Test Driving the 2013 Mini Cooper S Paceman
It appears that the people behind the latest versions of the Mini Cooper are determined to make the car appear much bigger than its name suggests. This started a couple of years back, when the Countryman compact crossover was launched as the company’s very first 5-door, all-wheel drive car.
That was a big car to carry the name “mini”, yet there is an even bigger Mini on the market, with the recent launch of the Paceman. This 3-door monster is slightly bigger than the Countryman, and it is by far the biggest Mini to date, yet do not be fooled into thinking that this is just the Mini Countryman with two less doors, it has its own unique styling, which sets it aside from the Countryman.
In keeping with Mini tradition, there is plenty of chrome trim on the bodywork, and in my opinion it is one of the best looking Mini cars ever produced, and it is now available at Cooper BMW.
Prices for the 2013 Mini Cooper S Paceman start at around the £18,970 mark, and that buys you a car that comes with a 1.6 litre 4 cylinder in-line turbocharged engine that can produce up to 185BHP.
The 2013 Mini Cooper S Paceman has the look of a race car thanks to its extended roof-mounted spoiler, according to many reviewers.
All versions of the 2013 Mini Cooper S Paceman come with 6 speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive as standard, but there is the option to have a 6-speed automatic transmission.
CAR magazine’s verdict on the 2013 Mini Cooper S Paceman is “for those who crave that Mini style with the extra space and attitude of a crossover, the Paceman Cooper S fits the bill.” And they are not far wrong, as performance wise, the Paceman steels a march on the Countryman with better handling a sportier feel, despite the different suspension settings, which are firmer on the Paceman than they are on the Countryman.
Statistics
- Cost: £22,355
- Engine: 1598cc in-line four cylinders turbocharged, giving 184bhp at 5500rpm, and 177lb of torque.
- Transmission: 6-speed manual, with four wheel drive
- Performance: 0-60 in 7 seconds, 135mph top speed, and 46.3 miles per gallon
Handling
When it comes to taking on those tight corners, the Paceman does come up with quite a bit of under steer, which is common with smaller, powerful front engine cars that come with front-wheel drive. The steering feel is virtually identical to that of the Countryman. However, adding this steering to a sportier vehicle has made it feel a little heavier rather than more engaging. That is not to say that the Paceman did not perform as well as I had expected and none of the familiar go-kart racer feel has been lost despite the larger body.
Conclusion
Although it is easy to call the Paceman as a three door version of the Countryman, it is much more than that. The Paceman does have a personality of its own, and it looks feels and tries to be as different to the Countryman as it can be, yet it can never really stand alone as a one off car.
James McDonnel is a self-confessed car addict who enjoys sharing his opinions on a number of different auto blogs.
