MUCH has remained of Mini’s original formula – the fun-to-drive factor is ever-present – but the executions have been vastly divergent since the R56-generation first made its appearance. In five years, it’s spawned the Cabriolet, Clubman, Countryman, Coupé and Roadster. And, while the Paceman might not appear anything like what we’ve come to expect from the BMW subsidiary, that doesn’t mean the new addition departs from Mini’s fundamental values.
This particular Paceman, in Cooper S guise, utilises the company’s 1,6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. When the turbocharged motor was first launched in 2007, the graduation from supercharged to turbocharged meant a stronger punch, so its relatively conservative power and torque outputs were at least better than those of the previous motor.
Still, 135 kW and 240 N.m of torque (260 on overboost) don’t sound like much in the milieu of 200 kW-plus hot hatches. And, although hot hatches are not traditional Mini rivals, the competitors that sport those potent motors have set a standard for hot and even “warm” compact cars. But that doesn’t mean that the driving experience has been blunted; the Paceman rekindled our appreciation for Mini, but we’ll get to that later.
The hot talking point is, of course, the Paceman’s styling. As is the case with the Countryman, the front end is prominently squared off. The upright grille, bulbous headlamps and fender gills are familiar, but from the A-pillars to the back it’s new. What distinguishes the look is the shoulder line that rises steeply towards the rear in conjunction with the tapering roofline, which means the side glass narrows toward the tailgate. The result of the blacked-out pillars is a floating-roof effect, which can be highlighted by numerous patterns or contrasting-colour options available for the Paceman’s roof section. In the case of our test unit, the combination of black pillars and a dark roof created a stealthy profile.
Inside, it’s familiar Mini fare, with a circular theme to the instruments, controls, vents and … well, just about every element of the cabin. The most significant interior update is the relocation of the electric-window switches, which used to be sited in the centre stack below the climate control dials, to the door panels. However, the facia toggles remain with renewed senses of purpose – they now activate the various modes of traction control, central locking, sport mode and operation of the front and rear foglamps.
One nifty optional feature is mood lighting that allows the driver to change the colour of the illumination via a toggle above the rear-view mirror. When unlocking the car via its key fob, the system automatically scrolls through the available hues before settling on your chosen colour after the ignition’s been switched on.
Designed purely as a four-seater, the Paceman offers two seats in the rear separated by a centre rail that can house sunglasses and drinks, and radiates more mood lighting. Despite the individual layout of the seats, average-sized passengers might still find the rear a bit cramped.
There is a dual-sunroof layout to increase the perception of room, but the biggest drawback to the Paceman is a lack of boot space. We could fit only 192 dm3 worth of our luggage blocks behind the rear seats (which can free up 976 dm3 of utility space when folded).
Moving onto the Paceman’s dynamics, Mini’s wheel-on-each-corner formula hasn’t been abandoned, so the newcomer’s handling is still top-notch.
The Paceman’s raised ride height precludes it from being quite as wieldy as its smaller Cooper sibling, but for the most part this Mini is suitably sure-footed. Some testers did complain about a lack of front-end grip and how easily the Paceman breaks traction (even on the optional 19-inch rubber fitted to this unit), which caused the electronic nanny to intervene a little more than necessary.
That generous wheel spin did help to get the 1,4-tonne Paceman off the line with urgency during CAR’s road-test regimen, though: the Mini recorded a best zero-to-100 km/h sprint time of 8,33 seconds and completed a standing kilometre in 29,36 seconds.
Most impressive of all is the Paceman’s ride comfort and excellent suppression of NVH. Rattly cabins and harsh suspension setups have marred our past experiences with sporty Minis, but the Paceman was a revelation. It delivers a surprisingly supple ride (although still quite firm), which is arguably a worthwhile trade-off for the slightly blunted point-to-point driving. Its more relaxed nature will appeal to a wider clientele.
Test Summary
It’s difficult to judge the Paceman because it can’t quite match our Top 12 Best Buys Light Crossover champion, Nissan’s Juke, for value. That said, the Mini offers premium appeal that is midway between the Nissan and its more direct rival (which costs nearly twice as much), the Range Rover Evoque. What the Paceman does have in its favour is a distinctive design and improved ride, and a cheery, well-put-together cabin. Moreover, it has remained true to the fun formula that’s associated with other Mini products.