Mini clubman 2015 review

It’s comfortable, quirky and still has that degree of excitement. It competes with premium hatchback rivals like the Audi ASportback and Mercedes A-Class. Mini Clubman Cooper S Automatic review.

Mini ’s estate grows up, gains space and an extra door and packs a bigger engine for this sporting. It looks great and comes with plenty of kit but more traditional alternatives are cheaper and more practical.

Instead of a quirky yet compromised estate, the new Clubman is more like a conventional small family car, with the added bonus of a luxurious interior. Now sized and priced to to attract drivers of premium hatchbacks, has the Clubman got the wherewithal to upset the establishment? Like the Mini hatch, the Clubman models are built here in the UK at Mini ’s factory in Cowley, Oxfordshire. Mini is still very much an iconic brand to the ageing baby boomer generation so the extra doors and increased interior space will no doubt attract many back to a vehicle that they had – literally in many cases – outgrown.

Good points: Interior is high quality and reasonably spacious, particularly good space in back seat for a car this size. We tell you what you need to know before you buy. Unlike a VW Golf or Ford Focus, it had a solitary rear passenger door – labelled ‘suicide’ by some wags – because when Mum or Dad parked against the kerb in the direction of travel, to unload at the school gates, the children had to climb out into the roa rather than onto the pavement.

Chris heads up a team of motoring correspondents under the Driving Force.

Better than a mini hatch for practicality but increased weight means performance takes a hit. It doesn’t look as cool as the three-door, but it ain’t a Clubman or Countryman either. At the moment, in Cooper guise, it’s the cheapest five. The expert What Car? I moved over from a Golf 1. A cool one, yes, but it was cramped inside and had that wonky, single rear suicide door that opened on the driver’s side into traffic.

Things are much more conventional with this new model. However, even a judicious run-through of the options list can easily kick that out well past $40– squarely in Golf GTI territory. This latest model also benefitted from Mini ’s all-wheel drive system, giving drivers additional traction in slippery conditions should they want it.

A small rear-hinged door on the right side helps rear access. If you know what you are getting into beforehan the Countryman does not disappoint. And importantly, one that still handles like a go-kart.

Now, just because this is the most practical Mini going don’t think that designers and engineers forgot about what a Mini stands for. HP meaning it will get from 0-62MPH in just 7. This second-generation model not only corrects that. Cooper rose from 1to 122bhp and the Cooper S model stepped up from 1to 184bhp.

Because even though it looks largely the same as the old one, it has almost a THIRD more power and torque. It is more than just a lifestyle car. Moreover the Clubman offers an abundance of driving pleasure.

Thanks to Efficient Dynamics the Clubman is not only quick, but also exceptionally economical. This initial acquaintance with the latest-generation Cooper S Clubman serves only to tantilise. Let’s hope it translates to Aussie conditions so well. Alborz Fallah Founder - Review Gallery.

It’s good to drive, comfortable and practical enough for a family. After the current Countryman SUV , the Clubman is one of the larger models that Mini offers. Average owner rating: 4. Stylish family car feels upmarket and is fun to drive Compare offers Read.

Mini John Cooper Works Review. Long Term Perspective. Owner rating: star 7. MINI Clubman Owner Reviews.