I wanted a black Mini Cooper JPS Special when I was a kid but it would have been my first car so my father and the insurance companies soon put paid to that idea so I had a rant about how unfair life was, stomped off and never looked at a MINI again. That was in the days before BMW took over MINI and gave this little car a whole new lease of life with German quality and, most important of all, fun motoring the priority.
They have done a terrific job in creating a whole new era for MINI which is now as much a fashion statement as it is a car. I have to be honest here because I happen to think that no matter how good they are BMW sort of lost control of the breeding programme with the result that the production line spat out some MINIs that were, well, a bit weird looking. Thankfully, they still produce the spirited MINI Cooper S JCW and a few special editions that concentrate on performance but, frankly, I wouldn’t have walked to the end of the street to drive any of the other models…until now.
I wasn’t expecting to like the MINI Clubman, mainly because I had a preconceived idea that it would look a bit odd but when it was delivered I was pleasantly surprised to see a machine that looked a bit special sitting on the drive. It is bigger than most MINIs, in fact it is the roomiest MINI ever built, with even more space than the one that thinks it’s an SUV – the Countryman. It looks compact and sporty, particularly in the spec which you can see in the pictures and the unusual rear-doors give it a really distinctive and classy look.
Essentially this is MINI’s attempt at making sure they hang on to their fairly young customer base, who drive around in these fun-mobiles when they are young, single and fancy free, when they decide to have families and may start looking for a bigger vehicle. The MINI Clubman is actually the same size as a VW Golf and has been deliberately pitched into that market as a premium family car that retains the MINI characteristics that has made it so successful.
Because it is built by BMW you can be sure that the build quality will be first class and I have to say that the design of the Clubman is absolutely spot on, particularly with the optional John Cooper Works trim. It is an attractive vehicle from any angle and those rear doors which open a bit like van or barn doors are fab.
There is a slight visibility problem with the centre-divider on the rear doors but it’s not a big issue and the aesthetic value you get from the rear outweighs any niggles you might have about not being able to see quite as clearly as you would like. It certainly, in my view, does not present a safety issue.
The Clubman actually has six doors and has ditched the suicide side-doors its predecessor had. Inside, it is immediately clear that this is a premium vehicle and great leather seats, nice trim and a classic MINI feel. It is also extremely spacious with easily enough room for three passengers in the back. Open the rear doors, which can be done automatically with a button on the key fob, and you will find a good size boot.
There is a new centre console which provides more storage space and houses the gear lever, drive mode and infotainment controller. The red ignition switch is found on the centre dash with other buttons and then there is the now iconic circular instrument interface with an LED light border which dominates the interior and changes colour when you select different items, rev the engine, change drive modes, receive a telephone call, change radio station, etc, etc. All very exciting if you are into that sort of thing.
The infotainment set-up is first class with a really good satellite navigation system and excellent connectivity. Like all MINIs it handles superbly and is great fun to drive. It has a 2-litre, four-cylinder engine which has 192bhp and 280nm of torque, enough to get from 0-100kmh in 7.2 seconds.
There is an Eco drive mode which will provide more fuel efficiency and is good for long journeys but for darting around town stick to Sport mode which tightens everything up and delivers that go-kart like handling MINIs are famous for via the excellent 8-speed automatic gearbox. There is an optional all-wheel-drive system but the standard car comes with front-wheel-drive.
I was really impressed with the Clubman because it is everything a MINI should be but the extra space, fantastic rear doors and sporty appearance make it really stand out from the crowd as a car young families will really enjoy owning.
If I was to fault this MINI then it would be the price because starting at Dh140,000 it ain’t cheap and for that sort of money there are plenty of alternatives although not many vehicles out there can match the cheeky personality, fun factor and individual charisma this not so mini, MINI exudes. I loved it.
