MOTORS REVIEW: MINI Paceman Cooper S

IT is almost four years since BMW/MINI embarked on its biggest MINI Adventure to date — launching the distinctly larger Countryman.

Even if the concept of a maxi-MINI did not appeal, it was hard to dispute the thinking behind a larger, four-door car for the hatchback’s owners to progress to.

The Paceman is to the Countryman what the BMW X6 is to the X5, however...a logic-confounding mix of SUV and coupe.

Available with four-wheel-drive and a choice of diesel or petrol engines, Paceman prices start at £18,975 — £840 more than the equivalent Countryman.

I drove the £22,360 front-wheel-drive Paceman Cooper S.

Fitted with a 184bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged engine it records a 7.5-second sprint to 62mph and 135mph top speed and is pleasingly frugal with an achievable 46.3mpg claimed fuel economy figure and 143g/km CO2 emissions.

In MINI, Peugeot and Citroen applications this is an engine majoring on flexible delivery and the Paceman’s 177lb.ft of torque is a joy to stir into action via its six-speed manual gearbox.

Lower and more firmly sprung than the Countryman — which can feel a little wayward during direction changes — the Paceman better preserves the agility that defines the MINI hatch.

It’s less prone to surprise with a snappy step-out of the rear end that the hatchback can produce, but it boasts enough adjustability to be playful on twisty B-roads.

The Paceman’s interior is classic MINI fare, offering all the bold circular shapes, retro toggle switches and giant dials.

Quality is high and, up front, space is at a premium. It’s in the rear where the disappointment lies.

Despite a decent 330-litre boot, rear headroom is desperately compromised by the Paceman-defining falling roofline.

This is a two-seater for everyone but couples with small children.

That might be the ideal scenario, however, as the Paceman proved a fantastic toy during its time with me...it’s sure to prove a hit with the youngsters.

First publsihed JANUARY 24, 2014