Review: 2008 Mini Cooper Clubman

Introduction

What's New – The 2008 Clubman is a longer version of the Mini Cooper, bringing more cargo space and interior room to those who fell in love the original's image but needed something a bit more practical.

Competes With: Honda Fit, Scion xB, Volkswagen Rabbit

What We Think: Years after its debut, the Mini Cooper continues to attract buyers with its fun nature, accented by smiley-face styling and go-kart like handling. But as much as they loved it, some shoppers simply needed more space. The Cooper Clubman addresses that problem, but leaves too many others unsolved for our tastes.

Review: 2008 Mini Cooper Clubman: Settling – it's not something we like to do, but often times it's just a fact of life. The difference between getting what we truly want and living life with the runner-up is tiny. You might even call it mini. If only that house had a bigger back yard, if that ideal job was ten miles closer to home, if that hot woman from the bar had one less tattoo and one additional tooth, if the cute little Cooper provided just a little more space…the list goes on.

You're visiting the wrong website in regards to tattooed women and real estate, but we can address your Mini dilemma. Apparently, the folks responsible for the modern-day Cooper realized that many of you were digging the style they created but just couldn't get past how darn small the car actually was. To rectify the situation Mini introduces the 2008 Cooper Clubman, looking much like the original but offering more cargo space behind two neat barn-style doors and increased rear seat room that can now be accessed by a rear-hinged passenger side panel. We're talking a matter of inches and fewer than 10 cubic feet of bonus trunk space, but if the only thing that kept a Mini Cooper from inhabiting your garage was a lack of space and practicality, the Clubman might be the funky, smiley-faced little wagon thingamajig you've been hankering for.