MINI Comparison: Does an Extra 10 Inches Matter?

The recreation of Britain’s original micro car, the MINI Cooper, has been around for a while now, but that hasn’t stopped it from still topping the list of cars that hold their resale value the best. In fact, MINI tried to broaden their market segment by introducing the MINI Cooper Clubman in 2007. This stretched MINI concept has appealed to me since I first got to see one at the Denver Auto Show a few years back and as I have mentioned before in my recent article about the new Volvo C30, I am in the market for a new car. So as I continue my search for the perfect set of wheels, I figured I better check out what the 2009 MINI Cooper and 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman really had to offer.

If you aren’t familiar with the 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman then look back at my article earlier this year for the specifics, but the gist is that the Clubman adds 10 inches to the regular MINI Cooper. Most of this room, as you might have already concluded, is behind the rear passenger seats and makes the MINI more livable for people who need to stash more than a grocery bag or two and a couple passengers. The Clubman boasts 9.1 cubic feet of cargo room with the rear seats folded up, which is 3.4 cubic feet more than the standard MINI Cooper.

A couple weeks ago, I spent several hours test-driving both the MINI Cooper and the MINI Cooper Clubman. My overall impression is that the 2009 MINI Cooper Clubman would be my choice if I chose to purchase the MINI this year. This mostly is because I like the stretched look, but the Clubman also offers some practicality to an otherwise small sports car. Top two features that make the Clubman better than the MINI Cooper: Rear third door and additional cargo space. When your 6’2” father can get into the back of a MINI Clubman without grease and a shoe horn AND you put a duffle bag or two in the back, you just won’t be able to go back to the standard MINI Cooper. Who knew a almost a foot would make such a difference.

 

Looking for more small cars to look at this year? Then check out these recent articles: 2010 Kia Forte Review, 2009 Ford Focus Review and 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser.