MINI One Clubman

By Jack Charrington

20th January 2009

Money is tight for most car buyers right now, but could this MINI Clubman be the One for you? It’s the new penny-pinching entry-level model and it boasts a 95bhp 1.4-litre engine that’s capable of returning 52.3mpg combined.

Priced at just £13,290, it costs £1,225 less than the Cooper and like other models in the Clubman range it comes with Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start Stop – which switches the engine off when stationary – and a handy gearshift indicator on the dashboard too, which tells when is the most efficient point to change up. The result is CO2 emissions of 130g/km, which means owners will pay £120/year in road tax too. Air-conditioning comes as standard – as it does on every MINI in the range.

With 0-60mph taking 11.6 seconds and a top speed of 114mph, performance isn’t hot hatch-worrying but thanks to the same steering and suspension set-up as the Cooper model, it should be fun to drive with the same lightning reflexes and strong grip as the rest of the range. The MINI One Clubman makes its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March but is available to order now.

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