If you’re one of the countless folks who fell in love with the Mini Cooper’s styling and performance but were put off by its minuscule dimensions, the British automaker’s new Clubman model is for you.
Mini’s engineers have stretched their wildly popular coupe to create a new station wagon-like package that’s 9.4 inches longer overall. The additional cargo capacity that comes with this growth spurt makes the Clubman a good bit more practical, as does the half-door grafted onto the passenger side that allows easier access to the much more adult-friendly back seat.
To our way of thinking, however, what hasn’t changed here is every bit as important as what has. While the entry-level Cooper Clubman is undeniably fun to drive, the 173-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder under the bonnet of the performance-oriented Cooper S model makes it the best choice for those interested in maximum grins-per-mile. Suspension, steering, shifting, and braking hardware are all very similar to the coupe, which means this newest Mini model flies down a curvy stretch of road like a four-passenger go-kart.
While we can find a few nits to pick here, we think most folks who drive the Clubman will simply be having too much fun to notice.
