MINI Cooper S Clubman Review
03-September-2011
- Vital Stats
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$43,800 - $43,800
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Petrol
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Big for a MINI
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3
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Ever tried to cram a few kids and a week's worth of grocery bags into a MINI? Enough said.
Rejoice all ye families who have yearned to own a MINI yet alas, could only ever dream of driving one. The Clubman is finally here, allowing you to realise your dream and live large. Or at least a little larger.
Starting at $43,800, the MINI Cooper S Clubman is the latest in MINI style and with this little (big) number, function meets fashion with a good dollop of fun-factor indicative of the MINI brand. Now, whoever said having a family meant slowing down?
Style & drive
There are two kinds of people in the world - those who love a MINI and those who don't. For those who love the rounded, classic, retro-look of a MINI, the Clubman is going to tickle your fancy. To be clear, the Clubman is not rounder, it's bigger.
The major difference with the Clubman is of course the size. Seating 4, the Clubman has plenty of interior space, measuring 240 mm longer than the standard Cooper - 77mm of which has gone into rear legroom.
MINIs can be quirky, and the Clubman is no exception. For example, the third-door (rear passenger door) strangely is on the driver's side and could be a real cause of concern, esp. for children passengers exiting the vehicle roadside.
Interestingly, the boot opens fridge-like from the inside out and proves quite practical - it's surprisingly easy to load and when the seats fold down, there's plenty of space (930 litres), easily fitting a pram or bike. Not bad for a MINI.
Inside, included is the iconic groovy speedometer in the middle of the dashboard; along with interior LED lighting and a soft, on-trend duco and trim.
Yet, as it is a MINI, let's face it - it's all about the drive. MINI lovers pay thousands extra for it and so it's gotta be fun to drive, right? The good news is the Clubman is no exception, accelerating like a rocket (it reaches 100 km/h from a standing start in 7.6 seconds), handling like a dream and kicking some serious booty when it comes to cornering. Vision is excellent.
Safety
The MINI Clubman comes with 6 airbags; stability control, brake assist driving and electronic brakeforce distribution.
Eco
The Clubman earns 4.5 green stars sipping 6.7 per 100 km.
3 words to describe this car:
Cute
Fun
Zippy.
What are the best things about this car?
Its fabulous interior design and style - not to mention the fierce drive.
What are the downsides of this car?
The strange side door takes a bit of getting used to.
What kind of petrol does it use?
Unleaded.
Liked it?
Who could hate driving a MINI?
If personified, who would this car be?
Dannii Minogue - still cute in a family way.
Soundtrack of choice for the MINI Clubman?
In keeping with the Minogue clan - Kylie Minogue - Aphrodite.
