[toggle title_open=”Car specifications” title_closed=”Car specifications” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]Price: $53,500
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo, 135kW/240Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual standard; six-speed auto optional
Fuel economy: 6.1 litres/100km
Emissions: 143gr/km (Euro5)
Equipment: Includes Bluetooth wireless
Safety: Five-star crash rating
Factory warranty: Three year/100,000km[/toggle]
The Cooper S Paceman is the seventh Mini variant to go on sale in New Zealand. It’s a compact, SUV-type three-door based on the platform of the Countryman but restyled to give it a sportier look. The Paceman and Countryman share the same nose but the Paceman is 40mm lower and its roof and tailgate are more raked. Mini calls it a Sports Activity Coupe and is aiming it at, among others, the three-door Range Rover Evoque and the Nissan Juke. Curious because the Evoque is bigger and roughly $30,000 more expensive, and the Juke is bigger and around $20,000 less expensive. Also, most Evoques sold in NZ are all-wheel-drive; the Paceman, like the Juke, offers front-drive only, although Mini NZ says it is looking at the four-paw version, called All4. It’s all about style wars, the theoretic Paceman/Evoque/Juke duel, rather than substance. Much about Paceman is familiar. It rides on the same sports suspension set-up as the Countryman. Keep the boosted 1.6-litre engine up beyond 1800rpm and it responds quickly to throttle inputs. Despite its SUV stance it turns sharply into corners without body much roll. Ride and handling is good but the steering isn’t as sharp as the Cooper S hatch. Inside, from the front seats forward, Paceman mirrors the Countryman’s interior. At the back two bucket seats are separated by an aluminium accessory rail. Access to the rear seats is easier than it looks, although space is quite tight. The rear seatbacks fold forward but not flat, therefore the modest boot space remains modest. Paceman is more style than substance.
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Good features
It’s a Mini
Not so good
It’s a Mini
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[box type=”tick” size=”large” style=”rounded”]Rating 6/10[/box]