Mini Clubman review

Notebooks at the ready, pub fact fans: the Clubman is the first Mini ever to get a proper solid centre console between the front two seats. We know: wow, right? That means you not only get a useful storage cubby, but the iDrive controls are lifted out of the trench between the seats so you can actually operate it without the concentration (and patience) of threading a needle. It’s worth noting that all Clubmans get BMW-grade sat nav as standard.  

Build quality throughout is BMW-beatingly exemplary. Materials and finish smack of really thoughtful design. Less thoughtful, the thick rear doors eat into visibility (there’s a stonking great bar down the middle of your rear-view mirror vision) and boot space – at 360 litres, you’ve only got as much area as a cramped 1-Series. So it’s bigger than before, but still a car you buy in spite of its practicality, not because of it.