini"?

Wowzers. I knew that the new Mini Countryman was really quite big for something called "mini". I also realize that cars need to become bigger due to safety and all that, and that when you compare it to modern day "small" cars (the countryman is no larger than the Kia Soul, another modern, small cros-over), the Mini can't be called "large" (although there are smaller cars out there - and quite  a lot of them too). Also, I know that when car makers try and keep a car smaller than it really should be, the driving fun suffers coughFiat 500cough.

Autoexpress have now done a photoshoot with a Countryman and a classic Mini. Ouch.

Via MotoringFile.