Mini Clubman: The Auto Trader verdict

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The Mini has been a massive hit since BMW introduced it in 2001, thanks to its cheeky retro charm wrapped up in a package that means its great fun to drive.

Stuart Milne got behind the wheel of the range-topping Cooper S to find out if the Clubman is worthy of the hype.

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor | Rivals

1. Looks

From the front, the Clubman looks like any other Mini – curvy and cheeky, but on the driver's side and rear, it's all about those doors. The rear 'barn-style' doors are real headturners, while the Clubman's other party piece – the rear opening 'suicide door' gets overlooked – until it's opened. The Clubman is evocative of the classic Mini Traveller, with its flat side window line, and boxy rear end and takes retro-cool to a new level.

9/10

2. Looks inside

The Clubman's interior is largely the same as the hatchback Mini – more funky features inspired by the original Mini. The chrome toggle switches at the bottom of the centre console look fantastic, if awkward to use and the huge speedo in the centre of the dash certainly became a talking point. Some roadtesters loved it, while others though it was badly positioned and difficult to read. The radio was also fiddly to use, with controls positioned unintuitively. The Mini's airvents are also inspired by the original Mini, and there's a real sense the designers really understand what made this car's predecessor so popular.

8/10

3. Practicality

The Clubman isn't a proper estate, so don't expect a massive boot. The barn doors make loading objects very easy and there's a large pocket in each to store loose items. The boot also has a false floor to hide rarely-used items and the seats both fold almost flat. Space varies between 260 and 930 litres, which is more than enough for most.

A lack of rear cabin space was a common complaint about the Mini hatchback, and this has been addressed in the Clubman. The maxi Mini has enough space for two adults and should prove sufficiently roomy for three kids.

The rear, reverse opening door is located on the driver's side, and critics have suggested this is dangerous for passengers getting in and out on the road side. In reality, the driver needs to open the front door, take off the seatbelt and get out, before letting the rear passengers out. The passenger side door is large enough to allow easy access too.

The blind spot created in the rear-view mirror by the rear barn doors was less of a problem than we'd predicted. The bigger issues were the awkwardly positioned speedo and a huge rear view mirror which hampered forward visibility.

8/10

4. Ride and Handling

The Mini has plenty of admirers when it comes to handling, and if anything the Clubman is even better. It feels less prone to skipping across the road with its longer-than-normal wheelbase and additional weight. The steering is sharp and responsive and was huge fun to drive. Our Cooper S test car also featured a 'Sport Button', which added weight to the steering and sharpened up the throttle response and suspension for even better handling.

10/10

5. Performance

The hot Cooper S model packs a revvy 175bhp, 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, meaning the bona-fide hot estate can dash to 62mph from rest in just 7.6 seconds, before heading to a top speed of 139mph. There was a pleasant thrum through the Mini's twin tailpipe exhaust system which was fun, but never intrusive. Other models in the Clubman range include the 120bhp Cooper and frugal Cooper D.

9/10

6. Running Costs

Specifying a Clubman over a standard Mini will add around £1,000 to the cost price, helping push a Chili Pack-equipped Cooper S to more than £20,000. And Mini encourage buyers to dig deep from the massive options list, which could potentially add an additional £10,000 if you get carried away. But one option worth buying is Mini's TLC package – the £150 policy pays for the Mini's first two services up to 50,000 miles, while the TLC XL package adds another two services for £380. Its no surprise most Mini buyers leave with a TLC. The Cooper S model we drove sits in insurance group 15, which is average for this kind of car, while other models are as low as group 8. Road tax is Band C (£115) for the petrol models, and Band B for the diesel, which emits just 109g/km of CO2. All models surprisingly green, particularly the Cooper S with its blistering performance. Buyers looking for a frugal Clubman should choose the diesel, which can cover up to 68.9mpg on average, while the Cooper and Cooper S manage 51.4 and 44.8mpg respectively.

8/10

7. Reliability

The Mini has been a reliable car since its 2001 launch, and the revisions in 2006 are unlikely to change this drastically. The car felt solid inside and out and up to BMW's usual standards.

9/10

8. Safety

The Clubman's safety kit is based on the hatchback version which scored a full five stars in the EuroNCAP crash test programme. Front and side airbags come as standard, as does curtain airbags which extend further back in the Clubman. In the event of a collision, the car’s central safety electronics deactivate the central locking, switch on the hazard warning lights and interior lighting, and deactivate the electric fuel pump. Anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, dynamic stability and traction control and cornering brake control are standard on all models.

10/10

9. Equipment

Despite Mini's emphasis on personalisation from the extensive options list, there's a decent amount of standard kit, including remote central locking, alloys, electric windows and mirrors, a six-speed gearbox and MP3-compatible CD player. The Cooper S adds larger alloys and the sport button. There's also a number of packs to choose from, all adding different bits.

8/10

10. X-Factor

It’s a Mini, but not as we know it. The Clubman takes all the standard Mini is loved for, but adds more practicality wrapped up in some truly headturning looks. Go for the diesel and it'll cover plenty of miles between fill-ups, while the Cooper S is a real fireball.

10/10

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Rivals

You might also want to consider:

Mercedes A-Class

Vauxhall Meriva

Mini Cooper

Nissan Note

Peugeot 1007

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