Having been the custodian of a Mini Countryman for a year and 20 000 km puts me in a difficult situation. I loved the car; the sportiness, styling and most surprising aspect for a Mini – the practicality of having four doors and the extra space to accommodate my young family. Now Mini has gone and deleted two doors and lowered the roofline in the name of individualism. Where does this leave the Paceman?
Finding competitors for the Paceman is almost impossible, because it is such a niche vehicle. The exterior styling and stance remind me of the Range Rover Evoque and the cute, quirkiness is reminiscent of the Nissan Juke. Both these possible rivals are priced on opposite spectrums compared with the Paceman so are therefore disqualified. The debate is likely to continue, but for now the Paceman’s found its own little space in a crowded compact SUV market.
The Paceman’s looks are based on those of the Countryman (on which it is based), but the newcomer’s decidedly slimmer. The rearwardly sloping roofline, slightly flared rear wheel arches, 19-inch wheels and subtle touches around the body add elements of athleticism and dare I say a bit of aggression to the design.
Inside the styling is still pure Mini and at the rear there are two individual seats (without the option of a bench). The driving position is excellent with good visibility, but the minor switches on the centre console are located a bit too low and are fiddly to operate when trying to focus on the road ahead. As the B-pillars were moved back to accommodate the longer doors, the safety belts are a bit of a stretch away when buckling up. Rear knee room is good but taller occupants will feel a bit cramped owing to the lower roof-line.
The now familiar 1,6-litre turbopetrol unit found throughout the Mini range is also fitted to the Paceman and delivers 135 kW and 240 N.m. This lively engine loves to rev and provides enthusiastic performance through a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Let the record state that “pace” was indeed needed during the launch drive to keep up with the tight schedule of the media event and the Mini duly obliged! The suspension set-up is quite stiff and aids the car’s handling manners, but can be a bit harsh over broken road surfaces, which then also affects the steering. On smooth surfaces however this Mini will stand its ground against any onslaught from the hot hatch segment.
It became clear that this vehicle is best suited to an urban environment where its nippiness and compact dimensions suit the concrete jungle to a tee. Long road trips can be undertaken, but it is definitively not the Paceman’s forte.
Who will buy the Paceman then? Individualists. One would like to think (affluent) young single people or maybe young couples would be the target market, but judging by the liberal attention the launch vehicles’ drew from a wide audience, Mini might just be handing over the keys to more trendy 50-year olds than it ever thought possible!
Fast Facts
Model: Mini Cooper S Paceman
Engine: four-cylinder, inline
Fuel supply: direct-injection, turbocharged
Capacity: 1 598 cm3
Power/Torque: 135 kW/240 N.m
0-100 km/h: 7,5 secs (manual)
Top speed: 217 km/h
Fuel consumption: 6,1 L/100 km
CO2 rating: 143 g/km
Price: R357 500