A Large Mini: The Oxymoron of the Automobile World

When Mini gave us the Countryman that was supposed to be largest Mini we would ever get as it made its way to playing in the Compact SUV market with other small offerings.  For the new 2016 model year we get to see a new Mini that is even larger in the form of the Mini Clubman.  Brought forth as a six door small SUV this vehicle has two doors that open in the back to the cavernous rear area of the vehicle, giving us a vehicle that is perfect for some beach trips as well as handling the hauling of some decent sized cargo to the house.

This new Clubman is a full foot longer than the last Clubman we saw and can be classified as either a small SUV or as a large hatchback.  This new vehicle will share the BMW UKL platform with the standard Mini Hardtop and with four full size doors for occupants to enter through is much easier to enter and exit than the previous model ever was.  The cargo space, as mentioned, is large, it’s a full 47.9 cubic feet in space, making it some of the most spacious in this class.

When you bring back a feature of a vehicle, that feature needs to be one that adds a lot to the overall function.  The split rear cargo doors do just that and bring about a look that resembles the Clubman from the 1960s which was the original.  By having these two doors in the rear, a variety of accesses can be gained to this area and the smaller doors allow for a better egress into the rear than what one large swinging door would do.

If you are concerned this larger vehicle might lose some of its appeal, don’t fret.  The new Clubman has a look and feel that puts it well in line with the other models from Mini including the Cooper and Countryman.  This new vehicle is larger, but still has a distinct throwback outer style with attractive two-toned colorings and a distinct rounded front to make the car one of the most attractive Minis and certainly give you one that will fit the whole family, or a group of friends who want to visit the beach or head out camping for the weekend.

The new Clubman does benefit from the same engines as the Mini Coper hatchback, even though the overall weight difference is about 500 pounds.  These engines are a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder coming in at 134 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque as the base model while the Clubman Cooper S shows up with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that has 189 horsepower and 207 lb.-ft. of torque.  The choice between transmissions is either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic giving some great engine setups to enjoy on your new Mini Clubman.

The interior of this great new offering is all updated and well-designed.  Even though the vehicle is retro on the outside, it’s certainly modern on the inside with a large display screen, the iDrive infotainment controller for smartphone and audio controls and the head up display.  Other great features of this new Mini include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and a backup camera.  Add LED lighting to the interior and some different upholstery options and you might feel like the new Clubman can play in the realm of the luxury models.

If you have enjoyed cars from Mini before but need something a little larger, the Clubman makes a great choice.  You have plenty of time to consider the purchase and do some homework as well since this new vehicle won’t go on sale until the early part of 2016.  The new Mini Clubman is a great choice for a growing family to enjoy with plenty of space for gear to come along there are adventures just waiting for you to participate in them, with the new Clubman you will have a fantastic versatile set of wheels to get you to the fun in the sun, snow, sand or even for just exploring your own city and town in a sharp looking, fully loaded new Mini Clubman.