Mini stretched the length of its Cooper by about 9 inches to make the four-seat Cooper Clubman. The extra length creates more legroom for the Clubman’s two rear passengers, and cargo room behind the backseat is larger. There’s a pair of split-opening rear doors that swing out to either side, rather than the regular Cooper’s conventional hatchback. There’s also a rear-hinged access door on the passenger side.
The Clubman comes in two trim levels, the Cooper and turbocharged Cooper S. It competes with sporty hatchbacks ranging from the Mazda3 to the Volvo C30.
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Bluetooth connectivity is now standard while the previously standard satellite radio feature is now optional. A new Premium Package features a dual-panel sunroof, automatic windshield wipers and automatic climate control.
Differences between the regular Cooper and the Cooper Clubman are most apparent in back, where the Clubman’s rear-quarter pillars are painted in contrasting black or silver. It matches the rear bumper and, if desired, the roof. Body-colored C-pillars are available for certain paint colors. The swing-out doors necessitate a split rear window, and each portion gets its own wiper.
The wheelbase is about 3 inches longer, which helps the Clubman keep its wheels near the bumpers to improve handling, Mini says. The Clubman has many color combinations, as well as options like checkered side mirrors and a Union Jack roof. Exterior features include:
- Available 15-, 16- or 17-inch wheels
- Optional adaptive xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights
- Standard folding power side mirrors
- Hood-scoop intake (S models)
- Optional heated mirrors, washer jets and automatic windshield wipers
- Optional dual-panel panoramic power sunroof
- Dual exhaust pipes (S models)
The interior looks much like the regular Cooper’s, with a large circular speedometer mounted in the center of the dashboard and plenty of toggle switches among the center controls.
Backseat passengers have 32.3 inches of legroom, up from 29.9 inches in the regular Cooper. Cargo room behind the rear seats totals 9.2 cubic feet; with the rear seats folded, maximum cargo room totals 32.8 cubic feet, up from 24 cubic feet in the regular Cooper. That makes for a habitable space but doesn’t mean the Clubman has cavernous dimensions. It’s nowhere near as roomy as most cars in its class, but it’s appreciably roomier than the regular Cooper. Interior features include:
- Available cloth, leatherette or leather upholstery
- Standard power windows and locks, plus keyless entry
- Standard air conditioning with a climate-controlled glove box
- Standard push-button start
- Standard Bluetooth connectivity
- Standard multifunction steering wheel
- Optional automatic climate control
- Optional heated seats
- Optional USB/iPod adapter
- Optional navigation system
With the manual transmission, Mini says the Cooper S Clubman can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds, just 0.2 seconds slower than the regular Cooper S. Unfortunately, just like the regular Cooper, the Clubman takes premium gas. Mechanical features include:
- 121-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 114 pounds-feet of torque
- 181-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 177 pounds-feet of torque (S models)
- Standard six-speed manual transmission
- Optional six-speed automatic
- Optional sport suspension with stiffer front and rear stabilizer bars
Safety features include:
- Side-impact airbags
- Side curtain airbags
- Antilock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution
- Electronic stability system
A John Cooper Works version of Mini’s extended-length Clubman is available for buyers craving more performance. John Cooper Works models are powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder that makes 208 hp at 6,000 rpm and 192 pounds-feet of torque from 1,850 to 6,600 rpm. (The engine, according to Mini, can briefly raise boost-pressure when accelerating to achieve 207 pounds-feet of torque from 2,000 to 5,100 rpm.)
With the standard six-speed manual transmission, Mini says the John Cooper Works can hit 62 mph in 6.8 seconds.
Besides the extensive changes under the hood, these hot-rod Minis also feature unique 17-inch alloy wheels, high-performance brakes and a different exhaust system. As with other Minis, the automaker offers a number of ways to personalize John Cooper Works cars. There are also John Cooper Works accessories that include a sport suspension with red springs, drilled brake discs, a rear spoiler and a suspension brace. Back to top
