Lots of cars will say, “Hey, let’s go,” when you hop in.  Ford’s F350 wants to go and haul stuff.  Chevrolet’s Corvette wants to go to the track.  The Honda CRV wants to go to the mall.  The MINI Cooper is one of the few that doesn’t ever specify a destination.  “Let’s go,” the MINI says.  If you ask it where, it says, “Wherever.”

Going “wherever” in the MINI just got a bit more fun and a lot easier with the introduction of the just-right sized Cooper Clubman.  Nine and a half inches longer than the standard MINI Cooper, the Clubman offers the same driving pleasure and relatively cheap automotive thrills, but also makes it easier to bring friends and cargo along for the ride.
In the ways that count, the MINI Cooper Clubman is just like the short version.  The only obvious difference from the driver’s seat is that you no longer feel like you can reach over your shoulder and touch the backlight.  The dinner plate-sized, centrally-mounted speedometer and cool retro toggle switches are the same, and the Cooper S Clubman sports the same wide range of personalization options as the standard MINI Cooper.  At night, elegant ambient lighting gives a theatrical look to the interior.  The hard-ish, grippy seats and upright, snug driving position are also familiar, though the Cooper S Clubman’s checkered-flag upholstery is unique.  From the B-pillar back, the Cooper Clubman is a new vehicle, with a longer body and a three-inch longer wheelbase.  Nearly all of the extra wheelbase length goes into adding legroom for rear-seat passengers, so the back seat of the Cooper Clubman is actually livable, and effectively doubles the MINI’s people capacity.  Options for the stretched top include roof rails for carrying surfboards, skis and other sports equipment, a roof spoiler and a two-panel panoramic sunroof, though the lack of an opaque cover for the glass roof is a glaring (no pun intended) omission.   Heated seats, bi-xenon headlamps and a navigation system are also on the available-equipment list.
Fold down the rear seats and there are 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space, which is a 37% increase in space that brings the Cooper Clubman up to about average for the class.  MINI makes the additional length easy to get to, with split, “barn” style doors at the rear that allow easy access to the cargo area.  They’re hinged at the extreme outer edges of the pillars to provide a wide, though low, cargo-loading space, and they’re styled after the doors found on the estate wagon versions of the 1960s Mini.  Passenger entry is also eased with a rear-hinged “clubdoor” behind the passenger door.   From the outside, it’s immediately recognizable because of the squared-off tail and additional chrome.
The extra body length and weight don’t have a noticeable effect on the Cooper S Clubman’s acceleration or handling.   Break out the stopwatches and you’ll probably see a small difference in lap times and outright acceleration, but out in the real world there’s not enough of a difference to matter.  The 172-horsepower 1.6 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine under the hood of the Cooper S Clubman offers enjoyable, enthusiastic motivation.  Direct-fuel injection improves performance and fuel efficiency.  MINI promises a seven-second 0-60 run.  The Cooper S Clubman returns 26/34 fuel economy as well, one of the benefits of being a small car with a big interior.  The more frugal Cooper Clubman, with its non-turbocharged, 118-horse engine, will return 28/37 economy.  I drove the Cooper S Clubman with the optional six-speed automatic transmission, which was probably considerably less fun than the standard six-speed manual despite the racing-style paddle shifters.  With either gearbox, the Cooper Clubman keeps the MINI’s instantaneous reflexes and its ability to dart through traffic as though you were the hero of an action movie.

That ultra-stiff MacPherson strut front, five-link central arm rear suspension translates to a violent ride on rough roads however, especially in the stiffer-sprung S version of the Cooper Clubman.  The MINI is tough, but feels somewhat delicate–it doesn’t invite splashing through puddles or romping across rough pavement the way some small cars do.  Detroit’s got rough pavement in spades, and the MINI Clubman was adept at dodging potholes, but not so happy with the ones it had to hit.  Electronic power steering with a razor-sharp sport mode makes it easy to avoid any road irregularities that come up, though you may be accused of driving erratically.
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) are standard equipment, as are anti-lock brakes, Corner Brake Control and six airbags.  Run-flat tires are also standard on the Cooper S Clubman.
It’s the same delightful MINI Cooper S, but with more space.  What’s not to like?  Other than a steep-ish price tag, not much.  The Mini Cooper S Clubman starts at a reasonable $23,450, but the options drive the price up quickly.  My tester featured a leather interior, power-fold mirrors, heated seats, a  dual-pane sunroof, automatic climate control, MINI’s sport package and xenon headlamps, the automatic transmission and an interior chrome package, and stickered for $32,950.

Specifications:  All specs are for the 2009 MINI Cooper S Clubman.
Length:  155.8 in.
Width:  66.3 in.
Height:     56.4 in.
Wheelbase: 100.3 in.
Curb weight:  2855 lb.
Cargo space:  9.2 cu.ft. (seats up); 32.8 cu.ft. (seats folded)
Base price:  $23,450
Price as tested:      $32,950
Engine:   1.6 liter turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder
Drivetrain:  six-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel drive
Horsepower:  172 @ 5500
Torque:  177 @ 1600-5000
Fuel capacity:  13.2 gal.
Est. mileage:  23/32