Mini Cooper Clubman

The Mini Cooper is hip, quick, and efficient—a great option for those in search of high mpg and style. Unfortunately, the Cooper's lack of cargo space and legroom kills the deal for many car buyers. Mini addresses these shortcomings with the Mini Cooper Clubman by delivering the same iconic Mini Cooper, but with a longer body (9.5 inches longer) and longer wheelbase (by 3 inches). The Clubman also adds 2.5 inches of knee room in back and 50 percent more cargo space behind the rear seat.

This game of inches, a little bit here and little there, adds a modicum of practicality and access while retaining the cool factor. In fact, the vehicle’s unique five-door design—featuring a single pint-size club door on the passenger side and a pair of stylish swing-out doors in the rear—adds to the hipness.

Available in both standard and S (for Sport) versions, the Clubman offers the same two powerplants found in the smaller Cooper models. There’s a 116 horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, and 172 horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. Although the Clubman is bigger than its Cooper siblings, it has identical quickness and speed.

Power is managed by either a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission, both resulting in high fuel economy—on par with the smaller Cooper and Cooper S. The standard Clubman gives 28 city/37 highway, while the sportier Clubman S rates 26 miles to the gallon in the city and 34 on the highway.

Riding on the same suspension as the Cooper, the Clubman displays a high degree of agility and handling. It is very responsive to driver inputs and has superb cornering skills. And because of its longer wheelbase, the Clubman grants a softer, more comfortable ride. That makes the Mini Cooper Clubman better suited to road trips and long commutes.

Antilock brakes with cornering control and electronic brake-force distribution come standard, as does Dynamic Stability Control in case you get a little too carried away on curvy country roads. This feature also helps in gripping the pavement under challenging road conditions.

The Clubman’s build quality is world-class. Mini is owned by BMW, and the two companies share the same high standards for engineering.

The Clubman is one of the most innovative new cars on the road. It is as cool and athletic as the Cooper, while adding a unique, head-turning body style and a shot of versatility.

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