As the market shifts away from small cars, Mini (XETRA: BMW-DE) has had to grow its lineup to include a slew of two- and four-door models to compete in more profitable segments. That all started in 2007, when Mini launched the Clubman, a four-door, split-tailgate version of the retro-modern Mini Cooper.
Now, the Clubman is in it's second generation. The Cooper below it is growing, offering up to four doors, and the Countryman above that isn't too much bigger.
So, in 2017, I spent a week in the Clubman to find out whether there's still a place for it in the lineup.
Exterior: Getting uglier and still poorly thought out
It seems with every progressive generation the Mini lineup gets a bit fatter, a bit more awkward and a tad uglier. The first interpretation of the modern Mini in 2001 was cute and fun. Since then, we've seen a slow march away from adorable, and towards awkward teenager looks.
The Clubman doesn't break the trend. While it's still quirky and fun looking, the size has ballooned and the styling doesn't really work on the bigger canvas. And big it is. Surprisingly so.
Around back, it' has the trademark Clubman "barn doors" that open outward rather than up. There's nothing wrong with them functionally, but I think they make the rear of the car look awkward and poorly proportioned. The doors also mean your view backwards is divided. That, combined with the high beltline and long body, means visibility is atrocious.
Interior: Premium with color-changing fun
In keeping with Mini tradition, almost everything inside the car is circular. Every switch and toggle is circular or cylindrical, harking back to the trademark round Mini headlights. Even the center screen surround, which encompasses a square screen, is still circular.
That surround is one of the most interesting interior details, too. Its LED changes color depending on what you're doing. Turn down the interior temperature, and the LED goes from red to blue. Turn up the volume, and the ring lights up more parts of it as it goes up. Pop the car in sport mode, it goes red. Put the Clubman in, get this, "MINImize" mode to save fuel and the ring goes green.
It's all quite gimmicky, but it's admittedly fun.
Other controls, from the starter to the ambient light control, are satisfying faux-metal toggle switches. They all have a satisfying clunk to them when you flick them, and they make the car feel unique. The whole interior is very different, but it's extraordinarily high quality for the class. Even on the base model that I drove, it felt like a premium cabin.
Drive Experience: Spectacular handling
The tester I had was a Cooper S Clubman ALL4. That means it's powered by a twin-scroll turbo 2.0-liter 4-cylinder mill sending 189 horsepower to all four (get it?) wheels. This Clubman also comes with a 6-speed manual transmission, rather than the optional 8-speed automatic.