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2008 MINI Cooper Clubman Quality Review

July 28, 2008

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Even full throttle acceleration didn't bring out any more than a refined snarl
ConsumerGuide

slightly claustrophobic
Automobile

Now adults - instead of just grocery bags, briefcases, and children - might actually fit behind the front seats
Car and Driver

The 2008 MINI Cooper S Clubman exists to provide MINI styling and the added practicality of respectable trunk space. In that regard, it’s mission accomplished, according to the reviews cited by TheCarConnection.com.

Rear passengers will enjoy vastly more interior legroom: the Clubman sports a 9.5-inch addition to its wheelbase, allowing for a 3.2-inch increase in legroom. In the rear, twin cargo doors replace the hatch found on the regular MINI; Cooper S Clubman doors open up to a larger cargo area (32.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down; with the seats raised, the Clubman still carries 9.1 cubic feet of stuff).

The rear of the car is now so spacious that Car and Driver says, "with the seats folded, 33 cubic feet of storage are available, nearly as many as in a Chevy Tahoe." Granted, the Clubman won't accommodate the same number of passengers (not legally, at least), but this is still an impressive statistic.

Quality on the MINI is what you would expect from a car in this price range. Materials are solid throughout, and TheCarConnection.com finds that the two-tone leather interior of the Clubman draws praise from reviewers. The only gripes that reviewers record are summed up by Popular Mechanics' complaint about "the quirky placement and labeling of some secondary controls" and rear seats that Automobile describes as "slightly claustrophobic."

TheCarConnection.com has had extensive experience in the MINI Cooper and Clubman, and while the extra interior room is appreciated in the Clubman, all is not perfect. The interior's fun to look at, but it's less fun to use every day. Glare off the huge center speedometer is distracting, and the controls and switches are, well, mini. Many can't be operated with gloves on, TheCarConnection.com’s Detroit reporter notes. The switchgear also feels flimsy. MINI probably couldn’t add a second half-door to the driver's side of the Clubman--that would make both rear seats easier to get into, but would likely cut into its body strength too much—but it would be more convenient, if also more like the Honda Element.

Conclusion

The 2008 MINI Cooper Clubman’s extra cargo and people space is a welcome improvement over the standard Cooper MINI.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:Even full throttle acceleration didn't bring out any more than a refined snarlConsumerGuideslightly claustrophobicAutomobileNow adults - instead of just grocery bags, briefcases, and children - might actually fit behind the front seatsCar and Driver The 2008 MINI Cooper S Clubman exists to provide MINI styling and the added practicality of respectable trunk space. In that regard, it’s mission accomplished, according to the reviews cited by TheCarConnection.com. Rear passengers will enjoy vastly more interior legroom: the Clubman sports a 9.5-inch addition to its wheelbase, allowing for a 3.2-inch increase in legroom. In the rear, twin cargo doors replace the hatch found on the regular MINI; Cooper S Clubman doors open up to a larger cargo area (32.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down; with the seats raised, the Clubman still carries 9.1 cubic feet of stuff). The rear of the car is now so spacious that Car and Driver says, "with the seats folded, 33 cubic feet of storage are available, nearly as many as in a Chevy Tahoe." Granted, the Clubman won't accommodate the same number of passengers (not legally, at least), but this is still an impressive statistic. Quality on the MINI is what you would expect from a car in this price range. Materials are solid throughout, and TheCarConnection.com finds that the two-tone leather interior of the Clubman draws praise from reviewers. The only gripes that reviewers record are summed up by Popular Mechanics' complaint about "the quirky placement and labeling of some secondary controls" and rear seats that Automobile describes as "slightly claustrophobic." TheCarConnection.com has had extensive experience in the MINI Cooper and Clubman, and while the extra interior room is appreciated in the Clubman, all is not perfect. The interior's fun to look at, but it's less fun to use every day. Glare off the huge center speedometer is distracting, and the controls and switches are, well, mini. Many can't be operated with gloves on, TheCarConnection.com’s Detroit reporter notes. The switchgear also feels flimsy. MINI probably couldn’t add a second half-door to the driver's side of the Clubman--that would make both rear seats easier to get into, but would likely cut into its body strength too much—but it would be more convenient, if also more like the Honda Element. ConclusionThe 2008 MINI Cooper Clubman’s extra cargo and people space is a welcome improvement over the standard Cooper MINI.  2008 MINI COOPER CLUBMAN STYLING | [9 out of 10] Automobile.com: "No last-minute stretch job" ConsumerGuide: "Unquestionable cuteness" Automobile: "An odd mix of taffy-stretched MINI Cooper and retro-pretentious bread van" Reviewers from around the Web generally approved of the ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The 2008 MINI Cooper S Clubman is not a car that's easily classified. Even though the Clubman is small, it's not a garden-variety subcompact like a Ford Focus or a Toyota Corolla. And because the Cooper S Clubman has a backseat and room for cargo, it's not a pure sportscar like a Mazda RX-8. Experts from TheCarConnection.com recommend these "other choices" for the 2008 MINI Cooper S Clubman because they offer practicality in a high-performance package. The excellent MazdaSpeed3 is truly anonymous next to the MINI Cooper, but it performs better. The Chevrolet HHR SS and Dodge Caliber SRT4 are two competent high-performance versions of otherwise pedestrian domestic cars, but they offer capable versatility with impressive power and handling. The A3 is another out-of-class MINI competitor, though with a few options, a Cooper S Clubman will quickly be in Audi pricing territory.

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See the MINI Cooper Clubman in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008

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