The Mini Cooper and the Cooper S are also recognisable as successful rally cars.Fast forward to 2016 and the Mini has evolved to be bolder and even more distinctive, with new styling and added technology it's easy to say this has created a desirable, statement brand.Focusing on the Mini Clubman, this car has all the usual Mini elements, but on a larger scale, creating a versatile vehicle that is still very much fun to drive. Over the years Mini has been diversifying to maintain their customers as their families grow – and the Clubman matches this by being by far the most spacious model yet.I drove the Clubman S featuring the full John Cooper Works Chili package, and the best way I can describe the driving experience is by saying that it is suitable for all yet still packs a punch!To look at the Mini Clubman, there has been some clear attention to detail put into its quirky design. Featuring LED lighting, lashings of chrome, striking alloy wheels and flowing curves, this car really does own the road. The model has infinite styling options making it easier to 'make your car your own', keeping even the image conscious buyers pleased.Little added luxuries such as the novel projection of the Mini logo from the exterior mirror on the driver's side when opening and closing the car add to the car's premium and sporty feel. With 12 different colour options and four different roof and exterior mirror cap shades to choose from, the world is your oyster in terms of creating your perfect styling.If you feel that the exterior is something to be proud of, then you're going to love the interior. The Clubman exerts retro charm and flair. The central circular screen hosts an extensive entertainment system, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite navigation and driver information – everything that you could really need really.The driving position is nice and low, with curved seats that give off a feeling that you are been embraced by the car – all blending together to create an extremely comfortable and pleasant drive.Lovingly designed details such as tartan pattern non-slip surfaces add to the cars practicality but also appeal in my eyes. There are plenty of nifty neat compartments for you to store items, which adds to a less cluttered cockpit and a better driving experience. Similar to the exterior, there are lots of style packages to choose from to personalise your ride too. One extra I particularly loved was the illuminating door panels, which comes as part of the Chili package.Mini has blended a driving mix which is very smooth yet still has a playful and sporty feel about it. You won't feel every lump and bump in the road, however you do hear them as I found the Clubman didn't probably hide road noise quite as well as other makes.The sizing of the car is a big selling point as this model is fantastic for families, someone who just likes something that bit bigger and is suitable for short and long journeys alike. There is a whopping 360-litre luggage capacity on offer alongside a versatile rear bench seat as well as optional 40/20/40 split folding seats.Loading and unloading has never been simpler thanks to the smart-opener function that has been designed, with just a sweep of the foot under the boot and back again – the split rear doors open automatically on your command!Speaking of the split rear doors, I will be frank in saying that I wasn't too keen on this aspect of the design at first, however I did grow to overlook this as the rest of the models quirks slowly pulled me into a sense of admiration of what Mini has created. I did feel that the split doors created a slight issue in terms of rear visibility, however this was something that you can easily adjust to once getting a better feel for the car.The Mini Cooper Clubman is powered by a 1.5-litre Twin Power Turbo three-cylinder engine which delivers a considerable 136 hp/100 kW, a top speed of 127 mph and gets from 0-62 mph in 9.1 seconds. In terms of fuel consumption this is a reasonably economic car for it's size, delivering a combined reading of 55.4/5.1 mpg.If you're looking at the Clubman for size and practicality but don't want to compromise on the performance, then I would highly recommend the Clubman S which is the model I drove.This model really steps things up a gear boasting a two-litre Mini Twin Power Turbo 4 cylinder engine which generates an impressive 192 hp/141 kW and thanks to the overboost function up to 280Nm of torque. All this combined offers a top speed of 142 mph and a fair combined fuel consumption of 45.6/6.2 mpg.If you prefer high torque, efficient diesel engines then Mini even have something for you with the Clubman D that offers an output of 150 hp/110 kW and a combined consumption of 68.9/41 mpg. But if you're more of an Automatic Transmission lover over manual then don't worry as this has also been covered and is available on all models.Overall I was more than impressed with the Mini Clubman. It has developed into a more grown up role that is suitable for families as well as individuals, yet it still offers all the fun little quirks that distinguish the Mini brand.Basic Clubman models start at £19,410. This isn't the cheapest model on the road, but with all that this vehicle has to offer you definitely get your money's worth.
