MINI is the only premium brand that is building only small class vehicles.
The carmaker evolved from one product to an entire range of small vehicles, which includes everything from three-door hatchbacks to models like the latest Clubman, which is a four-door hatchback. But it is a four-door in an unusual way.

In the company’s history there was a model back in the days that was intended to be used as a delivery car. Some sort of small MPV but in a British style and it was called the Clubman. The name remained, but its destination changed. Now it is a fancy car with two doors on each side and a swing-out double-door on the rear. This makes it the only hatchback with six doors on the market.

The new Clubman will have three or four-cylinder engines, FWD or AWD, paired with either a 6-speed manual transmission or an automatic transmission with 7 or 8 gears, depending on the engine. The base model is offered with only 106 HP, but the top version, the Clubman John Cooper Works has 306 HP and is AWD.

Inside, the main theme revolves around style, glamor and fancy options, such as the infotainment system that allows Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with the touchscreen on the center console.

The second generation MINI Clubman came in 2015 and the word “changed” is the least we can say about it.
First of all, the automaker decided the whole two-and-a-half-doors idea is making OCD people run away from the car covering their eyes, so this time it fitted the Clubman with five regular doors, just like on the 5-door version of the Hatch model. The split tailgate remained the same though, while all the vehicle’s lines got smoothed making for a sleeker body appearance.

Speaking of body, this grew a bit longer and wider, while also making more room between the axles, thus opening up more room for the passengers and their luggage. The interior gets five fully-fledged seats, better access, redesigned dashboard and panels, new materials and colors as well as new equipment and features. Electric-operated parking brake and front seats are among them along with other experience enhancing gizmos.

Mechanically, the 2016 MINI Clubman comes with updated engines, a new 8-speed automatic gearbox, driving modes, stiffer body and a range of driving aids.

MINI launched the more spacious version named Clubman in 2007.
It was pretty much the same MINI upfront, but longer. In the back for the trunk, had two separate doors that differentiate it from other small hatchbacks on the market. On top of that, it was a premium vehicle that had unusual features for the small segment.

The small vehicle was the only hatchback with four doors. There was a door for the driver, two doors on the opposite side and two in the back, with side hinges. The two doors for the passengers were cleverly installed so that the rear passengers could enter more easily.

Inside, the premium feel was obvious due to high-quality materials, and a retro-design with a big speedometer in the center of the dashboard and a small tachometer in front of the driver. The switches on the central console looked like were taken from an old-school airplane or race-car. The vehicle was available in few trim options, directly related to engines: Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works, the latter being the most powerful.

The platform was unusual for a small-class vehicle, with four-wheel independent suspension. Standard transmission was a 5-speed manual for the Cooper, 6-speed manual for the latter. An automatic 6-speed transmission was also offered.