Club together (Mini Clubman Cooper S) (From Campaign Series)

Club together (Mini Clubman Cooper S)

2:50pm Friday 3rd July 2009

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IT WOULD be a fool who dismisses the success of the Mini brand as one of those flash in the pan fashion fads. A few million owners around the world can’t be wrong, after all.

Even in the face of one of the stickiest financial situations since records began, the Mini Ôbrand’ wagon just keeps rolling. But far from being a one trick pony, the range has evolved over time.

The cornerstone of the range might be the three-door hatch with the convertible coming in a close second, however the addition of the Clubman variant has proven to the cynics that you can have something fashionable that also boasts a practical side.

Call it an estate car if you want but the Clubman does a good job of blending sensible holdall with the trademark Mini styling cues. From the front it couldn’t be anything else. And from the back? Nope, there’s nothing else like it round here either.

And just for good measure, the Mini team have decided to mirror the hatchback’s range. Far from being a poor relation, the Clubman can be had with the same 1.6-litre units in petrol and diesel trim plus the entry-level 1.4 petrol for the One. It also means you can go ape with the Cooper S version.

Nobody really needs a 175 horsepower compact estate car, but you just know that, with a Mini, decisions like this are never rational ones.

Let’s get the practical stuff out of the way first. For a small car, there’s a surprising amount of room in the Clubman. The car’s 260 litres of available space with the rear seats up is pretty decent. There’s a considerable - for a Mini - 930 litres with the seats folded down.

And lucky you in the back of a Clubman, there’s more legroom than in the regular Mini hatch. No really, that is a big deal in the Mini universe. That side door on the Ôwrong’ side of the car for the UK has prompted much talk, although if you’re the driver it can prove handy: open the front door then open the rear door, sling your belongings on the back seat and you’re good to go.

Leaving the dull world of practical, adult issues behind, the Clubman Cooper S boasts plenty of not so subtle clues as to its potential. The exhaust pipes, the bigger wheels, the badging and, most of all, the sound. Fire up this Clubman and you’re treated to a purposeful burble from the rear and a proper Mini-style Ôwhoop!’ and crackle when you hit the throttle and back off respectively.

This is not all for show, mind you. With its 7.6 second zero to 62mph performance and a top speed of 136mph, the Cooper S is no slouch in a straight line. While the super-quick John Cooper Works example promises to deliver the greatest thrills, this Cooper S model isn’t far behind in the real world.

Unlike most other cars in this class, you sit low down in the Clubman. This might sound like a minor consideration, however this situation contributes greatly to the feeling of speed and directness when you’re motoring. The car’s small, chunky steering wheel also helps, as does the short shift action of the car’s standard fit six-speed manual gearbox.

And while ultra-keen drivers might be looking for more communication from the steering, there’s no denying this Clubman’s ability change direction rapidly and accurately. The same is true of the car’s throttle response, which is immediate yet easy to modulate. The end result is a car that’s responsive at speed, can be driven in a hugely enjoyable old school style Ôpoint and squirt’ manner when stringing bends together yet is docile and predictable when all you want to do is go shopping.

For something that, at first glance, appears like a step too far in the mighty Mini branding exercise, the Clubman is in fact a credible addition to the range. You get all the BMW-esque technology such as engine stop-start and brake energy regeneration to make the running costs more acceptable, plus the car is more practical than the critics will ever give it credit.

Then there’s the performance from the Cooper S model, which although is not quite in hot hatch territory, is more than enough to keep the average keen driver entertained. The car is largely vice-free also, allowing you to push on knowing that the Clubman’s limits will be far higher than your own. As a left of field choice it doesn’t disappoint.

That it’s fun to drive, shares its personality with the Mini hatch but offers a different angle on the styling front and can be personalised to a level owners of conventional cars can only dream of is the reason why it deserves the attention it gets on the road.