I don't like the MINI's dashboard. While it has made an attempt at being retro, the plastic gauge surrounds, indicator stalk and dials are cheap and nasty-looking. Why the designers didn't carry through the metallic feel found on the electric window switches baffles me. The interior is a bit tight too. I had to concentrate on not fiddling with my passenger's knee while changing gears.

Push the start button and all this negativity dissolves into the background as the four-pot fires into life. With a sporting tone and pop, the exhaust note is one of the better out there and once you're tuned into the note you'll be able to identify a Cooper S long before it comes into sight. Obviously these are traits you'll find on any MINI Cooper S and not just the Clubman, but they are worth mentioning, as they are part of MINI motoring in any form.

I find it odd that MINI decided to use the Clubman name as this conjures up images of the ugly square-nosed Leyland Mini of the '70s and '80s. I would have slumped for MINI Estate S or even MINI Traveller after the old Morris. But while the naming guys slipped, the designers seem to have hit the target spot on. The proportions are true to the original and best part is the tail doors that are split vertically.

This split does hinder the rear view slightly but once accustomed to, it is no problem. The single driver-side 'suicide' opening door is a bit odd as the driver seatbelt gets in the way when climbing into the back seat. It also means that sitting behind the passenger requires a slide across the bench. Some complained that it means you'll climb out and into the oncoming traffic if you parallel park but so will the driver.

While it might look more spacious than a regular MINI, the Clubman is not much bigger in reality. This is also true for the feel of the car. Once behind the wheel you forget you have a slightly larger behind and you carry on in true enthusiastic MINI Cooper S style. Like the run-of-the-mill Cooper S, the back end is light and skittish but follows the front wherever it goes.

Thanks to the twin-scroll turbo set-up, power delivery is smooth and the Clubman pulls strongly from low down on the rev counter. Accelerate with gusto and the front-end livens up and torque steers all over the show. Thankfully it seems as if the MINI engineers have taken a leaf out the BMW steering book and the Clubman lets you know exactly what is going on. Steering is light at slow speed but well weighted and somewhat mechanical-feeling at high speed.

The Cooper S Clubman is a modern blast to the past and full of passion but it's also a surprisingly good drive. It doesn't offer much more in practical terms than a normal Cooper S, but it feels more special because of its rarity. This special feeling will cost around R15 000 though.