Mini Clubman One D 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The wheelbase is longer than that of the three door hatchback, and this does change the driving characteristics making it a little less eager to tackle the corners. However, the ride over bumpy roads has improved, and it is still a very fun car to drive. The driving position is fully adjustable along with the steering wheel, but there are an awful lot of switches and buttons for the driver to use.

In terms of the engine performance, the diesel version of the 1.6 litre engine is not the most responsive or the most powerful, and the acceleration from 0-62mph takes place over 11.8 seconds. Although its acceleration isn't too impressive, the top speed of 113mph is perfectly competent for a car in this class.

The retro look of the Mini is one of the main reasons for the car's success, and the Clubman can also claim to have taken the image of its predecessor and given it a 21st century twist. The trademark round headlights and two coloured body is wonderfully retro, and the alloy wheels are an optional extra that will certainly help to improve the look. The main differences with the Clubman is that it is slightly longer than the Mini, which isn't really noticeable, and that it has double doors leading to the boot, which is a useful feature.

One of the frustrations with the Mini Clubman One is that so many features are actually included as optional extras, although the car does come with air conditioning and electric windows in the front of the car as standard. In terms of communication equipment, all of the features do have to be paid for, but the car does come with a CD stereo as standard.

Although the Clubman is slightly larger than the normal version of the Mini, the space in the back of the car is fairly limited, and will leave taller people feeling particularly cramped. The boot space is also quite small considering the size of the car and how much space is available from many of the competitors. The Mini Clubman has proved itself to be quite a reliable car, which is a big improvement over the original Clubman from a few decades ago.

The Mini Clubman One hasn't been submitted to the Euro NCAP safety tests, but it does have six airbags which are good for keeping driver and passengers safe in an accident. It also has a range of driving aids such as ESP and ABS which will help the driver to keep the car under control at all times.

As with many other Mini cars, a premium is paid because of the brand and the retro styling which has proved to be so popular. The list price for this version is £15,470, but those who are unlikely to do a high mileage in the car many find the 1.6 litre petrol version a better bet.

In terms of the fuel performance of the Mini Clubman One, the diesel engine is able to deliver an outstanding average 72.4mpg. This is one of the main reasons for people to look at the diesel over the cheaper petrol engine. The low insurance group means that premiums should be reasonably low, and the car does hold its value well too. The car is also supplied with a three year unlimited mileage warranty, and also has a three year roadside breakdown policy which is quite competitive for the class.