Mini Cooper Clubman road test review
Mini has experimented with an expanded line-up in recent years.
The Cabrio was the obvious first choice but where to after that? Mini's first idea was the Clubman - a longer version of the hatch with a suicide door hidden behind the driver's door and a unique barn door tailgate.
Designed to be a more family-friendly Mini its unusual layout instead just made it a slightly odd and slightly larger version of the three-door hatch.
For the second generation Clubman things have changed dramatically - and conventionally. Now a more traditional five-door layout (technically, six-door as the barn doors have been retained) with four conventional passenger doors.
The Clubman continues despite the introduction of the five-door Mini hatch and is longer than that model - 270mm longer, 90mm wider and has a 100mm longer wheelbase.
So does this new, more normal Clubman make more sense now?
What do you get?
The new Clubman range is starting off simple. There are only two models to choose; the base three-cylinder Cooper (tested here) and the sportier, four-cylinder Cooper S.
The Cooper is priced from $34,990 and comes equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control airconditioning, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth, cloth trim, keyless ignition and a six-speaker stereo with a 6.5-inch infotainment screen.
On the safety front both models come standard with forward collision warning, six airbags, stability control and dynamic traction control with electronic differential lock control.
Stepping up to the $42,990 Cooper S brings a more powerful engine plus cloth and leather trim, John Cooper Works steering wheel, navigation and 17-inch alloy wheels plus other trim embellishments.
True to Mini's personalisation mantra there is a long list of options to add to your Clubman. Our test car had $1300 "special" paint, $1500 sports seats, $290 Chrome line interior, $250 Chrome line exterior, $1700 Pepper Package that adds larger wheels, keyless tailgate access and the boldly named 'Mini Excitement Package' plus a $3650 Multimedia package with navigation, heads up display, digital radio and 12-speaker harman/kardon sound system. All up our test car totalled $49,040 plus on-road costs, which makes a big dent in its value argument.
What's inside?
It is a little difficult to assess the interior of the Clubman Cooper as our tested car had optional seats, leather upholstery, chrome and piano black trim, navigation, larger infotainment screen, a better sound system and heads-up display.
But if you look beyond those extras there is still plenty to like in the new Clubman. The presentation stays true to Mini's roots with the round dials and infotainment screen housed inside a large round centre pod.
There are other nice touches too, like the toggle switches for the start button and other auxiliary functions, but thankfully the electric window buttons have been move to the door.
But the more important feature of the Clubman is the back seat space. With the extra 100mm of wheelbase, Mini has liberated more rear legroom and the extra width means more shoulder room.
It makes the Clubman a genuine small car and a true rival to the likes of the Volkswagen Golf, Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
The boot measures a handy 350-litres and expands to 1250L win the rear seats folded down.
The barn doors aren't as convenient as a traditional hatch, requiring you to open each separately, and take a bit of force to close. But they do give the Clubman a unique character and help differentiate it from the five-door Mini hatch and the Countryman SUV.
Under the bonnet
The Cooper gets the same engine from the Mini hatch, a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit that is a cracker.
Good for a respectable 100kW at 4400rpm it also boasts peak torque of 220Nm from just 1250rpm. Paired with an intuitive and well sorted six-speed automatic transmission the Cooper Clubman feels strong off the mark and is flexible on the move.
Even with a couple of extra occupants, not to mention the extra weight of the Clubman over the Mini hatch, the three-cylinder never feels like it is struggling.
Despite the extra size and weight of the Clubman it remains a fuel efficient small car, using 5.4-litres per 100km.
On the road
Mini prides itself on its 'go-kart handling' which translates to extremely responsive steering and a sharp ride. The Clubman still feels responsive but the steering is slightly slower and the stretched wheelbase makes it fractionally more secure when cornering.
The trade-off for that is a more relaxed driving experience compared to the hatch, as the Clubman feels more refined and more like its small car competitors.
The steering is still nicely weighted and offers good feedback for a small car. Our test car had optional Dynamic Damper Control ($700) and 18-inch alloys which makes a fair assessment of the standard 16-inch shod Clubman.
But the car we did drive still featured the typical Mini sharp ride, with firm suspension that has a tendency to get unsettled by repeated smaller bumps.
It isn't uncomfortable but nor is it the type of compliant ride you find in the car's more mainstream rivals, but it does ensure the Clubman stays true to the Mini character. Ultimately all that adds up to a small car that is fun and engaging to drive.
Verdict
The old Clubman made very little sense. It wasn't as small as a Mini hatch, wasn't as big as a small car and the suicide door was on the wrong side for Australia.
The new Clubman is more sensible in its layout but still retains the unique character and charm of the Mini.
In terms of space and driving dynamics it is a rival to both luxury and mainstream competitors. But it's value equation, especially once you start adding options, isn't as strong and should ensure the Clubman remains a niche offering.
2015 Mini Cooper Clubman pricing and specifications
Price: From $34,900 plus on-road costs
Engine: 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol
Power: 100kW at 4400rpm
Torque: 220Nm at 1250rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Fuel use: 5.4L/100km
Pros
Trademark funky looks, fun to drive, no more suicide door.
Cons
Expensive options, ride is still too firm at times, barn doors gimmicky.
The Competitors
Audi A1 Sportback 1.8TFSI S Line
Price: $39,900 plus on-road costs
Engine: 1.8-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Power: 141kW at 5400rpm
Torque: 250Nm at 1250-5300rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, all-wheel drive
Fuel use: 5.6L/100km
Our score: 6.5/10
BMW 118i
Price: From $36,900 plus on-road costs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Power: 177kW at 5800rpm
Torque: 340Nm at 1750rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Fuel use: 7.8L/100km
Our score: 7/10
Volkswagen Golf 110TSI Highline
Price: From $32,990 plus on-road costs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Power: 177kW at 5800rpm
Torque: 340Nm at 1750rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Fuel use: 7.8L/100km
Our score: 7.5/10