2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman

Maxi Mini

The Mini Cooper S Clubman proves that more cargo space doesn't necessarily mean less fun.

Racing like a go-kart, sipping fuel, parking in spots too tight for larger cars, charming folks like an adorable toddler: Is there anything the Mini Cooper S can’t do?

Actually, yes.

For one thing, the Cooper S has a difficult time carrying adults in its back seat for more than a few blocks. Also, it can’t carry more than several bags in its modest cargo hold.

For people who have considered a Mini Cooper S but can’t quite justify paying more than $20,000 for such a small car, it’s the Mini Cooper S Clubman to the rescue.

At just under 13 feet long, the Clubman is still tiny compared to most vehicles on American roads, but it’s almost 10 inches longer than the standard Mini, with a three-inch longer wheelbase. The additional length gives the Mini Cooper S Clubman more cargo space and 2.5 inches of additional legroom in back.

Like BMW’s revival of the Mini, a classic British design that originated in 1957, the new Clubman draws on more spacious models from Mini’s past: the Traveller, Countryman, and Clubman Estate.

The Mini Cooper S Clubman is easy to spot from behind with its pair of swing-out “barn doors” and painted rear-roof pillars that create a multi-hued body.

A rear-hinged second door on the passenger side makes accessing the back seat more practical and versatile. The Mini Cooper S Clubman would be even more practical if the driver’s side also had one of these rear-hinged doors.

Beyond the funky doors and extra space, the Clubman incorporates the major features of the latest-generation Mini Cooper that was revised in 2007, including a restyled and more-upright front end, a richer-looking interior, a retuned suspension, and new engines that are both more powerful and more fuel efficient.

The base Mini Cooper Clubman starts at just over $20,000 and features a small four-cylinder engine that’s peppy but not potent. The Mini Cooper S Clubman costs about $23,500 and features a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and tighter suspension that make the car much sportier. The Clubman models cost about $2,000 more than their equivalent regular Cooper versions.

For all their style, performance, and charm, Minis have had below-average reliability as documented by Consumer Reports and others.