MINI Clubman Cooper test drive, maximising resources

This week in the Highmotor test section we have with us an original proposal from an original manufacturer.

Yes, we are talking about MINI, and one of its most special models, the Clubman, in its Cooper version, powered by a 136 CV petrol engine.

Exterior design, original and full of personality

The second-generation Clubman broadly retains the personality and characteristic traits shown by the first generation. The Clubman’s front end is typically MINI, with all the elements that make up the “expression” of any model from the British brand.

The nose is formed by a generously sized grille, framed by a chrome moulding and accompanied by a small, elongated air intake. The main headlights, which on this unit feature LED technology, are once again placed higher up on the front end, almost at the “shoulders” of the wheel arches. The fog lights sit at the extremities, emphasising the sense of width.

The Clubman cannot hide its MINI roots
The side of the Clubman enjoys the typical MINI lines, with a fairly vertical A-pillar, forming a very sharp angle with both the wings and the roof. The mirrors are mounted on the door and finished in gloss black, as are the pillars, which thus give a “floating roof” sensation.

The wheel arches are finished with textured black mouldings, which combine perfectly with the 17-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels on our unit, finished in gloss black. The “gill” present at the lower part of the front wheel arches stands out, creating a very appealing sense of “muscle”.

The rear is arguably the most controversial and personal part of the ensemble, especially in this second generation, having lost its door layout and adopted a conventional four-door system with standard opening. At the rear, however, the split-opening system, in the style of a van, is retained.

The rear lights abandon their former position at the extremities and move to the tailgate, in a horizontal rather than vertical layout. We still have the two small wipers and an opening system that, although original, is not especially practical. It is a highly assisted system: you only need to press the handles for the tailgate to open fully.

At the bottom we find a bumper once again finished with an unpainted black edge, integrating the number plate and small auxiliary light clusters to signal when the boot doors are open. There is also the typical round exhaust outlet with a chrome finish.

Interior design, very MINI and surprisingly spacious

Just looking at the bodywork makes you want to climb inside the MINI. As soon as you open the door, you realise you are facing a cabin designed to match perfectly both the exterior design of the car and the approach of any model from the brand, while retaining a very original touch.

Build quality has improved considerably
If there is one thing that distinguishes the latest batch of MINI models, it is the great leap in the build quality of their interiors, which until now suffered from very poor perceived quality for the price of these models. This has changed radically with the arrival of the latest models from the brand, which now offer build quality that lives up to expectations.

The design is 100% MINI, with a large circular display as the central axis of the entire dashboard. In these new MINIs the instrumentation has been moved behind the steering wheel, moving in unison with the steering column and thus maintaining correct visibility whatever the height of the wheel.

The materials used to upholster the interior are generally very pleasant to the touch. The upper parts of both the doors and the dashboard feature padded plastics, while harder plastics are used for less visible areas, all of which are well fitted together.

The interior of any MINI stands out for its numerous decorative mouldings, and the Clubman is no exception. This has a positive side, as it generally greatly improves the visual appearance of the cabin. However, if these mouldings are not perfectly fitted, they will be a constant source of creaks and rattles.

In this case, all the mouldings, both on the dashboard and on the doors, are securely fixed to their structure. There is no shortage of other brand “trademarks”, such as rocker-switch-shaped buttons or the round door handles. Another trademark of modern MINIs is the ambient lighting, which is becoming increasingly widespread. The Clubman even has backlit mouldings, creating a visually very attractive atmosphere.

The Clubman’s interior space is genuinely surprising for a MINI, as the cabin comfortably accommodates four adults in both the front and rear rows, thanks to generous headroom and legroom.

The Clubman’s boot offers 360 litres, of fairly regular and usable shape, with additional storage in the sides and inside both tailgate doors. The floor also has a double bottom, ideal for storing small items you prefer not to leave on show.

Driving dynamics, go-kart feeling

The MINI Clubman begs for bends. It is a fact: you only need to start the engine and drive a few metres to realise that the brand’s driving spirit remains virtually intact in this very original variant.

The second-generation MINI Clubman is built on the UKL2 platform, the same one used by models such as the MINI Countryman, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and the BMW X1. This platform differs from the UKL1 used by the 3- and 5-door MINI hatchbacks, as well as the MINI Convertible.

Without being as agile as a 3-door MINI, the Clubman offers a great driving experience
The Clubman’s chassis retains the qualities of every member of the MINI family, with commendable rigidity carried through to a suspension layout comprising a MacPherson strut at the front and an independent multi-link system at the rear axle.

Mechanically, the current generation of the MINI family has been the first in the model’s history to adopt a three-cylinder engine. On this occasion, our unit features a 1.5 three-cylinder engine producing 136 CV, the same engine used across all petrol Cooper models regardless of which MINI you choose. This same powerplant can also be found in various BMW models, from the 1 Series to the i8.

It delivers the aforementioned 136 CV at 4,400 rpm, with a maximum torque of 220 Nm at 2,500 rpm, and in our case it is paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.1 seconds, reaching a top speed of 205 km/h. Due to the added weight, the Clubman loses some of the traditional MINI’s sparkle, but the figures it achieves are more than sufficient for agile performance.

On the road, the MINI Clubman feels genuinely good. The longer wheelbase, which on this model measures 2.67 metres, together with its more generous dimensions, means the Clubman has less pointed responses than a 3-door MINI, yet it retains the innate agility that characterises every model from the brand.

The presence of a drive mode system called MINI Driving Modes stands out, giving access to three different settings — Green, Mid and Sport — for both steering assistance and accelerator pedal response and, where fitted, the adaptive suspension.

The small engine produces a pleasant sound, transmitting hardly any vibration into the cabin. The gearbox, which offers a very direct feel, also features an assistance system that automatically adjusts engine revs to match the speed you select, eliminating the jerks that often occur, especially when downshifting. The system works well provided the manoeuvre is not carried out too abruptly.

The Clubman’s dynamic behaviour matches its approach perfectly: while it offers good comfort on long journeys, it can put a smile on your face when the road twists, letting you play with the steering and pedals to trace a line with absolute precision. Its only drawback is a suspension that is occasionally too firm in certain situations.

In our view, the Clubman’s fuel consumption is quite modest. It is homologated at 6.2 litres/100 km in urban driving, 4.4 litres/100 km on the extra-urban cycle and 5.1 litres/100 km on the combined cycle, which, although not real-world figures, give an idea of what this engine is capable of. In town you will be around 7.5 litres, while on the open road it will be hard to go below 6 litres, resulting in an average consumption that will hardly exceed 7 litres unless you do a lot of city driving.

Range and versions: how much does the unit you see cost?

The MINI Clubman range starts at €24,500, corresponding to the One version with 102 CV. Diesel engines start from €25,500, the price of the One D with 116 CV. If you opt for the Cooper variants, prices start at €26,950 with a petrol engine and €29,150 with a 143 CV diesel engine.

The most powerful versions are the Cooper S (€30,650 in petrol) and the Cooper SD, priced at €32,700. If you still want more, you can opt for the Clubman John Cooper Works, which with 231 CV has a starting price of €38,000, taxes included but with no discount.

Our unit starts at €26,950, but comes with a generous dose of extra equipment, including Pepper White paint, leather upholstery, a rear camera with rear parking distance control, a Head-Up Display and GPS navigation. The result is that if we are even moderately generous with the equipment list, the price of our MINI rises rapidly, easily exceeding €36,000.

Note: Due to a technical problem, most of the photographs illustrating this test belong to MINI’s PressClub; we apologise for this.