Mini Cooper Clubman S Review

    This is my review of the 2009 Mini cooper S Clubman. The vehicle pictured above is almost identical to the car which was tested (my friend's brand new Mini Clubman). The Clubman is essentially a stretched version of the mainstay Cooper, and is built on the same architecture. That being said, this does not mean that the two cars share identical driving dynamics. The Clubman was developed to be a more practical, refined mini for those who need to carry 2, 3, or even 4 people for longer journeys. 

    The cockpit of the Mini Cooper Clubman feels just like that. A cockpit. The center stack is dominated by an oversized speedometer/ radio controls. The Climate control interface is organized in the shape of the Mini logo. The trademark mini aircraft style switchgear sits below that. I found that the placement of the sunroof, window, locks and heated seat controls were much lower then would be ideal for on the fly adjustments. I found that i had to look down, away from the road to find the switch i was looking for. Overall, the center stack looks good and appears upscale from a distance, but it is hard to the touch and the plastics feel a little thin (flimsy). These faults are completely offset by the way the driving interface is set up. The pedals are perfectly placed for MY feet. Those who have wider feet may find that the accelerator and brake are placed a little too close to heel-toe comfortably. The steering wheel is a nicely contoured, leather wrapped 3 spoke unit with audio controls on the front of the left spoke and the cruise control settings on the right. The seats are classic Mini seats. They are the same deeply bolstered units found in the Cooper S. The rear seats do have more room then the normal cooper, but I would not want to ride in the back for more then 20-30 minutes. I found that the heated seats worked very well. My biggest gripe with the interior of the Mini Cooper Clubman has to be the  way the climate control system works. I could not get the car to remain at a constant temperature. It seems like the car is either freezing in winter or an oven. This test was conducted in winter conditions (Rochester, NY), so my observations may be a result of the environment, but my passengers also commented on the climate control (or lack thereof). 

The Designers at Mini wanted to build a larger car without ruining the basic shape and proportions of the Cooper. They accomplished this by stretching the center of the car, while keeping the roof, hood, doors and glass the same ahead of the B pillar. The major changes are noticeable aft of the B pillar. The passenger side features a rear facing suicide door, ala Mazda RX-8. This makes ingress/egress marginally easier for the rear passengers. The rear of the car has been completely restyled as well. The rook hinged hatch is gone, and in its place, two barn style doors have been substituted. I personally found these to be a bother when trying to reverse, because there is a line right down the middle of the rearview mirror. I can see why mini thought the barn doors would be a good idea in terms of looks and to a degree, practicality, but they create a problem for reversing. The extra length does not add a huge amount of cargo space with the rear seats up, but with the seats down the extra space becomes apparent. We discovered that 4 snowboards and two overnight bags could easily fit in the rear area of the mini (seats folded) for a trip to Bristol Mountain. This is a huge bonus for those of us who are more active and may need to carry longer objects. We never found ourselves wanting for space. This is not something that can be said about the normal Cooper S. 

    I know its a cliche, but anyone who has driven or owned a mini will know what i mean when i say it rides like a go kart. This is both a good and bad thing. The good part is that it handles like a go kart. The bad part is that it rides like a go kart. Rough, choppy surfaces easily upset the mini, and cause it to crash and bang over bumps. For anyone who intends to buy this car in a high population area with less then pristine roads, be advised; The Mini might look like a hatchback, but it rides like a focused sports car. The steering is quite heavy with good feel on center and weights up nicely as cornering speeds climb. One of the better electric power steering systems i have driven(credit goes to BMW for this). The six speed manual transmission is communicative with average, precise throws. I found that reverse was difficult to engage on cold mornings when the car sat overnight. The Mini usually took about 20 minutes to warm up. The 1.6 liter Turbocharged four cylinder engine is a joy to thrash. It's got an old fashioned feel to it. The power comes on in more of a rush then a linear curve. There is some turbo lag below 2000rpm, but once the car gets between 2500-5000rpm the power comes onThis car almost taunts you to drive quickly. The faster you go, the more the Mini comes alive. I did not manage to approach the limits of adhesion on dry roads, but they appear to be safely beyond where most drivers would let off the gas. the Mini was surprisingly good in the snow. I found that the bridgestone all season tires and manual transmission were a good match in the snow. The car never bogged down in snow covered parking lots, parking spots or streets. I have one major gripe with the mini and it has to do with the gearbox. It IS a joy to row, but 6th gear is far too short. Anyone who drives a Mini on the highway in 6th gear will notice that 75mph = 3000rpm. After 2 hours on the highway, i noticed an average of 27mpg. Part of the appeal of the Mini is the fuel economy. Its a small, agile car which delivers excellent fuel economy....at speeds below 75mph. PLEASE Mini, please give us an option with a taller final drive.

    At around 32,000 dollars, the Mini Cooper Clubman S is an upscale hot hatch for the more practically minded. For those who feel they need something with more firepower under the hood, Mini also produced a John Cooper Works version of the clubman. When compared with it's competition, the Mini may seem overpriced. For the most part I tend to agree with this sentiment. I would recommend this vehicle for anyone who is looking for a lot of practicality to go along with their fun. The Mazdaspeed3 does offer more power, but only at the sacrifice of refinement and build quality. The Nissan 370Z may offer great value for money, but it also only offers 2 seats and limited storage space. I see the Mini Cooper Clubman S as more of a direct competitor to the Volvo C30 T5 then either of the aforementioned models. Both are cars with a cult following and 4 seats. Both are well equipped just north of 30,000 Dollars (our model had most of the option boxes checked), but I would pick the Mini based on looks and the emphasis on driving dynamics.