MINI Clubman Range
The MINI revolution was televised. It was also on-line, on the airwaves and lived out in real time on the streets around us. It took nothing more complicated than a well-judged marketing strategy and a product that was actually rather good for BMWs baby to be propelled into the nations hearts. With the trendy end of the small car market at its mercy, the mighty MINI brand was never likely to take a break and the more practical Clubman model represents its latest expansion into new territory.
Its hard to find fault with the MINI. BMW took the 60s design concept, super-sized it and made it the ultimate automotive fashion accessory for the early years of the 21st Century. If you were forced to seek out and ruthlessly expose its foibles, however, the magnifying glass would quickly turn on the cars practicality. The MINIs twin-berth moulded rear bench gives it a maximum capacity of four and legroom in the back is stingy at best compared to the top supermini contenders.
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Its basically a MINI estate. The MINI Clubman rides on MINI underpinnings so its safe to expect a driving experience in the same urgent and engaging ballpark. Changes have, however, been made to the Clubmans spring and damper rates as well as its suspension bushes to help cope with its additional bulk and slightly different remit. The car uses the same range of engines and model designations as the MINI, which means theres a 1.
6-litre 120bhp engine in the Cooper, a 1.6-litre 110bhp diesel in the Cooper D and a 175bhp 1.6-litre turbo unit in the Cooper S, which also features sporty suspension settings.
"Those who want a MINI thats a little more family-friendly have just met their match."
Despite the Clubman packing an extra 75kg over the standard MINI, performance is very similar. The Cooper S is fast enough to give the markets more sensible hot hatchback offerings something to think about with a 7.3s 0-60mph time and a 139mph top speed. Its a rewarding engine to drive, not least because of the flexibility that comes as a result of its 240NM maximum torque being constantly available from 1,600rpm all the way up to 5,000rpm.
The normally aspirated 1.6 in the Cooper is more mundane but still respectably rapid on paper. 0-60mph takes 9.8s, which compares favourably with the diesels 10.
4s showing. The Clubman is a five-door car but the doors arent exactly where youd expect them to be. Its business as usual at the front but access to the rear seating is through a single suicide door on the right-hand side. Hinged on its rearmost edge so that it opens in the opposite direction to the front doors, its positioned on the right-hand side of the Clubman and theres no equivalent on the left.
It means that rear seat passengers in right-hand drive markets like the UK are forced to exit into the road. MINI recognises the problem but explains that shifting the rear door to the left would mean relocating the fuel filler cap, the costs of which would be "prohibitive". At the back, theres more access fun and games. The Clubman employs a pair of side-hinged doors reminiscent of the old Mini Traveller. These are a key design feature of the car and the one that does most to differentiate Clubman from MINI.
They feature cut-outs for the rear light clusters that mirror those in the bonnet. Separate wipers and the doors are also framed in the same colour as the roof trim. With a longer wheelbase and around 2cm of extra roof height plus identical components as far back as the B-pillars, there doesnt seem to be much scope for the Clubman to dramatically exceed the interior space of the MINI. Crucially though, its 24cm longer overall thanks to the extended rear overhang and that has helped BMW squeeze in 8cm of extra rear legroom while upping the boot capacity from a paltry 160 litres to a respectable 260.
The rear seats take the form of a three-seater bench in the standard car but the standard MINIs two-person pods can be reinstated as a no cost option if you dont need the middle berth. Prices start at £14,235, a premium of around £1,200 over models in the standard range. Theres an initial choice of Cooper, Cooper D or Cooper S variants. The Clubman then, follows the MINI and keeps its model range simple but theres nothing simple about the vast catalogue of optional extras that customers can use to personalise their vehicle.
As for standard equipment, all models receive six airbags including curtain airbags integrated into the roof lining that protect rear seat occupants, ABS brakes, brakeforce distribution and cornering brake control. Theres also the MINI Dynamic Stability Control system that incorporates traction control, stability control and hill start assist. The Cooper models feature 15" alloys and the Cooper S gets 16" items. The Clubman features an integrated package of technologies designed to maximise efficiency and reduce running costs. In the BMW model range its called EfficientDynamics. In the MINI it isnt but its no less impressive or effective.
Brake energy regeneration uses energy recovered under braking and low engine loads to recharge the Clubmans battery so that the engine can divert more of its efforts to powering the car. Auto Start-Stop switches the engine off automatically when the clutch is released and the gearbox is in neutral, reducing fuel consumption when the Clubman is stuck in traffic or waiting at the lights. Finally, the Gearshift Point Indicator shows the driver when to change up or down for optimum efficiency and all of the above works in tandem with the Clubmans highly advanced engines. The end result of all these small systems is big.
Fuel economy across the range is exemplary with the petrol Cooper returning 51.4mpg on the combined cycle with 132g/km emissions and even the fiery Cooper S managing a creditable 44.8mpg and 150g/km. The star of the show, predictably is the 68.
9mpg Cooper D with its cleanly 109g/km emissions. Insurance groupings are the same as those of the standard MINI, which means a range between 5 and 15 depending on the model you choose. Simply stretching out the standard car by another few centimetres to create the Clubman wouldnt have been very MINI would it? Sure enough, the designers have done their damnedest to make the Clubman a distinct and desirable model in its own right. The result is unquestionably odd but its also definitely a MINI and weve already seen how the buying public react to those.
The combination of unorthodox access points is certainly interesting but there is a question over whether they add anything in practicality over the conventional five-door hatchback layout favoured by all the MINIs rivals. The rear door can only be opened once the front door ahead of it is too and then passengers are forced to exit into the road which is less than ideal. What isnt in doubt is that it will be the Clubmans individual design and polished engineering that will seduce buyers. Those who want a super-practical MPV should buy one.
Those who want a MINI thats a little more family-friendly have just met their match.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: MINI Clubman range
PRICES: £14,235-£17,210 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 8-15
CO2 EMISSIONS: 109-150g/km
PERFORMANCE: [Cooper] Max Speed 125mph / 0-60mph 9.8s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [Cooper] 39.8mpg (urban) / 62.8mpg (extra urban) / 51.4mpg (combined)
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Six airbags, ABS with EBD and CBC, DSC, runflat tyres
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 3937/1683/1426
