Up to this point, Mini has been resourceful enough to keep its iconic Cooper model from turning into a retro pet rock. That's not as easy a task as it might seem to the casual onlooker. After all, what do you do once you've produced a normal Mini, a hopped-up S model and a convertible?
In Mini's case, you follow with the Clubman, a five-door, stretched wagon that adds convenience to the original formula without lessening the playful image. In fact, the Clubman adds its own quirkiness to the successful formula. Since there's a super high performance John Cooper model in the lineup, I have no idea what the Cooper will do for yet another encore - but I'm sure it will be fun.
The new Clubman brings more convenience to the Cooper range by providing easier access to the surprisingly spacious rear seat. After the right passenger door is opened, a smaller door, popularized in pickup truck duty, allows a wide opening to the rear. And the Clubman's nearly 10-inch gain in overall length leaves enough room for luggage with the rear seats erect.
I drove the S-trim version, which is powered by the turbocharged, 172-horsepower engine that helped the Clubman merge briskly into fast highway traffic. Mini's close ratio six-speed transmission was just the right choice to find the perfect gear for quick getaways, and the Sport package added 17-inch wheels with performance tires for great grip. The suspension was also tightened up without creating too harsh a ride.
From a driver's standpoint, it's impossible to tell the difference between the Clubman and standard Mini.
What is different, of course, is the added space inside. When you're not hauling friends and their belongings, the little Clubman can accommodate an unexpected amount of freight.
On a trip home from a recent Sunday event, we stopped at Home Depot to pick up an eight-foot lighting track. After quickly folding the rear seats, the long tube slid easily into the right footwell against the center stack, allowing the rear doors to close. By the way, those clever rear doors close over the taillights to provide wide access to the larger storage space. But this kind of storage capacity is impressive. Many pickup trucks won't accommodate an eight-foot object in the bed, and, let's face it, none get 34 miles per gallon on the highway.
Even small families will take advantage of this space. As a recent Clubman buyer who posted at Edmunds.com said, "Great vehicle. I always wanted a Mini but needed to be able to transport my two boys in the back. The Clubman was the answer."
Of course, all this fun and flexibility comes at a price. Our test Mini retailed for nearly $30,000, a number that may seem breathtaking to some readers. The standard Mini Clubman starts with a $20,600 MSRP and if you watch the options, shouldn't cost more than $23,000.
I expect that the Clubman S will compete successfully against other built-for-fun alternatives such as Volvo's C30 T5, Audi's A3 and Mazda's Mazdaspeed 3. All are quick, nimble and deliver excellent fuel economy.
Ultimately, when looking at the Clubman's price, keep in mind the vehicle's winning combination. The Clubman may be longer and more versatile than the regular or S models, but it easily retains all of the fun you'd expect from a Mini.
Fuel economy: City: 26, Highway: 34
Base MSRP: $23,450
Motormouth: Oil type not an issue
