2012 MINI Cooper Clubman Baltimore

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The MINI Cooper Clubman offers the drivers a combination of fun-to-drive performance, engineering and unconventional attitude, as well as providing more space than the two-door hatchback MINI. For 2012, some new colors have been added and a new MINI Yours exclusive options program has been introduced.  The Clubman is 9.4 inches longer overall than the hardtop, and 3.2 inches longer in wheelbase. The extra wheelbase converts to more rear legroom, and access to the rear seat is eased by a third, rear-hinged door on the passenger side. The Clubman also features side-hinged swing-out doors at the back, for easy access to the cargo area. A huge range of styling options allows owners to personalize their cars, and it's a major component of MINI's appeal. The choices cover upholstery style, material and color, exterior graphics, trim pieces and ambient lighting.

2012 MINI Cooper Clubman Handling

The Cooper Clubman is powered by a 121-hp 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission or optional six-speed automatic. Safety features include dual-stage front impact airbags, front passenger side-impact airbags and full-cabin head protection curtains. The convertible has a pop-up rear rollover bar. Dynamic safety features include Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and full-feature antilock brakes (ABS), with Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Brake Assist, and Cornering Brake Control. All models with the manual transmission feature Hill Assist, which activates the brakes when starting on an uphill ascent to prevent the car from rolling back. The Clubman is nearly as fun to drive as the regular MINI Cooper hardtop. The Clubman's extra length may actually help in some ways. The longer wheelbase helps to smooth out some of the bumps and make the Clubman somewhat more stable in turns. On the road, most drivers should find the Clubman a little more comfortable than the MINI Cooper hardtop.

Design of the '12 MINI Clubman

The Clubman is nearly ten inches longer than the Cooper hatchback, and features a rear-opening third passenger-side door and pneumatically-assisted split rear cargo doors. The Clubman is identical to the MINI Cooper hardtop from the front bumper to the back of the doors. Another 6.3 inches are found behind the rear wheels, for more cargo space, but the Clubman still manages to keep a wheels-pushed-to-the-corners look. The two biggest changes with the Clubman, compared to the MINI Cooper hardtop, are the substitution of split rear barn doors at the back and the addition of a rear access door on the passenger side. The right-side access door, or Clubdoor, is a small door that doesn't open independently of the front passenger door and is meant to provide easier access to the back seat. At the rear of the car, the handles for the split rear doors are placed together where the doors join. The rear glass is fixed and does not open.

2012 Cooper Clubman Interior

The Clubman offers more interior space than its Cooper Hardtop sibling. Its additional wheelbase length translates into additional legroom for rear-seat passengers, and those in back have more shoulder room, as well. The rear seat of the Clubman is much easier to access from the passenger side, thanks to the Clubdoor. This little, rear-hinged door swings out once the front door is open, like a door on an extended-bed pickup. The Clubman provides a more usable 9.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, and comes standard with a shade-type, pullout cargo blind. With the rear seatbacks folded, it presents a flat load floor and nearly 33 cubic feet of space. There's enough room for a single object about 2 by 3 by 4 feet in dimensions. The Split Rear Barn Doors, as MINI calls them, are hinged on the rear pillars and open out, providing wide and open access to the luggage area, so the Clubman is quite practical for hauling cargo.

Conclusions

The MINI Cooper Clubman has a slightly longer wheelbase than the hardtop, with an equal increase in rear seat legroom. It also has a short, third side door on the passenger side for easier access to the rear seat, and swing-out double doors instead of a lift-up hatch in the back. The Clubman is also offered in S and JCW models. Personalization is a key component of the MINI brand, with an extensive list of factory and dealer installed appearance options that includes include exterior graphics, paint combinations, various chrome baubles and special interior colors, upholstery and trim. For more details on this new model, visit the official MINI Cooper Clubman website!

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com