If you want the style and build quality that is offered by the MINI Hatch but require greater practicality, take a look at the Clubman. This compact estate car is just as much fun to drive as its smaller sibling – and just as attractive too.

DESIGN
The MINI Clubman closely resembles the standard MINI Hatch from the front – big, circular headlamps, wide grille and assertive stance. However, when viewed from the side or rear, you’ll soon notice the differences. The Clubman possesses a longer body that provides it with its mini-station wagon appearance. It’s the back of the vehicle that provides this vehicle with its main point of distinction: split rear doors that swing outwards. Inside, the five-seat Clubman finds room for an extra passenger, and possesses a 360-litre boot space that quickly increases to 1,250 litres when 60/40 split-folding rear seats are dropped.

PERFORMANCE
MINI drivers can expect a feisty ride, whichever model is selected. The Clubman is no different, providing a refined motoring experience, ample pulling power and razor-sharp handling. With its supple suspension, it soaks up bumps in the road while precision engineering delivers optimised fuel-economy. The most efficient Clubman iteration is installed with a 1.5-litre 116bhp diesel engine, which returns up to 68.9mpg and produces CO2 emissions as low as 109g/km.

TECHNOLOGY AND SAFETY
For your listening pleasure, a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system is fitted as standard. Included are a six-speaker sound system and satellite navigation. Also featured is Bluetooth connectivity, which allows you to stream music from compatible devices and enjoy hands-free phone communication.

A range of passive safety features are included as standard. Multiple airbags and ISOFIX child-seat fixtures, for example. Numerous driver aids are installed too, such as an Anti-lock Braking System and Electronic Stability Control, which both help prevent the vehicle from skidding on less-than-forgiving surfaces.

*Model shown £27,015 on the road.