Having just breezed through Stockholm and partake in a test-drive of the new MINI Cooper S Clubman, we are inclined to agree. The highways and country roads are generally in very good condition and are pleasant to traverse; there’s an orderly calm on most stretches that must have been wrought from the government’s earnest attempt at cutting road fatalities to zero over the years, making Swedish roads some of the safest in the world.
Headlights that must be switched on even during daytime, abundant speed cameras and strict enforcement – you wouldn’t want to be slapped with a RM2,000 ticket – are some of the ways Swedish authorities make motorists behave to keep its roads people-friendly.
B-roads wind through miles and miles of farmland, and across waterways and sleepy hollows where roundabouts abound at almost every intersection.
It was in such setting that we explored Stockholm and the outlying areas in the second-generation Clubman.
Following the June international media preview of the Clubman in Berlin, MINI then organised the drive in Stockholm earlier this month. Much of the car’s details are already public knowledge.
It has been said before that the fully imported Clubman will hit Malaysian showrooms in the second quarter of 2016 though not at the RM260,000 asking price of the first Clubman. With a raft of upgrades and new features found in the latest Clubman, expect it to be even pricier, not least because of an emasculated ringgit.
Here’s what we have gleaned after a day with the Clubman on Swedish roads.
1. Premium, practical and refined. Yes, the new Clubman is all that. As the biggest car under the brand and the first MINI to wade into what it calls the premium compact segment, it is pulling out all the stops to impress not just the creative types but a wider spread of customers with the promise of everyday usability.
2. Arising from the point above are the high levels of standard kit onboard. A biggish cargo space, memory front seats, a revised dash and use of quality materials add to the classy feel and look.
3. The 5-seater, 6-door MINI bristles with enough features to make it distinctive. What’s definitely a conversation piece are the MINI logo projection from the driver side mirror. LED alarm status on the fin antenna, a head-up display, and easy opening of the rear split doors with a kick – or two - under the car.
4. We drove both the automatic and manual 2.0-litre Cooper S. The 8-speed auto MINI offers a great drive with smooth quick shifts while the 6-speed manual has a following, appealing to a minority who revels in “working out” with the car for a more connected experience. With 192hp and 280Nm on tap, there’s accessible power across a wide band. What’s on offer is a good start and makes one look forward to what the upcoming ALL4 all-wheel drive and JCW versions will dish up in the way of driving experience.
5. The drive event was also an occasion to catch up with Clubman project leader Dr Ernst Fricke who shed light on a few things about the new car (watch video above).
And that’s it for now. We will bring you more details closer to the Malaysian launch of the new Clubman from the land of the Vikings.
