• Pros

• Rides and handles well.
• Seats more people comfortably than before.
• Material qualities seem improved.
• Dash design less self-consciously quirky, though still wanting.
• Its fast, eight-speed auto transmission helps to wring all the power out of the 2.0 liter turbo four engine.
• Considerably more useful interior space, for passengers and luggage.
• Four doors certainly more livable, sensible in family use.
• The previous model would’ve been a stretch for a family of four; this would work.
• It’s bigger, it’s slicker and it’s undoubtedly safer than earlier Minis, which surely offers peace of mind.

• Cons

• It’s not mini, it’s maxi, 168.3 inches in length, more than a foot longer than the car it replaces: parking advantage lost.
• Feels heavy, and it is-–at nearly 3400 lbs., almost 900 lbs. heavier than the original Mini and now classified by EPA as mid-sized.
• Lots of tire noise on certain road surfaces.
• Not as abstemious with fuel as one might hope –35 mpg was the best I could achieve with the new Clubman, while 40 was once an achievable bogey.
• Looks goofier, less cool than previous Minis.
• Expensive – despite $26,000 base price, $40,000 as tested without going crazy on options list.

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