Does the New, Bigger 2016 Mini Clubman Still Drive Like a Mini?

CARS.COM — Cars tend to get bigger over time, and the brand most known for making small, fun-to-drive cars — Mini — isn’t exempt from this phenomenon. But while a larger car’s added space might make sense for a mainstream brand trying to appeal to the masses, is it good for a brand that’s thumbed its hood at the mainstream for years with its small-is-better philosophy?

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The 2016 Mini Clubman may be the car that answers that question. Redesigned for 2016, the Clubman is a bigger, more mainstream car than its predecessor. About a foot longer and 5 inches wider than the old Clubman, the new version is about the size of a Ford Focus hatchback. It now has four conventional doors (the prior Clubman had three, one of which was rear-hinged) and retains unique Clubman cues like the two rear cargo doors instead of a traditional liftgate.

Despite the extra size, the Clubman driving experience is just as sporty as the current two-door Mini Hardtop. Direct steering provides better feedback than the compact hatchback norm, and the car’s tight handling reinforces its driver-focused personality.

However, much of the go-kart eagerness that defined earlier Minis is missing from the Clubman — as well as from the rest of Mini’s current lineup. In its place, Mini has dialed up the refinement, leading to greater driver isolation. You felt really connected to the car and the experience of driving in prior Minis, but that feeling has faded in the Clubman.

Driving enthusiasts will lament this loss, but the Clubman’s extra size helps address some of Mini’s long-running practical problems due to its cars’ traditionally tiny footprints. The Clubman is roomy enough to comfortably carry four adults at the same time, and it has a respectable 17.5-cubic-foot cargo area that’s nearly as large as what the Focus and Mazda3 hatchbacks offer.

Another thing that’s gotten bigger is the Clubman’s $24,950 starting price (including the destination charge). That is nearly $3,000 more than the old Clubman’s base price and more than $5,000 more than base versions of the Focus and Mazda3 hatchbacks.

Mini has always offered an extra dose of style and driving fun for its price premium, and while the Clubman’s greater focus on refinement and comfort will appeal to a new group of buyers, the shift risks alienating customers who still want the type of small, peppy car that the brand still symbolizes.