Living small is a lifestyle choice you understand or just don't get. Little houses, small portions and living within our means today can all seem so un-American.
But the Germany-infused British stalwart Mini brand is a counter-statement and a backbone of doing more with less. Its small cars are cultural icons and teacups of transportation in a land of Big Gulps.
But the brand motors on, infusing one pilgrim at a time. While its cars are subcompact, they have grown in dimensions for realistic use in this land of plenty big.
One of the larger models is the Mini Cooper Clubman, a handy five-seater for families or trendsetters. This little wagon has a roomy interior capable of adult comfort and function.
There was a push last year to infuse the entire Mini lineup with more "premium" materials — and it shows. There is a sturdiness to the interior elements, and there is a pleasing refinement to the appearance of plastics, contrasting hues and the contemporary style of metallic trim. At the same time, it seems overkill for a brand that prides itself on motoring mischief, but Mini calls the luxury treatment "motoring grown up."
The 2017 Clubman is sold in front- or All4 all-wheel drive models with base and S power choices. And all Minis have free scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles (while the basic warranty coverage goes for four years or 50,000 miles).
Base model starting prices are $24,950 and $26,750 for All4, including the $850 freight charge from Oxford, England. The engine is a 134-horsepower, 1.5-liter turbocharged and direct-injected three-cylinder with 162 foot-pounds of torque from 1,250 rpm. It has fuel economy ratings of 25 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined on premium fuel. With the eight-speed automatic ($1,500), I was averaging a solid 30.3 mpg and enjoying the Mini mantra of fun.
The Clubman S is $28,500 — $30,300 with All4. A plethora of personalization accessories and packages can push the final price to neverland.
The Cooper S gets the "big" motor — a 189-horsepower turbocharged and direct-injection 2-liter four-cylinder with 207 foot-pounds of torque from 1,250 rpm. It has mileage ratings of 22/32/26 mpg on premium with the standard six-speed manual. The six-speed manual moves through the gears with well-machined accuracy. The clutch is light, and a hill holder ensures stress-free launches.
There's also a John Cooper Works Clubman All4, with a twin-turbocharged 228-horsepower version of the 2-liter four-cylinder. It is in a class above the standard Clubman, with pricing that starts at $36,450. It can get to 60 mph in six seconds, compared with 6.9 seconds for the Cooper S and 8.9 for the base engine.
I've tested a Clubman S with six-speed manual transmission ($37,000 with extras) and the standard Clubman with eight-speed automatic ($31,750) with extras. For my money, the standard Clubman was sweet and sustainable without pretense.
The Clubman is now longer and wider than any other Mini, and it feels it inside. The cabin is very well-soundproofed but has some run-flat tire noise at interstate speeds. Four-wheel disc brakes have plenty of grip to manage the 3,100- to 3,300-pound curb weights (front- or all-wheel drive).
Mini maximizes interior space and manages 39 inches of front headroom with a moonroof or 40.2 inches without; that's taller than in many midsize sedans. There are clever and useful storage and stash areas throughout. The door storage pockets can hold a quart-sized drink bottle; the owners manual actually fits in the glove compartment (non-locking) with room to spare; and the center armrest has two levels of storage.
There is a charging cubby with a 12-volt auxiliary input, and there's a USB port just ahead of the shift console and dual cup holders. And there is that one-of-a-kind driver's sun visor above the side window. (But wouldn't a simple sliding visor be cheaper and more effective?) Another cool Mini feature is the presence of toggle switches for various controls, including the ignition switch.
The wagon barn doors are different, too, and don't really hurt the driver's rear view, which is already narrowed by the three rear headrests; the rearview camera (in the large center circle) is key to clarity. The leatherette seats with perforated centers in the standard model would be my pick over the $1,500 leather option. Leatherette looks like the real thing and also has tidy stitching and a tender touch. Both front seats are manually height-adjustable. The seat belt anchor is not height-adjustable and cut awkwardly across my neck, but I'm short.
Back seat comfort is good (with a padded fold-down armrest with cup holders), but legroom is tight, and the slim center position is a mere suggestion, compromised by a tall center exhaust-driveshaft tunnel. But there is a head restraint, which makes it OK for three across on the school commute.
The cargo area is small and square with a usable 17.5 cubic feet that expands to 47.9 cubic feet with the seat folded. But the space does not look tall enough or even wide enough to stow a bicycle unless both wheels are off. There are a pair of small side cubbies with nets, lots of basement storage (because there is no spare tire), bag hooks and even storage space in the doors.
Living small has its Cooper rewards. It's just not inexpensive.
2017 Mini Cooper S Clubman
—Body style: subcompact five-seat four-wheel drive wagon.
—Engine: 189-horsepower, turbocharged and direct-injection 2-liter four-cylinder with 207 foot-pounds of torque at 1,250 rpm.
—Transmission: six-speed manual.
—0-60 mph: seven seconds.
—Fuel economy: 22/32 mpg city/highway with premium fuel.
SPECIFICATIONS
—Fuel tank: 13.2 gallons.
—Cargo space: 17.5-47.9 cubic feet.
—Front head/leg/shoulder room: 39/41.4/54.7 inches, 40.2 without moonroof.
—Rear head/leg/shoulder room: 36.9/34.3/52.8 inches.
—Length/wheelbase: 168.3/105.1 inches.
—Curb weight: 3,235 pounds.
—Turning circle: 37.1 feet.
FEATURES
—Standard equipment includes rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, driver-side puddle lights with Mini logo, LED fog lights, floor mats, 17-inch alloy wheels, six-speaker audio system, Bluetooth phone connectivity, sport seats with thigh extenders, 60-40 split folding back seat.
—Safety features include eight air bags, stability and traction controls, corner brake control, brake-force distribution.
PRICING
—Base price: $28,500, including $850 freight charge. Price as tested: $37,000.
—Options on test vehicle: "Melting Silver" metallic, $500; "Pure Burgundy" leather, $1,500; Premium package, $1,800, includes smart key locking and push-button ignition, panoramic moonroof, Harman Kardon audio system; Technology package, $1,750, includes rearview camera and park distance alert (rear); JCW interior package, $400, includes leather-wrapped steering wheel and black headliner; heated front seats, $500; LED headlights, $1,000; head-up display, $750; satellite radio with a one-year subscription, $300.
—Where assembled: Oxford, United Kingdom
—Warranty: four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty with unlimited mileage for roadside assistance; free scheduled maintenance for three years/36,000 miles (includes oil and filter changes, engine drive belts, wiper blade inserts and brake pads, discs and fluid).
Mark Maynard is online at mark.maynard@sduniontribune.com. Find photo galleries and more news at Facebook.com/MaynardsGarage. To find out more about Mark Maynard and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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