Small Space Driving: Mini Cooper Clubman

I need a new car. My Jeep still functions properly, but it is officially ten years old. I’m quite impressed with how well its held up but it’s time for something new.

I have been quite impressed with all the incentives lately as auto manufactures try to out do each other with interest rates and warranties. So I have been checking around for the best deal.

My wife and I love Minis and we are definitely in the market for a more fuel-efficient vehicle. We are also urban dwellers, so smaller is definitely better.

The Mini has much of what we are looking for except well its mini. We travel a good bit in the summer — especially to and from the cottage. Thus we need some cargo room. That’s where the Mini Cooper Clubman comes in.

The Mini Cooper Clubman is the 2008 version of the Mini Countryman, a sort of a mini Station Wagon. It is still petite at only nine inches longer the current Mini. But it also has some interesting features that make it a bit more realistic than the standard Mini.

The passenger side of the Clubman has an addition door that provides more direct access to the back seats. The back also opens — it has two smaller doors that hinge to the right and left rather than one large door. These rear doors also have offset hinges that allow you to fill the entire cargo area without worry of the doors sliming the opening. The rear seats fold down providing even more cargo area.

My favorite feature, however, is the gas mileage — 37 MPG is great. With prices starting at 20,000, the Mini Cooper Clubman is definitely a real contender for our next auto.