I attended the 2015 MINI Invasion in Ottawa last weekend and we were allowed to view two new Clubman, a non-S and an S. However, we were not allowed to take in cell phones of cameras as they "held" them for us before we went in.
Initial impressions, yeah it's bigger but build quality and materials are so much nicer and quite frankly, it's gorgeous! The S was deep burgundy, white top and a dark blue leather interior. Dash and console were more mainstream and seating was tight, for me (6'1, 250lbs), as the seats had deep bolsters. I had some trouble getting in the doors as they are not as wide as a two door. The roof is actually lower than a 2dr hardtop.
The rear is controversial...some liked it, others did not...let's just say, Baby got back!
Yes, it is getting away from MINI-ism but there will definitely be a market for it, particularly for young families. I will have to wait until I can driveone to form a conclusion. Price point is supposed to be around $24-$25k for the non-S
They're chasing JD Power initial quality survey ratings and sales numbers... it's a shame.
I'm excited for the Clubman, as it's certainly a 'different' way to do a people mover/family car while eschewing the traditional CUV route. But, there's no escaping the fact that it's bloody huge and it's blurring the lines even further.
Ultimately, the new Clubman and next Countryman together should allow for the 2-door and 4-door hardtops to become a little more pure, and hopefully stay the same size (or perhaps shrink a hair, especially in weight) for the next generation. There's no reason why they need to grow any further than they already have.
