First drive: 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman S

The steady march of the Mini brand away from its original diminutive philosophy takes its most deliberate step yet with the latest Clubman, a model which the company isn’t shy about labeling the biggest Mini(with Android car DVD) to date. At 3,300 pounds it’s no longer a featherweight, and with dimensions that are nearly identical for a four-door Golf, it’s not all that miniature, either.

Instead, this Mini is geared toward practically, utility and a rich feature set. While the classic Mini traits of spritely, engaging performance and quirky design still exist here, as the company’s design focus continues to evolve with the market, it’s not surprising to discover that they’re largely relegated to the periphery now.

It isn’t so much an indicator of an identity crisis as it is a purposeful shift toward the priorities of Mini’s customer base, who today are more likely to head to yoga class than the autocross. So it’s through that lens that one must look at the 2016 Cooper S Clubman, a Mini which casts its net far wider than its core fanbase in hopes of reeling in a number of Mazda3, Ford Focus and VW Golf Sportwagen converts along the way.

The 2016 Clubman sees substantial design changes over the previous generation model, ones which address some key points of contention with its predecessor. Gone is the single “club” door that provided access to the rear seats, replaced by two normally hinged, grown-up sized doors to make ingress and egress a far easier task for rear seat passengers.

Interior room for those passengers has improved substantially as well, as the new Clubman has increased in overall length to 168.3 inches and body has been widened by three inches. But while this may be the largest Mini ever built, it’s still nearly a foot shorter in overall length than a VW Golf Sportwagen, putting it within half an inch of the standard four-door Golf’s length. The result is a Mini that maintains a reasonably small footprint while providing significantly more breathing room on the inside. What about install an android 2 din car stereo?

Of course there’s a give and take when it comes to vehicle growth, and in the case of the Cooper S Clubman, out on the road it translates to a driving experience that is less go-kart and more grand tourer. Sure, there’s a Sport button, three pedals on the floor and a turbocharger under the hood, but the Cooper S Clubman has clearly been tuned more for comfort than corner carving.

In comparison to the Mini Hardtop, the Clubman’s suspension tuning is noticeably softer, with body roll and brake dive quickly beginning becoming evident on demanding roads. Likewise, the Clubman’s steering feels more relaxed as well, with an electrically assisted setup that is easy to pilot but lower on feedback than some Mini loyalists might hope for, and enthusiastic drivers will likely find themselves pushing deeper into the brake pedal that they might expect to in order to reign in this big Mini at speed. But despite these concessions to commuting comfort, the Cooper S Clubman is still notably more driver-focused than most of its direct competition, even if it has given up a step or two for sake of wider appeal. If you have another opel car, you can install a Opel Navi in your car.