Mini Clubman Review

More space for people and cargo alike as Mini’s family car grows up – and finally gets four doors

The heavily revised Clubman is now a proper four-door

14 October 2015

Top of Mini’s must-do list when it got down to work on revising the Clubman was to give it a proper set of rear doors.

The original model had just the one, which was meant to be quirky and practical at the same time – but since it was on the wrong side for left-hand-drive markets, it forced passengers to get out into the traffic.

Sure enough, the heavily revised Clubman is now a proper four-door. It also has fresher styling, more efficient engines, a bigger cabin and a longer options list – which now includes an optional eight-speed auto.

Mini Clubman out on the road

The version tested here is the higher-performance Cooper S, with its turbocharged 189bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine cranking out peak torque of 207lb ft from down at 1250rpm – while returning 45.6mpg combined.

It was mated to the standard six-speed manual, which is quick to use if a little notchy through the gates.

Thus equipped, the Clubman is a nippy little number that zips through the gears as the engine barks eagerly in the background. It stops and grips well, too – and, though it’s not quite as nimble as the smaller Mini Hatchback, it’s still a lot of fun in corners.

This is helped by precise, well weighted steering which, coupled with a longer wheelbase and suspension that keeps the body nice and flat as it changes direction, means it rides as well as it handles.

It's a nippy little number that zips through the gears as the engine barks eagerly in the background

You get to enjoy all this from within a tidy cabin whose layout, equipment and materials all feel premium.

The extra space in this revised model makes it a presentable four-seater, and it’ll even carry a fifth on a short journey – though if there’s more than two six-footers in the gang, there’ll be an unseemly squabble over who gets to sit up front.

The seats themselves are excellent, with all the support and adjustability you could want

The seats themselves are excellent, with all the support and adjustability you could ever want. And the interior revisions have yielded an extra 100 litres of boot space, giving it 360 with the seats up and 1250 when they’re stowed.

That puts it firmly in Golf territory, which is never a bad place to be. And with cruise, climate, sat-nav, Bluetooth, keyless start and USB connectivity standard on all models, the Clubman makes a convincing case for itself at the premium end of the scale.

It’s a good-looking car, too, and enjoyable to drive, so it ticks a lot of boxes. Less quirky alternatives may be more practical, but few will make you smile more.

The Cooper S we tested is the range-topper at launch, with a list price of £22,755. At the other end is the entry-level Cooper, costing £19,995, with the Cooper D slotting in between the two.

Mini Clubman Cooper S

Engine size 2.0-litre petrol

Price from £22,755

Power 189bhp

Torque 207lb ft

0-62mph 7.2 seconds

Top speed 142mph

Fuel economy 45.6mpg

CO2 144g/km

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