Were Lewis Carroll to provide Alice (in Wonderland) with an ‘Eat Me!’ cake in a modern era, it would surely be Mini-shaped. Yet, Mini is fast becoming an inappropriate description of a car, whose origins were only ten feet long. The latest iteration of a model that BMW cocked-up royally in its initial form (with a solitary rear passenger door that opened directly into traffic, as though UK sales mattered not a jot) is now so large that it almost demands a fresh model naming policy.
The body design of the latest Clubman is unique, thanks to its van-like split-rear doors. Due to its slightly elongated platform, its luggage bay can be extended from a modest 360-litres to around 1,250-litres, once the back seats are folded. Let’s face it, boot space is what Clubman is all about and I am not averse to the twin-door reality at the rear, as they open and close with a solid Germanic quality and, unlike the original BMC Mini Clubman, they are unlikely to rattle themselves into oblivion after a few thousand miles.
At the opposite end of the car, a guppy-like new radiator grille dominates and pouts like a spoilt child. It offers a degree of interchangeability in that various trim levels can provide clip-on model differentiation, just as the stock chromed headlamp bezels can become modified to meet Cooper S and ‘Works’ designations in due course. New dazzle-free but adaptive matrix-style LED headlamps are a camera-automated feature that also includes cornering illumination.
Three new colours, orangey-red, British Racing Green and a metallic black have been added to the palette, with roof and door mirror caps available in contrasting black, white, or silver. Of course, Mini is renowned for its personalisation potential and even the cliché ‘Union Jack’ LED tail-lamps can be changed for something less aggravating. While 16.0-inch diameter alloy wheels are standard, up to 19.0-inch alternatives are available (or standard, dependent on model).
Having built a reputation for a fairly unforgiving ride quality, apart from an even more nuggety, 10mm reduced sports setting availability, the Clubman can also feature a two-mode adaptive alternative, with switchable settings for Comfort, or Sport. Personally, I would settle for Comfort. Three engines are available from the outset, a 3-cylinder, 1.5-litre, 136bhp Cooper (0-60mph in 8.9s, 127mph, up to 50.4mpg and 129g/km CO2); the 4-cylinder, 2.0-litre, 192bhp Cooper S (0-60mph in 7.0s, 142mph, up to 51.4mpg and 147g/km CO2); and the turbo-diesel, 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder Cooper D (0-60mph in 8.6s, 132mph, up to 65.7mpg and 114g/km CO2). They drive through a choice of 6-speed manual or 7-speed, twin-clutch automated-manual gearboxes.
The comic-book centre touch-screen now offers a larger interface and greater connectivity options. Meanwhile a raft of the usual electronic driver aids and safety devices is also standard.
