Owners of Mini Coopers will tell you how good to drive, strong and practical they are. Despite the powerful engine, great fuel efficiency, and dependability that a Mini comes with, a growing part of the society ridiculed the Mini as too small, especially for males. The new Mini Paceman goes a long too quiet those critics.
The Paceman offers a similar payload to its predecessor, the Countryman, with some impressive upgrades. A lower, sleeker roof lowers the centre of gravity, increasing the handling of the Paceman. Electronic steering pairs well with the all-wheel drive on the Paceman S, to address slight issues in traction control. To fans of the Mini Cooper S Class, the 181 hp engine does not offer the same acceleration, but the additional space for rear passengers far outweighs the diminished output from the turbo. The base model offers a substantially less powerful 121 hp.
Britain’s claim to fame in the Mini brand is carried in the Paceman. Rather than following the pack in trying to shorten an SUV, Mini is intelligently finding ways to extend the manoeuvrability of a smaller classic into the comfort of a fun, sporty coupe/crossover. The lounge style seating in the rear focuses on accommodating two adults, rather than squeezing in three seats. The reduced cargo space in the boot is nothing new to Mini owners so the nicer upholstery is a welcome change. It is notable that the Paceman has relocated the window switches to the doors to conform to the intuitiveness instilled by all other cars.
In comparison to sporty competitors like Volkswagen’s GTI the Paceman sacrifices speed and some fun aspects like a more aggressive engine for comfort and styling. The Paceman does well to keep competitors like the new Ford Fiesta at bay. Standard iPod connectivity on all new Mini models makes utilization of Apple navigation and audio programs easier than competitors’ interfaces. The Paceman is on sale now, starting at around £18,975 for the base model, a reasonable price for Mini’s adaptation of BMW class and sophistication.
The Paceman is not ground-breaking in the world of automotive technology but it is a welcome addition to Mini’s line-up of small, powerful vehicles. Owning a Mini always comes with a veritable amount of attention from onlookers. With the extra comfort in the back and the admirable balance of fuel efficiency and reliability, the “Paceman” on the rear will leave a lasting impression on mini critics.