New MINI Cooper D Clubman review

This year MINI UK expect to sell around 50,000 new second-generation MINIs in this country unless then is a complete melt-down in new car sales due to the economic credit-crunch.

The British MINI factory in Oxford, owned by BMW Group, is working 24/7 to produce enough cars for worldwide demand. Britain is still the largest market followed by the United States and then Germany.

The MINI Hatch is by far the best selling version in the three model line-up with over 38,000 sales last year in the UK. The Convertible is due to be replaced next year so sales this year will slow from the 7,795 registrations achieved in 2007.

But the latest new addition to the range, the Clubman, which went on sale last November, is expected to achieve around 10,000 UK sales this year. Clubman prices range from £14,235 to £17,210 plus options.

Practicality and space

The MINI brand is all about ‘premium’ small car desirability. The brand has become chic and, smart to have whilst still maintaining its functionality over fashion. The new Clubman with its two front passengers doors, a half door on the off-side and twin rear side hinged doors is 240mm (10.5-inches) longer than the MINI Hatch three-door.

This means the latest MINI model has 80mm, (3-inches) more rear legroom than the Hatch models and the boot space with all five seats in use is 260 litres,100-litre more than the Hatch, or with the rear seats folded this increases to 930-litres, 250-litre more than the Hatch. The MINI Clubman is 3,845mm long, 1,426mm high and 1,683mm wide.

Access to the rear passenger area is through an off-side positioned Clubdoor which has received criticism from the UK media because it means rear passengers, more often than not likely to be children, get in or out of the Clubman from the road, not the pavement.

The designers say this is because the architecture of the vehicle with its near-side fuel filler pipe does not allow the rear passenger door to be on the same side. Thanks to the adverse comments about this design by the media the buying public are well aware of this situation so they must make up their own minds.

Personally I’m not in favour of it on the grounds of safety but then I’m not keen on the MINI Clubman’s overstated retro styling anyway. For me the vehicle scores more highly because of better interior space, MINI desirability which means the owner looses less money on trade-in, good fuel economy and low road tax costs.

Driving and engines

The Clubman line-up has the option of three engines; petrol 120hp Cooper and 175hp Cooper S versions and 110hp Cooper D diesel. Cooper models will account for 50 per cent of total Clubman sales in the UK, and Cooper S and Cooper D around 25 per cent each.

MINI UK admit they are now seeing a growing demand for the diesel model because of its low sub 120g/km (109g/km) CO2 emissions leading to the facts that road tax only costs £35 a year and from October 2008 the Club Cooper D will be exempt from the London Congestion Charge.

Being marginally heavier than the Hatch, the Clubman is not quite so agile for open road driving but around town you hardly notice the extra millimetres. The compact size means this car is easy to park and with its ‘premium’ specification it is an ideal business commuter’s car.

The diesel engine is very flexible, it’s easy to drive at speed or more likely in slow moving traffic and it’s quiet. It ticks all the right boxes, image status, high levels of specification, low TLC servicing plan costs.

Invest in the diesel model and more boxes can be ticked such as low running costs, less personal business car taxation, low road tax and you will not be paying Livingstone for the privilege of sitting in London’s traffic jams.

MILESTONES

MINI Cooper D Clubman

Price: £15,500 but with must have options, Chili Pack and more £20,970

Engine/transmission: 1.6-litre, four cylinder turbodiesel, 110hp, 240Nm of torque, 6-speed manual gearbox

Performance: 120mph, 0-62mph 10.4 seconds, 68.9mpg (53.2mpg actual) CO2 109g/km, VED Band B £35

Insurance group: 8E

For: MINI desirability, high trade in value, fun to drive, comfortable, TLC low cost servicing plan, more rear passenger and load space.

Against: Rear side door is on the wrong side, price of options, air-conditioning is an option, test car had numerous squeaks and rattles, not a pretty car.

Name

Comments

Validation	Please enter the text to the left (case sensitive)
Reload