When the most practical and somewhat conventional model in a brand’s range comes with six doors and four window wipers, it’s only natural to ask yourself – what kind of eccentric manufacturer is this? The answer is short and simple – MINI. Ever since it came under the control of BMW, the brand has been developing extremely well and, in the meantime, created a movement in the automotive world that many manufacturers later joined – the one centred around premium, fashionable city cars using retro styling cues to attract customers.
In typical German fashion, BMW’s management did not settle for just the classic body styles – the three-door hatch and convertible. Over the years they added a number of models and variations, such as the compact crossover Countryman, the bizarre three-door SUV-coupe-hatch Paceman, as well as a modern interpretation of the Traveller, which MINI named Clubman – a model with a somewhat unclear purpose, one door on the left, one and a half doors on the right, and two doors for the boot. And let’s not forget the Coupe and Roadster, which remained genuine rarities on the road.
Despite the expansion of the range, I would argue that the brand managed to preserve its identity. In fact, I respect BMW quite a lot for the way it handles the brands it acquires, because it genuinely tries to preserve their essence and spirit – something extremely valuable nowadays (especially when we have the Volkswagen Group regularly showing us examples of how brand identity can be diluted).
So perhaps MINI decided they had gone a little too far with the previous Clubman, because the second generation suddenly became the most practical MINI ever built, as well as the largest MINI ever produced.
Design
The most controversial aspect of the Clubman is undoubtedly its exterior design. On one hand, I hear opinions from people who absolutely love it, while on the other there are those who openly dislike it. Where do I stand? It’s difficult to answer. I don’t like the fact that the model has become more conventional, but there are details I find very attractive. At the same time, I’m not particularly fond of the silhouette. Then I look at the Clubman from a certain angle and think, “actually, it looks fantastic”, take a photo from that exact angle, look at the image on my camera and say, “that’s awful”.
Objectively speaking though, the Clubman is essentially a compact estate car with subtle crossover-inspired elements in its lines. The front end follows MINI’s current design language but is noticeably wider. Combined with the large bonnet, which reduces the number of panel gaps, it creates a very distinctive presence. When I stand directly in front of the car and look at it, it feels as though some exotic sports car is sitting in front of me – something like a Spyker C8, for example.
Then I move to the side, where I’m greeted by a completely different character. Personally, I think there is something slightly wrong and un-MINI-like in the side profile – it feels too simplified and overly boxy.
At least when I look at the Clubman from the rear, it becomes obvious why the side profile is somewhat understated – the entire design team was clearly focused on the back of the car, creating something genuinely different and, I dare say, very beautiful in a typically MINI way.
The boot features the distinctive double rear doors known from the Clubman and Traveller, as well as very unique rear lights.
Interior
While the exterior design may divide opinions, I think the interior will win over most people. The design is impressive, with an enormous number of details that have clearly received special attention. The atmosphere reminds you of luxurious hand-crafted products from the past, although this is mainly due to the design itself, because the materials are fairly standard for the Clubman’s price category.
The increased amount of space compared to the standard MINI models is immediately noticeable, especially in the second row, where two adults can travel in relative comfort. The rear seats are slightly short and low, but that is perfectly normal for a car of this size. As for practicality, the Clubman’s cabin offers a good number of storage compartments, cupholders and pockets, while the door bins are extremely wide. On top of that, the driving position is excellent, the ergonomics are very good, and the infotainment system features intuitive controls with a very pleasant rotary controller.
As expected, MINI has paid special attention to the ambient lighting. In this case we have the highest available specification, including illuminated trim pieces in the doors. At first glance it may seem a bit excessive, but in reality it is a pleasant feature that complements the atmosphere inside the car very well. The part of the lighting that I personally find slightly overdone is the LED ring around the infotainment display – it reminds me a bit of a neon sign from some legendary place on Bulgaria’s southern Black Sea coast – Kiten, for example.
And finally, I want to pay special attention to the engine start button. Unless you are a fighter jet pilot, when was the last time you saw something like this?
On the road
Let’s get to the important part – the Clubman is a car built for driving. Contrary to my expectations, the increased wheelbase and more comfort-oriented suspension have not resulted in negative consequences for the handling or driving enjoyment. The Clubman feels extremely tight and composed on the road, cornering with barely noticeable body roll, while sudden direction changes are not accompanied by even the slightest wobble. The one thing that could be considered a drawback is the understeer, which, when driving close to the car’s limits, can appear more suddenly than expected and may straighten out a corner or two 🙂 Then again, anyone wanting to drive at the absolute limit should probably set aside a weekend trip to the circuit in Serres.
For the main drive, I chose a varied route, including a first-class road from Sofia to Zlatitsa, where I had the chance both for economical driving and for making good use of the 192 horsepower on several uphill sections with corners. Afterwards, I headed towards Panagyurishte via what looked like the remains of something that may once have resembled a road about 20–25 years ago. Finally, I finished the drive on the Trakia Motorway from Pazardzhik back to Sofia.
I began the test with relaxed driving at 100 km/h, where fuel consumption was 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres. I noticed that relatively high levels of road noise entered the cabin (with winter tyres fitted), but intrusive aerodynamic noise was absent, while the engine itself was barely audible because, in eighth gear at 100 km/h, it was operating at just 1,800 rpm.
Once I reached the first corners after Sarantsi, I switched into Sport mode while leaving the gearbox in automatic and pushed the Cooper a bit harder. At that point, the dominant sound inside the cabin became the engine. Thanks to a few tricks allowing a small amount of unburnt fuel to enter the exhaust system, the car produces a dramatic soundtrack accompanied by crackles from the exhaust. Overall, on a road like this the car delivers a huge amount of enjoyment and, although 192 hp and 280 Nm of torque may not sound particularly impressive on paper, they are entirely sufficient for the Cooper S. In fact, the subjective feeling during acceleration is that the car is actually slightly faster than the official 7.6 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h.
I believe the all-wheel-drive version that MINI introduced recently might actually suit the Clubman even better, as it would probably eliminate the understeer I mentioned earlier. As for fuel consumption after the more spirited driving, the trip computer showed 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres from the outskirts of Sofia to Panagyurishte, including a little economical driving, rather more highly uneconomical driving, and mostly “normal” driving.
On the motorway, meanwhile, the Clubman revealed a far more mature character. Thanks to its wider track and longer wheelbase, the car feels more stable, while aerodynamic noise has been significantly reduced compared to the previous generation. In fact, the Clubman is now a car capable of covering long motorway distances without compromising comfort. Perhaps the only compromise here was fuel consumption, which at an average speed of 139.8 km/h reached 9.4 litres per 100 kilometres. Anyone wanting to travel quickly on the motorway while saving fuel will need to look towards the diesel versions.
The problem with the diesel variants is that they simply cannot replicate the Cooper S factor delivered by the turbocharged petrol engine, nor can they provide a sound like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6kXWzsTtPw
Conclusion
The Clubman has evolved into the MINI model offering the most value for its price and is undoubtedly the champion when it comes to the doors-to-price ratio. The model has lost quite a lot of the charm of the previous generation, but BMW is a company that knows how to sell cars, generate revenue, and still create loyal fans.
Nevertheless, the Clubman remains a pure-bred MINI with all its characteristic traits, especially its driving behaviour. The model will appeal to people who have always wanted a MINI but considered the standard models too expensive for their size. It will also appeal to those who like the brand but need a more practical car. For example, the most common vehicle in the car park at my college accommodation in Oxford was actually the standard three-door MINI Cooper. Those same people now need something larger, capable of carrying a baby stroller, for instance (or 2–3 pairs of skis in my case). Now they can finally have that practicality without sacrificing the “MINI fun” they are used to.
Eng. Tsvetan Iliev
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