Mini fans expected the new Clubman to be big, and so it is now larger than the average sedan. Longer, lower and wider than before, this new Clubman’s larger dimensions lead to the car being designated a compact, rather than a subcompact allowing Mini to widen its appeal.
Mini officials say they have lost thousands of potential buyers over the years who liked the brand’s design and performance but found the cabin too tight and small to be practical.
The new Clubman is billed as the marque’s flagship, and it is charged with taking the whole brand further upmarket in the premium small-car space. Mini officials say this segment is a key growth area.
To be exact, the new Clubman is 10.9 ins. (277 mm) longer and 2.9 ins. (74 mm) wider, and its wheelbase is 4 ins. (102 mm) larger than the new 5-door Mini Hardtop. It is even substantially longer than the Countryman CUV. This puts the Clubman into competition with a variety of people movers, from the Audi Q3 and several versions of the VW Golf to vehicles such as the BMW 220 Tourer.
The Clubman uses the same engines as the rest of the Mini range. The Cooper Clubman is powered by BMW’s turbocharged 1.5L 3-cylinder producing 134hp and 220Nm of torque, and the Cooper S Clubman features BMW’s 189hp 2.0L 4-cyl turbocharged at 281Nm.
So, how much will this new Clubman ‘eat’ into the BMW compact vehicle (BMW220, BMW125 and BMW3) sales when it arrives? We wait and see.
