2016 Mini Cooper Clubman First Drive Review

PRICE $24,950 
2016 Mini Cooper Clubman First Drive ReviewFor the debut of the 2016 Cooper Clubman, Mini has conjured up a new identity that it hopes will extend across the brand and resonate with buyers: the cool uncle. The way Mini spins it, every family has one member that is unlike the others, a worldly type on the fringe who follows his own path and radiates an undeniable sense of distinction. Mini wants to be that uncle, and it’s starting with the Clubman.
To find out if the new four-door Clubman, the longest and widest Mini yet, is up to the task of performing cool-uncle duties, we snagged some seat time in a pair of freshly baked 2016 Cooper Clubman models: a lightly optioned Cooper Clubman with the 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo and six-speed manual, and a well-optioned Cooper S Clubman with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and eight-speed automatic
 

 

Size Matters

While the previous-generation Clubman offered Mini devotees a smidge more room than the standard Hardtop and somewhat easier rear-seat access via a rear half-door on the right side, the 2016 Cooper Clubman (internal code F54) offers two conventional rear doors. Overall length is up accordingly, the Clubman now measuring 168.3 inches long, adding 12.4 inches to the previous Clubman’s 155.9-inch measurement. For the record, the new Clubman also is longer than the taller Countryman by between 5.2 and 6.6 inches (depending on the Countryman’s spec). Width gets a bump, too, the new car coming in at 70.9 inches in comparison to the previous 66.3-inch figure. While the increase in length is immediately obvious to even the casual eye—thanks in no small part to the prominent presence of the rear doors—the increase in width is hardly discernible. To put its size into perspective, consider that the Cooper Clubman is still just 0.8-inch longer than the current Volkswagen Golf four-door hatchback, 7.3 inches shorter in length than the Mazda 3 hatchback, and a full 11.3 inches shorter than the Volkswagen Golf SportWagen.

Although it’s true that the enlarged exterior proportions have cleared the way for increased interior space, packages and other cargo stand to benefit the most. While the driver and front-seat passenger get more shoulder room (up by 4.4 inches to 54.7), that same measurement in the rear has increased by a significant 6.9 inches to a usable-by-actual-humans 52.8-inch total. Too bad about the hard bottom of the rear-seat cushion, which might make even the least whiny children (Mini claims there is room for three abreast, but we don’t see it) clamor for a break after a long stretch of highway travel. Cargo space is the real winner here, the new Clubman offering 47.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded—15.1 cubic feet more luggage room than the previous Clubman. It’s enough, Mini claims, to fit a washing machine, although we can’t imagine any “cool uncle” doing his own laundry, let alone transporting an actual appliance; crates of hand-rolled cigars or artisan beard wax might be a more appropriate cargo.

The vibe from behind the wheel is classic Mini, although the automaker has bumped up the quality of the plastics a notch and cooked up some new upholstery schemes. Our Cooper S Clubman had the diamond-stitched Indigo Blue leather that is said to be inspired by classic English Chesterfield sofas, something our cool uncle spent plenty of time sleeping on—although likely not of the actual Chesterfield label and much more foul-smelling. The base car had cloth/leatherette seats that offer surprising comfort and bolsters that feel a bit more aggressive than the seats in the Cooper S Clubman. Either way, if you like the way you fit in any current Mini product and have adapted to their normalized ergonomics, you’ll be happy seated in the new Clubman.

Cachet Prices Dollars, How Neat Do you need to Possibly be? With normal Minuscule manner, the alternatives linen will let you build your car or truck any kind of method you choose, as well as Minuscule claims entirely one-third regarding their product sales tend to be customer-ordered as opposed to removed from dealer stock options. Both of our test out vehicles ended up pre-loaded with the activity deal, (Dynamic Damper Manage, BROUGHT headlamps, as well as 17-inch In-take Chatted metal wheels on the foundation vehicle, 18-inch Star Chatted wheels on the Cooper Utes to have an extra $250). Each of our Cooper Clubman fled in any other case reasonably untouched. Beyond the $24, 950 foundation selling price as well as aforementioned Game deal ($2000), this incorporated a tiny group regarding very affordable options: British Sporting Green material colour ($500), cloth as well as leatherette upholstery ($750), excited the front seating ($500), Technologies deal ($1750, contains nav, a new backup video camera, as well as vehicle sensors), as well as satellite tv on pc airwaves having a one-year membership ($300). Just about all throughout, this MSRP attack $30, 750. The actual Cooper Utes Clubman will begin with $28, 500. Beyond the Game deal ($1500 here), your test out vehicle incorporated Chesterfield household leather upholstery ($1750), reasonably limited deal ($1800 intended for keyless accessibility, a new breathtaking sunroof, as well as Harman/Kardon audio), the activity intelligent indication ($1750), a new fancier tyre ($250), chrome-line external ($250) as well as interior ($250) toned, as well as piano-black interior decorations ($200), for the complete MSRP regarding $39, 550. Each of our awesome older brother? Right after coming his college deposit on the ski slopes regarding Aspen, he put down intended for Martha’s Vineyard, where he fulfilled a great girl from Long Area. These people moved in order to Sarasota as well as bought a new Chevrolet Suburban designed with all the backed barn doorways. At least Minuscule received that aspect appropriate.