MINI Clubman Cooper D
More practical version of baby Brit offers real charm
The MINI brand can seemingly do no wrong. An extensive options list allows buyers to customise its cars like the latest haute couture. And even with a diesel engine under the bonnet, the entertaining handling still shines through.
The Clubman wears a more sober suit than the new Juke, though. Regular MINI design cues such as the floating roof, black A-pillars, round headlamps and familiar grille tick all of the retro boxes, but the Cooper D won’t shock like the Nissan.
Still, it does have some tricks up its sleeve. For starters, there’s the Club Door – a single reverse-opening rear passenger door on the driver’s side. Plus, as the wheelbase is 80mm longer than the standard MINI’s, you get marginally more legroom in the rear than in the Juke. And unlike the MINI hatch, there are three seatbelts in the back.
There’s a pair of vertically split doors instead of a hatch tailgate. They provide great access to the boot, but care is needed in tight spaces, as they swing out wide of the bodywork.
Inside is the usual array of retro details, with rows of toggle switches and an oversized central speedometer. Put style to one side, and the MINI has a better driving position and superior material quality. But it’s not faultless, as the extra pillars of the Club Door create a huge over-the-shoulder blind spot for the driver.
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Cash £14,390Although the extra door does give better access than in the MINI hatch, the Nissan is clearly more practical – especially if you regularly carry passengers.
The British firm has always done its best work on the road, and the revised Clubman is no exception. Its BMW-sourced 1.6-litre diesel is hushed on start-up and on the move, and it delivers plenty of punch.
It powers the Cooper D from 0-60mph two seconds faster than its rival, with a time of 10.1 seconds. The six-speed gearbox is much more positive to use, and, as with the steering, it benefits from a substantial and mechanical feel.
Body control through bends is impressive, but there is a price to pay, because the suspension is very stiff and has a tendency to crash and thump over potholes and expansion joints. Although it gets better at speed, around town it can become frustrating. What really impresses is the MINI’s ability to offer a thrilling drive without a correspondingly heavy appetite for diesel.
The quoted combined figure is over 25mpg better than the Nissan’s, and our real-world result of 49.3mpg is impressive. Emissions are a lowly 103g/km, which is 31g/km less than the Juke’s, and road tax after the first year will cost only £20. The lower kit count, stiff ride and unusual door configuration all count against the MINI Clubman, but the rest of the package is so appealing, it’s still one of the best attention grabbers in the supermini sector.
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Chart position: 1
WHY: Clubman adds practicality to the MINI package. Efficient, perky diesel makes it the car to beat.
