Finally found time to visit MINI of Peabody and check out the Clubman; there were a few there – and one was unlocked so I could try the extra leg room …
I adjusted the front seat to give me lots of comfortable leg room, then sat in the back – the fact that I could sit there, although leg room was tight, demonstrates the effectiveness of the increased size (in a regular MINI, the front seat would be touching the back seat!).
More appreciated was the extra side / shoulder room, presumably because the rear wheels are further back so intrude less.
I didn’t think there was much extra trunk space, although rear door storage pockets might be useful for something …
I do think the Clubman will be successful, although it now has to compete more directly with other small but not MINI cars; that market might be more sensitive to price than to the styling and (hopefully) performance benefits that the Clubman offers. However I don’t see a Clubman in my future since, like the R56, it can’t offer the connectedness that I am used to in my “first gen” MINIs …
M&I / GBMINI 