The 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show featured Mini's U.S. premiere of the all-new Clubman. Upon first sight, my child-rearing, four-door needing, fun-yet-practical car-seeking heart skipped a beat. I've been a longtime fan of Mini -- I owned a Cooper (now called the Hardtop) before my daughter was born, and I tested and approved of the Countryman SUV's chops as a family hauler. How does this new Clubman measure up?
More 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show Coverage
When Mini unveiled the new four-door version of the Hardtop Cooper at last year's L.A. Show, I was immediately disappointed to find that the rear door openings are far too small; I approached the new Clubman with similar caution. However, I was thrilled to find that not only did the Clubman appear to have plenty of room for a small family, increases in passenger room and cargo space mean it's even bigger than the Countryman SUV.
Just as you may have matured with the joys of family life, the Clubman has also matured since it first launched in 2007 as the Cooper Clubman. Its wheelbase is 5 inches longer than the outgoing model's, and with the rear seats up it offers a significant 8.3 cubic feet more cargo space than the outgoing model for a total of 17.5 cubic feet. The Countryman, meanwhile, offers 16.5 cubic feet of space.
Its increased length and width also means more wiggle room inside the cabin for all passengers. Rear seat legroom increased to 34.3 inches, a smidge more than the Countryman's 33.8 inches.
2016 Mini Clubman; Cars.com photo by Angela Conners
The new Clubman also ditched its previous asymmetrical three-door design and now has front and rear doors on both sides, meaning your mini-sized passengers can pile into the backseat with ease. The low-step in height also makes it easier for kids to get in and out. However, keeping with its quirkiness, Mini retained the cargo area's double-door design, which as a parent, I personally find convenient. You can slide right up to the outward opening doors and open them one handed when kiddos or cargo are in the other hand, and it's a comfortable alternative to reaching up to close the hatch.
The new "maxi" version of this Mini is the most promising contender yet for parents who enjoy the thrill of motoring with Mini. A few car seats in back shouldn't keep you from having fun on the road, and based on its specs, moms or dads won't have to defend an impractical choice either.
from Cars.com News http://ift.tt/1jc4Qrh
No comments:
Post a Comment