The biggest concern with building a bigger Mini is the loss of the gokart-like fun-to-drive feel of the base model. Fret not because the Clubman is just as fun to drive as the regular Mini Cooper.

That may sound hard to believe, but the Clubman's extra length may actually help in some ways. The longer wheelbase helps to smooth out some of the bumps and make the Clubman somewhat more stable in turns.

The feel behind the wheel is unmistakably Mini. The steering feels quick and responsive. The brakes are easy to modulate and provide worry-free stops. Though larger than its little brother, the Clubman still feels light and tossable. The S model has a sport suspension with harder springs, stiffer shocks and thicker anti-roll bars, and even stiffer settings are offered in the S's Sport package.

Mini gave journalists the opportunity to drive both the Clubman S and the regular Mini Cooper S on an autocross and the cars felt very similar. One journalist remarked that he thought the Clubman felt more stable, but my seat of the pants feel tells me the regular Mini was slightly more nimble and more ready to react to quick changes of direction. That's not to criticize the Clubman. If not for its little brother, it would be the most nimble car on the market in tight quarters. Both the base and S model benefit from Mini's brake cornering control, which can use the ABS to apply individual brakes to inside wheels to help get the car through a corner.

On the road, drivers will find the Clubman a little more comfortable than the base model. Since it was first released in 2002, the Mini Cooper has been known for its somewhat punishing ride quality, especially the higher performance S model. The Clubman's longer wheelbase helps to mitigate that problem, making the S model more palatable for more customers. Still, the S model's ride is not luxurious ride. It can be harsh over sharp bumps and potholes, but it's not as punishing as its shorter wheelbase sibling.

When it comes to power, the Clubman is also very similar to the standard Mini. The base engine makes 118 horsepower and can move the Clubman from 0 to 60 mph in 10.2 seconds. While that's slow by today's standards, the Clubman doesn't feel slow, and the power feels quite usable over 3000 rpm.

The S model's turbocharged version of the 1.6 puts out 172 horses and can provide 192 horsepower in short bursts thanks to programming. With the turbo, the Clubman is capable of a 7.2 second 0-60 mph sprint. That's just 0.2 seconds slower than the regular S model, which isn't surprising because the Clubman weighs only 177 pounds more. Like the normally aspirated version, the turbocharged four makes its power at higher rpm.

The turbo has little in the way of turbo lag, making it easy to live with. Both engines work well with the automatic transmission, and the S model's paddle shifters are easy to use. The automatic doesn't need to be put into a Sport mode to use them, and when the driver quits using them, the transmission reverts to drive, picking the gears itself. Despite the addition of shift paddles, the manual offers more driver interaction and lets you wring more out of the Mini's limited power. We would definitely recommend the manual for the low-powered base model. It makes the driving experience more fun.

Both models also have a Sport mode button located in front of the shifter. For cars with the manual transmission, this button quickens throttle response and chooses a quicker steering ratio. For those with the automatic, it also switches to a more aggressive shift algorithm that holds gears longer to keep more power on tap.

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