2017 Mini Clubman review, test drive

Should I buy one?

If the Clubman finds its way to your shortlist then it’s pretty obvious that you crave standout style and maximum fun but still need practicality and a car that lets you take your family around in comfort. The Mini does this in spades. But it is pricey, and with a fairly light ‘standard’ list, you could end up spending a lot more speccing it. For far lesser you could have a choice of premium hatchbacks like the Mercedes A-class or the Volvo V40 that do offer a fairly good level of unique styling and are loaded with features. However, they do fall short on the ‘fun’ aspect. Then there is also the similarly priced A3 Cabriolet with great standout value but it's hardly practical. But the overriding reason to buy the Clubman would be its ‘Mini’ charm. The style is funky, it’s simply brilliant to drive and, on the whole, steps away from the norm: a true Mini indeed.