Mini has chosen a good time to launch the latest member of its model range, the One Clubman. The new entry-level estate enters the market just as the iconic little city car celebrates its 50th birthday, but it’s also a good time to launch a car that returns 52.3mpg and emits just 130g/km as we all worry about the effects of the recession and climate change. The Mini One Clubman therefore seems ideally placed to offer a useful alternative for young families who spend much of their time in and around town, but who also take the occasional longer trip.
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This is where the One Clubman comes into its own. Much has been made of the driving dynamics of the Mini since it was revived by BMW in 2001 and this particular variant is no different, having everything you’d expect from a Mini in the ride and handling department. The latest Mini iteration, launched in 2006, has ever so slightly reined in the go-kart-like handling of the car, but it’s still just as agile and involving to drive. The steering is as pointy and precise as you expect from a Mini: there’s not a huge amount of feel, thanks to electric power steering (the previous version had a hydraulic set-up) but it’s still eminently chuckable in the corners. The ride is also excellent, with the Clubman’s extra length (it’s 24cm longer than the hatch, with 8cm more in the wheelbase), thicker roll bar and different damper rates giving it a softer, more compliant quality.
Read the full Mini One Clubman road test
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