Mini Clubman One 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The Mini Clubman One is powered by a four cylinder engine which delivers a maximum power output of 98 bhp at 6000 rpm with torque figures of 113 lb-ft at 3000 rpm. This allows the car to have a top speed of 115 mph whilst acceleration is average, reaching 0-62 mph in just 11.1 seconds.

Handling is fairly good although corners are not taken as sharply as drivers would like and this range lacks the fun which is offered by the Mini Hatch Cooper. The engine is relatively quiet however, even when worked hard, and this means noise within the cabin is minimal. Noise from the wind and road is audible but not excessive.

While on the outside it looks great, unfortunately the quality of the interior lets this hatchback model down. Basic features are fitted as standard but those who want all modern luxuries will be expected to pay a fair amount of money for the privilege.

Standard equipment includes power steering, central locking, stability control, air conditioning, electric door mirrors, electric front windows and an advanced stereo system with CD and MP3 connectivity. The air conditioning can be upgraded to more advanced climate control for £235 whilst other options such as cruise control, a built-in sat nav, Bluetooth connectivity, rear parking sensors and leather seats are also available as chargeable extras.

This car is fairly spacious considering its size. The boot capacity is better than in the Mini Hatch Cooper with a reasonable 260 litres offered when the seats are in place, expanding to 930 litres when the seats are folded down.

On top of this, reliability is expected to be strong in this model due to the positive reputation of the Mini brand and the car comes with a three year warranty for unlimited mileage for additional assurances.

In terms of safety, the car performs well and offers a great safety kit as standard to improve the security of the vehicle. To protect against theft the model comes with an alarm and immobiliser fitted as standard whilst driver, passenger and front side airbags are fitted to increase security.

Priced at £14,430 this Mini is far from the most expensive model on the market and considering the prestige of the Mini brand it offers fairly good value for money. The car also benefits from high resale values as Mini models tend to hold onto more of their original value than any other car of this size or class.

All of this combines to make a Mini a wise investment for family buyers and there are plenty of other economical benefits on offer too. Running costs are low: with carbon emissions registering at 129 g/km and putting the car into a fairly low tax band (D). Insurance premiums are also fairly low under insurance group 13 whilst fuel economy of 51.4 mpg means that refuelling will be both inexpensive and infrequent.