Argue as much as you like about the look of the car, but it’s much more difficult to quibble with its engineering credentials. It’s one thing to build a car using gimmicks – and this one has more than its fair share – as a substitute for design integrity, and quite another to provide all the essentials in the first place and then add on whatever stylistic and functional addenda the brief requires. The Clubman is emphatically in the latter camp.
From its multi-link rear axle to its six-speed gearbox and from its standard stability and traction control to its intelligent alternator and stop-start functions, all the hallmarks of a quality, premium product that’s entirely conversant with the varied challenges of the 21st century have been put in place.
More impressive still is that despite the twin rear doors, the one at the side, the extra 24cm in length and the raised roof height, the Clubman weighs a scant 20kg more than the Mini hatchback.
Power comes from a 1.6-litre turbodiesel with second-generation common-rail injection operating at pressures of up to 1600bar. Its output is nothing exceptional for the capacity (108bhp at 4000rpm is your lot), but there’s torque aplenty with 177lb ft at 1750rpm and an overboost facility providing 192lb ft at 2000rpm.
