MINI Paceman review (2013-2016)
Just when we thought there couldn’t be any more versions of the re-born MINI, along came the Paceman. The eighth model in the series was designed to be a sportier counterpart to the Countryman and has been dubbed a “Sports Activity Vehicle” by MINI. Keep reading for our full MINI Paceman review.
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Pros
- Crossover styling
- Drives well for a chunky car
- Peppy M engines
Cons
- Only four seats
- Boot could be bigger
Interior
Our rating: 8/10
A big part of the MINI’s identity - and what sets it apart from many of its competitors – is its interior.
Tech and features
The Paceman has an almost identical dashboard layout to all the models in the range.
Look out for the big speedometer in the middle of the dash, with room in the middle for the optional sat-nav and other information displays.
One handy feature not shared by other MINIs is that the electric window controls are in the doors, not on the centre console, which makes them much easier to operate.
Driving position
The driving position is fairly high and visibility is good all around with plenty of headroom.
MINI also had a lightbulb moment and decided there was no point pretending three can fit in the back, so there are just two lounge-style seats instead, complete with contoured armrests in the side of the car.
The cabin is also very well insulated, so road and wind noise isn’t an issue, although when you drive it hard the engine and exhaust noise is there to remind you that this is a sporty car as well.
Performance
Our rating: 6/10
Handling and ride comfort
Anyone who gets behind the wheel of a MINI may expect it to feel more like driving a go-cart than a car.
This is fine with the smaller models. It’s been more of a challenge to put the fun into driving the Paceman.
You’ll find it’s a little less agile than you might expect, and the body does roll when you head around corners, especially in models without the harder sports suspension.
Engines and power
There is a good range of engines though, which means performance is never less than nippy – and if you can find a John Cooper Works Paceman you’ll notice that it’s distinctly sporty.
Practicality
Our rating: 6/10
Boot space
Open the tailgate and you’ll discover there’s more than enough room for the big weekly shop or luggage for a fortnight away.
Yes, access to it could be a little better if the rear light clusters didn’t intrude – that’s just a minor quibble.
The back seats fold down easily. Not quite flat though, but still gives you a very decent area for those trips to pick up some flat-back furniture or to take the garden refuse to the tip.
There’s even a false floor to keep valuables out of sight when you’re parked up.
Storage solutions
Inside the car, there are a number of cubby holes for storage as well as another feature shared with the Countryman, the centre rail storage and attachment system.
Rear seats
Legroom is still a little limited in the rear.
The raised front seats at least let back-seat passengers get their feet underneath them to enjoy a little extra space.
Running costs
Our rating: 7/10
Fuel economy
There’s a choice of petrol and diesel engines with the Paceman and most agree that the 1.6-litre diesel version hits the sweetest spot for economy and performance giving you an average mpg in the upper 50s.
Even the petrol engines are pretty economical to drive with the high-performance Cooper S version promising a little over 47 mpg.
The verdict
Interior
8/10
Performance
6/10
Practicality
6/10
Running costs
7/10
The MINI Paceman’s sporty looks and practical features make it the perfect choice if you want to combine a bit of fun with a lot of good sense.
You know you’re getting a quality car, admittedly at a premium price.
Consider it a larger and more unique-looking version of the MINI Hatchback and you'll be fine, but expect any sort of SUV-like practicality and you may be disappointed.
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