2016 Mini Clubman grows up, gains doors

Like your fun-loving kid brother, the Mini Clubman has grown up. Motoring on to adulthood, the redesigned model bowing for 2016 is not so mini anymore.

Two feet longer and almost a foot wider than the old Clubman, it's almost exactly the size of the latest Volkswagen Golf—which is relatively big for a Mini. In all but height, it's bigger than the current Mini Countryman, and it rides on a longer, 105-inch wheelbase. From anyplace other than behind, it looks a lot like the new four-door Mini Hardtop, but bigger.

The Clubman retains its distinctive rear "barn doors,"which are power operated this time, with big horizontal taillights attached. And it gains two conventional doors into the backseat, instead of the single rear-opening door on the right side before. The split rear doors now have a narrower pillar for better visibility, and they can be opened automatically by kicking your foot under the rear bumper.

The Clubman has grown inside, too, with an additional center rear seat. And grown-ups will appreciate the power-adjustable front seats with a memory function on the driver's seat, available for the first time on a Mini.

Mini says the new Clubman is designed for long trips—not a former strong suit. Bottle holders in the doors will hold 1-liter bottles, and the rear seat folds in 40/20/40 sections so your bro can fit his dorm fridge along with an extra moving buddy together in the back. Replacing the strut rear suspension design with a multi-link setup helps maximize cargo space.

The Clubman will be available with Mini's usual two turbocharged engines: a 1.5-liter, three-cylinder rated at 134-hp or a 2.0-liter four-cylinder good for 189-hp in the Mini Clubman S. In classic Mini fashion, both powerplants come standard with a six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic is optional on the base Clubman, and a new eight-speed automatic is available on the S. An eight-speed with manual shift mode and quicker shifts is another upgrade. Automatic versions show a shift-point display and take terrain data from the navigation system into account when selecting shift profiles. Like other recent Minis, all Clubmen now feature an automatic start-stop system that shuts the engine off at stops as well as automatic brake regeneration.

The promise of "The highest level of ride comfort … ever on a Mini" should keep clubbers content, yet Mini also says the Clubman will retain the brand's go-kart responsiveness. We didn't think that claim held quite true on the latest Mini Hatchback models, but they do ride more comfortably and are still fun to drive.

To emphasize its luxury intent, the new Clubman is available with a head-up display, automatic high beams, parking assistant, and a backup camera—a welcomed feature to compensate for the visual obstruction from the split rear window. Road sign detection displays speed limits and other warnings in the center screen, and camera-guided active cruise control features forward collision and pedestrian warning that will initiate braking when it detects an obstacle.

A big Mini may sound a little like an oxymoron, but we look forward to testing how well it has grown up, after it goes on sale next January.

Read our complete Mini Cooper road test.

—Eric Evarts