absolutely! AUTO REVIEW | By Steve Kursar –
The all-new 2016 MINI Cooper Clubman is the answer for parents who long to own one of these iconic sports cars but also need space and cargo room that most families demand. The new Clubman is longer and wider than its predecessor with a roomy enough interior to transport five relatively comfortably without any of the fun parts for which MINI is known. Driving one will assuredly make you one of the cooler parents in the carpool lane.
The Mini began life back in 1959 as a cleverly designed small car manufactured by the British Motor Corporation. The car quickly became one of the defining symbols of the hip culture in 1960s London. Performance versions of the little car were also very successful on the rally circuit. However, due to economic reasons, the brand became part of a group that was sold in 1994 to BMW. In 2000, the German carmaker rejuvenated the brand as MINI but made sure to keep the car distinctive, fun to drive and just plain fun.
The new Clubman is available with two different powerplants. The base model, with an MSRP of $24,100, has a 134 hp, 1.5 liter inline three-cylinder twin turbo engine. Mated with the manual six-speed transmission, estimated EPA fuel economy is 28 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. If you need a little more sports car in your Clubman, then the Cooper S can deliver with a 189 hp, 2.0 liter inline four-cylinder twin turbo engine. This larger engine definitely delivers a lot more fun with just a slight drop in fuel economy getting 26 mpg city/32 mpg highway.
The interior may not rival a full-size SUV, but compared to the other MINI models, the Clubman is in its own class. With four doors and room enough for several suitcases behind the back seat, you’ll easily be able to get the kids and all of their stuff to school and to practice. The split rear doors allow for easy loading, and they look cool too. Some interior design features might seem a bit quirky at first, but being different is a hallmark of the MINI brand.
The new Clubman is sure to bring so many new devotees to the brand simply because of its four doors and a roomy interior. But, this is no ordinary family sedan. This car is still all MINI.
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