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MINI’s new Clubman adds practicality to the British-built car’s already-stylish formula. We see if it’s good enough to beat VW’s Golf GTI
It was possibly one of the worst-kept automotive secrets of recent times, but the estate version of the MINI has finally arrived.
Called the Clubman, it gives the supermini added appeal to buyers who require more space than the standard hatch has to offer. While the three-door MINI is a superb car, it has its limitations – in particular a severe lack of rear passenger and boot space. The Clubman is 240mm longer than the standard model, and as a result offers 80mm more rear legroom.
Prices start at £14,235 for the entry-level Cooper version, while the diesel Cooper D will set you back £15,400. The range-topping model is the Cooper S tested here. It costs £17,210, which puts it up against some serious competition.
However, it’s difficult to see what obvious rivals the Clubman has. The firm lists models as diverse as the Alfa Romeo 147, SEAT Altea, Renaultsport Clio and Volvo C30 as opponents, but as always it will be hoping its premium feel will give it an advantage. And that’s why we’ve pitched it against the VW Golf GTI.
As with the MINI, it has a strong, sporty image, yet is easy to live with on a daily basis. Can it hold off the challenge of the versatile new MINI? We took to the roads of Spain in one of the first Clubman models available in Europe to find out.
MINI Cooper S Clubman
It’s grown in size, but has MINI lost its sporting edge in the process?
Taking styling references from the Morris Mini Traveller, Austin Mini Countryman and the Mini Clubman Estate, the latest model in BMW’s MINI line-up seems unorthodox compared to rival offerings.
From the front it’s standard MINI, while only the eagle-eyed will spot the integrated roof rails. Yet the elongated glass area hints that this is no ordinary version, and it’s at the back where the influence of past models has had a real impact.
The van-style double doors – which featured on the original estates – are unique in this sector, and we think they really stand out. The same could be said of the silver C-pillars which extend to the bumper (as with the roof, these can also be specified in black). Pull the stylish chrome handles, and you’ll find that the doors open with minimal effort, thanks to gas struts – although you have to open the right hand door first, which can be a pain.
The boot itself isn’t particularly impressive, either. Compared to the standard car, there’s an extra 100 litres of space, and there is also another 50-litre area under the floor. However, an overall capacity of 260 litres is still 90 litres smaller than the Golf. There’s better news for passengers, though. The rear chairs offer decent legroom compared to the hatch, although it’s still not that spacious. In relation to the GTI, it feels a little cramped, but the optional leather seats of our test car were extremely comfortable.
While the chairs are good, access isn’t. The rear-hinged Clubdoor is certainly an unusual addition that helps the MINI to retain its clean lines, but unlike on our left-hand-drive test car, it will be on the ‘wrong’ side on UK models, so passengers will have to step into the road to make use of its wider opening. It doesn’t make entry or exit particularly easy, either, especially as the front seatbelt is attached to it and gets in the way. You can still get into the back from the single door on the opposite side without too much of a struggle, though.
Interior quality is excellent and the driving position spot on. It certainly feels more special than the GTI, so it’s a bit of a letdown that the engine has such a muted note on start-up.
You’ll quickly forget this once on the move. The 1.6-litre turbo unit, co-developed with PSA Peugeot Citroen, is eager and free-revving. The turbo picks up from 1,500rpm and the unit is incredibly responsive, although it lacks the top-end rush of the GTI’s motor. As with all new MINIs, it comes with Auto Start/Stop to help reduce emissions. This can be disconcerting at first, but makes a lot of sense in traffic.
At the test track, the MINI matched the more powerful Golf’s 0-60mph time of 6.8 seconds and was slightly quicker from 30-70mph through the gears. But this is only half the story. On the road, the MINI is more engaging and agile than the VW.
From behind the wheel, the Clubman feels much like the standard Cooper S, although the extra 80kg kerbweight is noticeable during quick changes of direction or under hard braking. Our test car was fitted with an optional £115 limited-slip differential, which meant traction out of tight bends was impressive. And while the Golf is more sure-footed, the MINI has the edge for involvement.
On paper, the Clubman seems good value compared to the GTI. But equipment is miserly – despite costing more than £17,000, the Cooper S doesn’t even get air-con. Yet with all the options fitted to our car, it still worked out significantly cheaper than the Golf.
Volkswagen Golf GTI DSG
Five-door hot hatch offers a tough test of MINI’s all-round abilities
With so many potential rivals for the new MINI, picking one that best matched the Clubman was tricky. So why the GTI? Well, as with its rival, it has a sporting ethos combined with practicality, especially in five-door guise.
However, the extra doors don’t do much for the looks. We’re big fans of the stylish three-door, but this variant doesn’t work quite as well, and seems a little fussy. It’s still every inch the hot hatch though, thanks to the aggressive nose, side skirts and tailgate spoiler. Parked alongside the Clubman, its extra height and width are clear to see, and it certainly looks more the performance car.
So what about the GTI’s practical side? Well, there’s nothing particularly clever about the Golf’s boot with its top-hinged tailgate, but that doesn’t really matter, as the load space is longer and wider than the Clubman’s. That’s no surprise, given the car’s 258mm overall length advantage. Not only is the boot bigger with the seats up, but drop them down and the GTI has an impressive 1,305-litre capacity – 375 litres more than the MINI.
If you regularly carry more than one passenger, or have children, then the Golf makes even more sense. With conventional rear doors, access is straightforward – crucial if you are fitting child seats – while passenger space is much bigger. Legroom is generous (720mm compared to 660mm in the Clubman) and it’s more comfortable with three in the back, thanks to the extra width.
The rest of the cabin has a real air of solidity. It lacks the neat styling touches of the retro-inspired MINI, but in its own sober way the VW has a pleasing and upmarket ambience about it. The driving position is just as good as the Clubman’s, and the seat and column have more adjustment.
As with the Cooper S, the GTI uses turbocharging to deliver its 197bhp and 280Nm of torque. The TFSI motor feels smoother than its rival’s and was quieter at idle, too. Like the MINI, there’s nothing distinctive about the engine note at start-up, but on the road, a blip of the throttle and quick lift are accompanied by a pleasing rasp from the exhaust.
During our performance tests, the Golf matched the lighter MINI’s 0-60mph time of 6.8 seconds, but was surprisingly slower from 50-70mph in both fifth and sixth gears, despite its more aerodynamic shape.
Another letdown is the optional DSG gearbox. While the transmission works well on large executive cars, it’s not suited to a hot hatch. Even with steering wheel-mounted paddleshifters, it can’t replicate the involvement offered by a manual box and saps the fun out of the driving experience. Progress is still rapid though, and overtaking is a breeze, but with virtually undetectable gearchanges, the GTI never seems as fast as the figures suggest.
This doesn’t prevent the VW from feeling composed and dependable on tight, twisting roads. Yet while it’s well balanced and precise, the Golf never engages with you the way that the MINI does. Don’t get us wrong, it’s talented, but it lacks the same fun factor of the Clubman. The ride quality is excellent though, and the cosseting Golf is a more relaxing long-distance companion.
But it doesn’t come cheap. Even without the DSG gearbox, the VW costs £21,107 – nearly £4,000 more than the Clubman. However, it does come with rain sensors and climate control as standard – both are on the long list of optional equipment available on the MINI.
VERDICT
Both rivals offer plenty of thrills, but each has its own individual character. With a bigger boot, better passenger space and a more powerful engine, the VW Golf GTI should really have this test wrapped up – but it’s not that simple.
There’s no doubt it’s the more practical car, but it lacks that ‘extra’ appeal of the MINI. That’s partly down to the VW’s DSG gearbox, which, although smooth, saps driver involvement. This doesn’t dent the GTI’s desirability, though, and it certainly has more sporting pretensions than the Clubman.
But the MINI has the edge. As with the hatch, it’s fun to drive, and while not as relaxing as the Golf at speed, it is more entertaining on twisting roads, thanks to a superb driving position, communicative steering and a balanced chassis.
So has the Clubman been worth the wait? Well, the Clubdoor and van-style tailgate are innovative touches, and it’s undoubtedly more practical than the hatch. But the boot is still small and the rear seats aren’t that spacious. It’s not the biggest supermini estate around, and can’t even match some hatches for size, but it’s hard to resist the MINI Clubman’s charms.
Clubman vs Golf GTI | Car Group Tests | Car Reviews | Auto Express
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