The Mini got bigger, again.
Maximum Mini
It seems like an ongoing theme for the little car that could. BMW, the owner of hot-selling Mini, brought out the second-generation Cooper a few years ago, and it was slightly larger than the first. Then, it introduces the 2008 Clubman, and presto, lardo, bigger again.
Mini hasn’t transformed completely from phat to chunky yet, just as America didn’t become the pudgiest nation in world overnight; we did it bite by bite, a Quarter Pounder at a time. But the 2008 Clubman makes you want to check the car’s cholesterol.
Hopefully, Mini will stop growing and start performing again, because its current trajectory leaves it looking in its own rearview mirror a few years from now to wonder out loud: Do these double doors make my butt look fat?
No, of course not; you look great — that extra 9 inches of body only leaves you with more to love.
But truth be told, a couple of seams are starting to pop, and that beltline seems cinched a little too tight. Unless Mini wants to change its name to Husky, the Clubman is about as rotund as these little urban racers should get. Especially when some of the bigger competition such as the Audi A3 and Volvo C30 offer a more traditional approach to small but luxurious driving.
Of course, there are some perks to a super-sized Mini. The interior has a lot more space. Four adults can fit easily into this car. The third door — a small suicide door on the passenger’s side — makes ingress and egress to the back much easier.
Fold down the 60/40 split rear seats and there’s more than 32 cubic feet of space. This may give the Clubman a more practical edge than its smaller brother the Cooper. Keep the seats up and passengers in the back will enjoy 32.3 inches of legroom, compared with 29.9 inches on the regular Cooper. It may be only a few inches, but tell that to your shins.
Takes some getting used to
Overall, I like the Clubman’s interior: the giant speedometer in the center of the dash; the toggle switches; and even the quirky stereo switches that are confusing to use. But the materials, such as the plastic on the dash, feel cheap and when you put a cup of coffee in the cup holder, you cannot operate your window because the switch is covered by the cup. You’ll learn this right after going to a drive-thru.
Idiosyncrasies run throughout the vehicle — something I think appeals to many owners. The auxiliary jack is difficult to find. The seats are awkward to adjust, and every time I tried to turn the stereo up, I inadvertently changed radio stations.
Nonetheless, I looked past those problems when people commented to me about this cute little machine. There’s no denying this car’s personality: No one smiles at you when you’re in a Chevy Cobalt.
Noisy and fun
Following the Clubman’s tradition of the Morris Mini Traveller and Austin Mini Countryman of the ’60s, I decided to take this little big car on a road trip.
So I spurred all 118-horses under the hood — provided by the 1.6-lilter four-cylinder engine — and headed to western Pennsylvania. After all, road trips are an American tradition, and, in this particular case, a great way to put this car through the paces, check out the fall colors, eat fast food guilt free and have work pay for it.
The pickup was smooth as I clicked through the car’s six gears on the manual slushbox, but it seemed to lack the zip of previous Minis. I would have preferred the Clubman S with its more powerful turbocharged engine. Even so, it maintains its precise handling that comes with a car on 16-inch wheels and 100-inch wheelbase.
Around town, there’s still that go-kart feel to the Clubman, making it hootilicious to drive. The suspension is stiffer than a larger car, and you find yourself laughing through fast corners. Previous Minis have included heavy torque-steer, with the front-wheels pulling you to the side during heavy acceleration. The Clubman stayed straight all the time.
On the highway, the Clubman is noisy and fun. Its low ride and big windows provide an new perspective to semi tires.
Be forewarned: Drive-throughs are an awkward convenience from the driver’s seat. The McDonald’s attendant nearly dropped my Coke on me as she reached down to my lowly position, and I had to hop out of the car to get a few bucks from the ATM. Downsizing has its drawbacks.
Mini owners tend to take the good with the bad. Some may think it’s an inconvenience to have to get out of their car to use an ATM, Mini owners think it’s nice to stretch their legs.
Real world mileage
All the way through Ohio, the ride was a little bumpy, but I was comfortable. Everything was at my fingertips and the stereo was able to compensate for the road noise. The Big Ben-odometer read 70 for most of the trip and it might have been able to push 80, but no one pushes the speed limit in Ohio too much.
Amazingly, when I neared Youngstown, the landscape turned into these rolling waves of green with growing patches of red, yellow and orange. I cracked the window, once I found the switch, to savor the crisp air and relish nature’s beauty. Nothing gold can stay, so a few pictures will suffice.
No time to gaze too long though. Semis surrounded me, as if I were the main character in a Tennyson poem. Pushed to the left lane, I began to feel the squeeze of the big rigs and the concrete barrier on these mountain highways. Luckily, there was room to spare in my lane, even when a truck would shave the line into my lane.
Going up hills, however, I found myself downshifting to fourth gear in order to keep up with traffic. More power would have been very handy at those times.
One impressive stat I came across was the 36 mpg my Clubman reached in the real world.
The EPA gas mileage is 28 mpg in the city and 37 mpg for the manual and 28/34 for the automatic.
If you’re considering this car, I’d suggest getting a manual transmission. It lets you compensate for the lack of power with downshifting.
However, I should caution consumers, the Mini Clubman is not for everyone. If you want a smooth, quiet highway ride, this is not for you. If you want loads of power at the press of the pedal, there are better alternatives. If you want to blend into the background, there are much easier ways to do it.
This car makes a statement, and the extra room makes the Clubman, well, bigger. And bigger is not as becoming as Mini may have thought in the first place.
Scott Burgess is the auto critic for The Detroit News. He can be reached at (313) 223-3217 or sburgess@detnews.com.
Report card
Overall: ***
Exterior : Excellent. True to the Mini character, the big headlights and curvy sides make this grin with energy. The double doors in the back and third door on the passenger’s side make it even quirkier.
Interior: Good. Toggle switches and big speedometer give the Mini a unique look. Materials feel cheap. The car was comfortable on a long haul.
Performance : Good. Very fun around town but lacked enough power on the highway, especially when driving next to big semis.
Safety: Good. Airbags, electronic stability control and other features make the Mini Clubman a very safe vehicle.
Pros : Unique looks and affordable price.
Cons: Tight space in the back for someone who carries more than two adults. Harsh ride may not appeal to those who want a highway cruiser.
Grading scale
Excellent: **** Good: ***
Fair: ** Poor: *
2008 Mini Clubman
Type: Four passenger compact car
Price : $20,600
Engine : 1.6-liter four-cylinder
Power: 118 horsepower; 114-pound-feet torque
Transmission: Six-speed manual or automatic
EPA gas mileage (city / highway):
Manual: 25/37
Automatic: 28/34
