2017 MINI Clubman Cooper S Review
Car Tested: 2017 MINI Clubman Cooper S; Road Test No. 830
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 46.58 lakhs
The Clubman is everything but MINI and looks a bit ungainly from the side profile
MINI is a brand synonymous with making cars which are small, nimble and fun-to-drive. All this while not being too expensive. The latter part doesn’t stand true for the Indian market as all the models cost quite a lot of money and their options are obscenely priced too. India being a country where people prefer practicality over everything else, it is the Countryman which manages to find the most homes out of the lineup. To cater in a better way to this clientele who wants space in their MINI, the British brand has launched the Clubman in India. Going against the very ethos the brand is known for, does this car have what it takes to be called a MINI?
Motor Quest: Standing at a whopping 4.25 metres in length, the MINI Clubman Cooper S is as long as most C-Segment sedans. It is a substantial 270 mm longer than a standard 5-Door Cooper and almost 400 mm longer than a 3-Door Cooper S with which it shares the engine.
Many feel this MINI is a modified version of the standard Cooper
Exteriors – Look at the front fascia and an uninformed person would be hard pressed to know the Clubman apart from its stablemates. Sure, it is a fair bit wider than its siblings but the basic design philosophy is the same. The clamshell bonnet, the headlamps, the grille, all are typical MINI fashioned. The S badge on the grille signifies that the car has enough firepower under the hood, more on this later. Move to the side and the story changes quickly. The length immediately becomes evident and makes for quite an unflattering view, something which is very rare when it comes to MINI. However, the most unflattering side of the longest MINI has to be its rear.
The twin tail gates are unique but also rob rearward visibility
The cabin isn’t very airy but there is decent amount of space for four
The twin tailgate design coupled with horizontal taillights would make one believe that this isn’t a MINI. It is only the badges which would make you believe it is one. While the tailgate design is very practical, practicality being what this car is all about, it looks awful and also hampers rearward visibility while driving. Both the tailgates are loaded with badges but I would have preferred simpler and uncluttered badging. For the ones getting this car, it is best to buy it in a darker, less noticeable shade because this isn’t a car you would want people to stare at.
The interiors are standard MINI affair with an all black cabin
Interiors – Move to the inside of the Clubman Cooper S and it is typical MINI fare, at least at the front. The dashboard, the seats, the steering wheel, all feel very familiar to me and pretty similar to the Cooper S Convertible I drove about a year ago. The biggest plus point of the increase in the dimensions of this car are seen on the inside. All the increased dimensions have liberated a lot of space inside the cabin, something which MINI is not known for. I welcome the additional room because it makes it a really practical family car. As is common with the BMW owned brand, interiors come sparsely equipped as standard and one will have to tick a fair bit of options to make it a desirable place to be in.
Rear seat space is better than the standard Cooper but lacks the airy feel
Opening and closing the boot doors of the Clubman takes quite some efforts
The biggest USP of the car is the space inside, most of which is seen in the rear bench. The rear seats are very comfortable for two passengers with enough headroom, shoulder room and good amount of legroom. For the first time ever, two 6-feet people can sit behind each other in a MINI. The cabin feels very roomy thanks to the panoramic sunroof which lets in a lot of light. With the rear seats in place, the boot capacity is an accommodating 360-litres. Need more space? Fold the rear seats down and you have a whopping 1250-litres of space! If there’s one element which will help this car sell, it is the interior space.
The Clubman’s fun engine propels it from 0-100 km/hr in just 7.2 seconds
Performance – Offered in only variant, the MINI Clubman Cooper S is powered by a 2.0-litre, four cylinder, turbo petrol engine which produces a solid 192 BHP of power and 280 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 8-speed Steptronic gearbox which gives the car good cruising capability. 0-100 km/hr comes up in 7.2 seconds, just half a second slower than the 3-Door Cooper S. Even after the Clubman being almost 300 kgs heavier than the regular Cooper S, performance hasn’t been hampered by a lot. Globally, the car can be specced with AWD, but it only comes with a FWD for the Indian market to keep costs in check, funny considering the car isn’t particularly affordable as it is.
Floor the throttle and the sound mesmerises you in the top-end
The engine is such a bomb that you will barely miss the smaller Cooper S
When I started driving the Clubman, it felt just like any other MINI when within the city traffic. On to some open roads, I didn’t expect it be too quick as it is a heavy car. But boy! I floored the throttle and it picked up pace real quick. It felt as quick as its smaller siblings which was a revelation. The added practicality hasn’t hampered the performance a MINI, especially one with a S badge is known for. When in the mood for cruising, the 8-speed transmission kept things calm with the engine spinning at very low RPMs. This helps the car return a respectable fuel efficiency of 9 km/l when driven sedately. Drive it hard and the number quickly drops to as low as 6 km/l.
The Clubman stays true to MINI genes and is a fun handler
Driving Dynamics – Dynamics are the biggest selling point for any MINI. But with length on the wrong side of 4-metres, it is expected that the Clubman Cooper S wouldn’t be as engaging to drive as its siblings. The additional length and weight has hampered the handling by a fair bit, which is still not bad for a hatchback this big. The long wheelbase has increased body roll but this can be felt only while pushing the car around corners. In normal driving conditions, one would be hard pressed to notice the increase in body roll over the smaller MINIs. Similarly, the additional length is felt only when pushing the car real hard or while parking it.
Ride quality is suprisingly good even with those low profile tyres
The stiffness can be felt but overall, the ride and handling balance is quite good
Ride quality of the MINI Clubman Cooper S is surprisingly good even on bad roads. But, the low-profile rubber mounted on 18-inch rims gets one worried. Bubbles on tyres would not be uncommon unless one is careful to go slow over speed bumps and potholes. Since the suspension is on the stiffer side, it does thud over bad roads. Moving on to the brakes, they work really well and help shed speed quickly without any drama. However, with under 6000 kms on the odometer of our test car, the brakes were producing a screeching sound. This may be due to a small pebble in between the brake pad and disc or due to brake pads being worn out.
The Clubman gets all the safety bits you would expect from a MINI
Safety and After Sales Service – The MINI Clubman Cooper S comes with the usual safety features like 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, etc. However, you also get advanced technology like Cornering Braking Control and Dynamic Traction Control. The build quality of the car is very good too and it scored 4 stars in the Euro NCAP test. With very few showrooms across India, the sales and after sales reach of MINI is limited which is worrisome for owners if something goes wrong.
The MINI Clubman is a unique vehicle which is both fun and practical
Verdict – When I saw the pictures of the Clubman, I thought why has MINI made this car? It doesn’t look good and is not particularly ‘mini’. However, after driving it around, I have understood the reason. This is a car built for the a young professional or a middle-aged person who wants to have just one car, albeit one which can do it all. For them, this is the perfect bet as it offers practicality, performance, space and exclusivity in one package. Priced similarly to entry level German sedans, the MINI Clubman Cooper S offers a very different experience.
Boot space is one of the USPs of the MINI Clubman
What’s Cool
* The cabin is comfortable and spacious
* Very good performance despite the size
* The most practical MINI
* Good ride and handling balance
What’s Not So Cool
* Unflattering looks
* Priced high
* Expensive options
Alternatives: None
From the front, you could mistake it for any other MINI
2017 MINI Clubman Cooper S Specifications
* Engine: 1998cc, 4-Cyl, turbo-petrol
* Power: 192 BHP @ 5000 RPM
* Torque: 280 Nm @ 1250 RPM
* Transmission: 8-speed AT
* Fuel Consumption: 6.5 – 9 km/l (Tested)
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Suspension: McPherson Strut with Aluminum Swivel Bearing (Front), Multi-Link (Rear)
* Tyres: 225/40/R18
* Brakes: Ventilated Discs (Front & Rear), ABS with EBD
* Safety: 6 Airbags, ABS, EBD, Hill Hold, ESC, CBC, DTC
2017 MINI Clubman Cooper S Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 4253 mm X 1800 mm X 1441 mm
* Boot Space: 360-litres
* Wheelbase: 2670 mm
* Turning Radius: 5.65-metres
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 48-litres
* Kerb Weight: 1465 kgs
Doesn’t the Clubman look a bit like a station wagon from certain angles?