It's been about 6 years since the Mini Cooper first debuted in the U.S. market, and these cute little cars continue to ooze personality and garner head-turning looks wherever they go.
Thanks to its distinctive retro-styled exterior, uniquely designed cabin and long list of options (including more than 40 color combinations), the Mini Cooper is the most expressive car in its class.
One shortcoming, though, has been Mini's backseat. It's so short on legroom that it's better suited for packages than passengers.
So, for 2008, Mini has launched a larger model called the Cooper Clubman. The all-new 2008 Mini Cooper Clubman is about 9.5 inches longer with a wheelbase that's been extended by slightly more than 3 inches.
Rear seat passengers get more legroom - about 3 inches worth - but there's still barely enough legroom when the driver and front seat passenger are tall and have their seats all the way back.
As was the case with the original Mini Cooper, the Clubman provides plenty of room up front for six-footers thanks to a long seat track and tilt-telescoping steering wheel. I'm 6-foot, 3-inches and have no problem fitting comfortably in Clubman's driver's seat. For me, the backseat is a totally different story.
From the outside, the all-new Clubman definitely appears longer and still looks true to the Mini brand but with a friendly wagonlike appeal. The Clubman is a five-door model with two coupelike front doors, an additional rear-hinged door on the passenger-side (called the "Clubdoor") and two split-rear doors in the back.
The Clubman's Clubdoor can be opened only after the passenger door has been opened first, but it nicely allows passengers easier access to the rear seat. Like other Mini's, the Clubman accommodates four passengers but with a bit more room and a slightly larger cargo area.
The split-rear doors at the back of the Mini Clubman make it easier to load parcels. To further increase the cargo capacity, either or both of the rear seats can be folded down adding to the Clubman's versatility.
Like the Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper Convertible, the Clubman can be had with a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine or a turbocharged version designated by the letter "S."
The Cooper S Clubman also adds larger wheels with run-flat tires, firmer suspension tuning and supportive sport seats.
The base 1.6-liter engine produces 118 horsepower while the turbocharged version pounds out 172 horsepower. Both engines come standard with a six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic with manual shift control is available.
The turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine in the 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman responded quickly to my input. Acceleration from a stop and at passing speeds was very good. The optional six-speed automatic transmission in my tester delivered smooth shifts and was fun to operate in manual mode.
Although the Clubman is longer than its Mini siblings, it's still very fun to drive. Some may not care for the stiff suspension when driving around town, but you'll be surprised at how well this car stays planted in tight turns and how little body roll occurs.
If you've never been in a Mini Cooper, you'll be focused on the huge, centrally located speedometer once you slip behind the wheel. The controls are laid out quite differently from other vehicles and take a bit of adjusting to. But once you get accustomed to the Mini Cooper, you'll quickly become captivated by it.
The tester included a long list of options that quickly brought its price tag more than $33K. However, if you forego the add-ons, you can step into the Clubman for around $20,000 and an S Clubman for around $24,000.
2008 MINI Cooper S Clubman
Engine: 1.6-liter (172 hp) turbocharged I-4
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Drive type: FWD
Fuel economy: 23 city/32 highway
Base price: $23,450
As tested: $33,200 (including $650 for destination)
Web site: www.Miniusa.com