When considering small cars, the Mini Cooper is probably one of the first, if not the first, compact vehicle to come to mind.
However, Mini Cooper’s Clubman isn’t exactly tiny. With enough room in this four-door to comfortably seat your passengers, the Clubman provides enough space to bring your friends out on the town in this mini crossover. More attractive still, is the Clubman’s great base price.
If you opt-out of the Clubman’s several add-ons, you’d be looking at a very reasonable price tag. Some neat options include panoramic sunroof, leather and heated seats. There are also three trim levels available: Base, Cooper S and John Cooper Works.
Of course, these upgrades will cost you. But, if you’re content with the standard features — leatherette seats, Aux input, push-button ignition, keyless entry, Bluetooth, power accessories, trip computer, infotainment system, heated mirrors, six-speaker audio system and cooled storage compartment — you’ll find the twenty grand range price tag worth it. The trim we test-drove, the Cooper S adds a unique exterior trim, turbocharged engine, fog lights and sport seats.
The “S” in the Cooper S of course stands for “sport” which is well conveyed in its upgraded engine. In the Cooper S trim, the Clubman comes with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that boasts 181 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. You will get mileage of 26 mpg city and 32 mpg highway.
The base engine of the Clubman is a less zippy 1.6-liter inline engine that is capable of only 121 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. If a focus on fuel efficiency is more your speed, however, the base engine on the Clubman is sure to please with a praiseworthy 27 mpg city and 32 mpg highway.
On the inside, the Clubman gets an all-new look with higher-quality materials and brand new dashboard which yields a very modern and upscale look. It’s sporty leatherette bucket seats offer great and easily personalized support in the Clubman’s surprisingly roomy interior. In both rows, you’ll find adequate shoulder and legroom for you and your friends.
Because of the added width and length of the Clubman, the dashboard and controls are considerably less cluttered than that of other Mini models. Nearly everything inside the Clubman has a distinctly rounded aesthetic, from the circular infotainment system, down to the door handles, which plays well into the Mini Cooper’s signature look. Yet, the Clubman looks much more sophisticated and grown up than other Minis.
The 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman offers room and a snazzy interior in a scaled down package. Without the extra bells and whistles, the base Clubman comes with a very attractive sticker price that is even lower than previous models.
If you’re looking for a sportier ride, the Clubman S offers more power and speed with its turbocharged engine which is capable of 181 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman gives you more bang for your buck, providing more room at a wallet-friendly cost.
The MSRP for the base model is $24,100.
