The Clubman is a preview of something even more interesting to come. BMW's Mini division is working on a true crossover SUV that should arrive in the next couple of years.
Meanwhile, the Clubman offers a handy extension on the regular Mini Cooper. It's about 10 inches longer than the regular Mini, and most of that goes into usable storage space behind the back seats. It also gets an additional door that opens backward on the passenger side.
It's still a Mini - and the barn-door-style tailgate can be an annoying hassle to use - but it makes the fun-to-drive Clubman a viable utility player.
NEXT: Toyota Matrix