One more thing: Driving the Mini One Clubman

This, is the Mini One Clubman, the entry-level Mini for those who want the looks and agility of the regular Mini but now, due to one reason or another, require that extra bit of space and comfort. It is the “base-spec” variant of the Mini catered towards a more “mature” Mini-fan (do we call them Minions?!?).

Stylistically, since we’ve already sampled the similarly styled Cooper S variant, there isn’t much else to say about the Mini One Clubman’s design, featuring exterior elements that have already attained iconic status, it is hard to mistake any Mini for another marque. Even in base-spec “One” form with slightly less flashy 17″ wheels and trim, our Pepper White One Clubman remains an attractive looking vehicle.

Based on the already “practical” Mini 5-door, the Mini Clubman improves on the 5-Door’s usability with an extra 103mm in wheelbase (2,567mm to 2,670mm) and an added 253mm in overall length (3,982mm to 4,235mm). While these extra bits of numbers will generally be acknowledged to translate into added interior and cargo space (all 360 litres of it), it also means altering the aesthetic of the Mini. Stretching it from a short stout runabout into an attractive semi-wagon-esque shape. Bonus points for those stylish barn-doors that not only look cool, are exceptional for loading up skittish dogs who might find top-hinged tailgates a little intimidating. Makes for an easy and quick way to throw in some light groceries too!

And yes, inside, we’ve got a decent amount of room for all passengers. With the quirky suicide-doors of the predecessor now (sadly) replaced by regular items, getting in and out of the rear is now a straight-forward affair with a decent amount of leg and headroom available for those seated behind. The interior trim on the One Clubman also defies what many of us have become accustomed to on “entry-level” offerings, with plenty of quality materials used throughout the cabin. The infotainment system on our One is a bright and cheery 6.5″ unit.

There are some unfortunate bugbears though, mainly with a lack of electric controls for even the driver’s seat and not having Apple Carplay, Android Auto nor in-car navigation as standard. While I understand that this is an “entry-level” model, such amenities should be commonplace in this day and age and not be specced as cost-options.

Love them or loath them, please take a look at those lovely chrome-ringed analogue dials one last time as in all likelihoods, this generation of Minis will be the last place you’d see them. We’re pretty sure the next iteration of the Mini will be featuring digital dials.

The toggle switches though seem destined to remain for a little while longer, which is a source of great joy as they not only look great but the action in which they operate can deliver a much better sense of satisfaction than prodding a giant screen. With keyless entry available on the Mine One Clubman, all you’ll have to do when you get in is push (or pull) on that big red knob to wake up all 101 Horses.

Having driven the excellent John Cooper Works and superbly all-rounded Cooper S variants of the Clubman, along with the Mini One 5-door. I wasn’t expecting to be blown away by the performance of the One Clubman and was a little worried that with an added 130 kilos of weight to shift, as compared to the rather good Mini One 5-door, the One Clubman would be a sluggish slow ride, ill-fitting the sporty playful nature of the brand.

On paper, the numbers don’t look very promising either, 101 horses, 190Nm of torque and a 0-100 time of 11.6 seconds from the One’s 1.5 litre 3-cylinder (albeit Turbocharged) motor don’t look all that impressive. Numbers and figures though, only tell one part of the story because once strapped in, the “driving feel” you get tells another.

The One Clubman is not in any particular way fast, but neither is it slow. While it might only have 190Nm of force available, the 190Nm worth of juice comes in fully at a very useful spot down between 1,380-3,600rpm.

Keep the driving mode and gear-selector lever in sport, and you’ll be able to make easy spritely traffic-light getaways every-time. You won’t be winning any sprint races but there’s adequate power to comfortably shuffle this One around. Ask too much of the motor though and it does begin to get strained in both effort and sound as it will quickly run out of steam further up the rev-range. Best to keep the RPMs low to make use of all the torque you can get.

While throttle control in sport mode is direct and predictable, I can’t say the same with the drive mode set to its Normal setting, or “Mid’ in Mini-speak. In the Mini’s default setting, I often found myself either applying too little or too much throttle with just mere millimetres of foot-flexing. Hopefully, this is an issue that is relegated to our test car as it frustrated me enough to keep me on “Sport” mode for the majority of my drive.

With an extended wheelbase over its stablemates, the One Clubman (and all other Clubmans) delivers a much more comfortable ride akin to the BMWs that share its platform. This does, of course, mean a slightly more matured drive but once committed into a series of bends, the Mini’s ever playful handling characteristics are ready to be discovered.

There is no bad driving Mini and the One Clubman is no exception. It turns in well, the steering while being a little vague, is direct and the One Clubman responds to directional changes with little complaint from the chassis. While it might lack the punch out of corners which its more powerful siblings can provide, connecting a series of corners with the throttle pedal mashed to the floor provides an alternative sense of fun altogether.

So, the Mini One Clubman, an attractive car that’s well-sorted, well put together and able to give you a smile on the right road. Normally, I’d end here but there’s just One more thing I need to point out, it’s the price.

At S$143,888 the Mini One Clubman is slightly over 20-grand less than the Cooper S which seems to make it pretty good value if you don’t need all the extra power and fuel consumption. But at the same time, it is also S$6,000 less than the Cooper Clubman, which while having pretty much similar features as our One, also comes with an extra 30 horses, 30Nm of torque and the added panache of that Cooper badge. While I normally wouldn’t recommend a Cooper over a One, it does seem like a no-brainer when it comes to picking out a Clubman.