2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman Road Test

There haven't been too many cars I've driven recently that incite outrage

Note the order of the name: Mini Cooper S Clubman - it's still a Cooper S first and foremost. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

in other people. I'm sure you might be asking yourself, how can something that's just plain “bug cute” as a Mini incite anything other than feelings of love? Well, let me explain. Many people that I have spoke with, both in person and online, have expressed just how much they dislike the new Mini Clubman and parent company BMW for creating it. They think that it is weird looking, not “mini” enough (size wise) and is a totally unnecessary addition to the Mini brand.

But, is the weight and the size really cause for such scorn? Is a mere 240 mm 9.4 inches of extra length and 143 lbs of girth justification for anger? In theory, I can see the concern given that the Mini is all about being tiny and light, but even the Clubman, with its extended wheelbase and extra weight is still lighter than most other subcompacts on the road.

Most importantly (and priority one for Mini's engineers) was making the Cooper S Clubman every bit a Mini. Everything from the B-pillar forward is the same as the “smaller” Mini. Everything looks the same from the driver's seat as well, that is until you gaze rearward into the mirror and notice that visibility is somewhat obscured by the divided rear

The view from here is the same as with the standard Cooper. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

door. It was a bit of a concern at first, but wouldn't be a deal breaker for me being that I was able to get used to it in a day or two.

Looking forward you'll find the same ergonomics as on the regular Mini; the dinner plate-sized speedometer and the funky HVAC switches that are fashioned in the shape of the Mini brand logo. It's also a case of function following fashion – why for instance is the volume knob below the rest of the radio controls? That aside, there's never anything less than a sense of fun or whimsy in the new Mini's interior, though a recent encounter with the previous generation car showed that some of the interior plastics aren't as high quality as they used to be.

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