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Road Test : 2013 Mini Paceman S
Car Reviews

Road Test : 2013 Mini Paceman S

·
November 12,2013
·
7 min read

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On a bright sunny afternoon I made my way to the AGMC showroom to collect the first car I would be test driving for YallaMotor. Having spoken to Mini fans in the past and given their emphatically positive views on the cars, I could not wait to have one for myself, albeit only for a weekend. 

Having conducted a short research beforehand I asked some of my friends and acquaintances about their opinions on the Mini. Broadly speaking, it was evaluated on two distinct fronts. The exterior styling and shape, which most deemed to be more female oriented, and the drive which, almost all agreed was fun.

Once I got the car however, all that seemed irrelevant as I found myself in the driving seat of the 2013 Mini Paceman S ‘All 4’.

 

Style

The Mini Paceman is fundamentally a three door version of the Countryman which has been restyled to give it a sleeker, sportier look. It seems to be filling the void for consumers who, in terms of size, would prefer something between the Cooper / Clubman and the Countryman.

For the front end Mini has stuck with the slightly modified version of the iconic grill, which is essentially the same as the countryman. It does have a lower roof and a more raked tailgate than the countryman with the ride height lowered as well to give it that sporty look. The Mini we drove also came with a panoramic sunroof which was very elegantly done.

It is however the little things that make it interesting, like the chrome plated door handles, the chrome framed headlights and the subtle bump on the hood that Mini likes to call the powerdome.  

 

Interior 

Inside, the car is fitted with sports seats which I found offered good support and were comfortable. There is a variety of upholstery options available for seat appearance, while the one in our car called Leather Lounge Red Copper was one I personally found especially appealing. 

The car’s interior layout is striking with a few features that make it stand out from some of its competitors. The iconic big round speedometer with the nifty square screen in the middle, the airplane like switches on and above the dash, a leather steering wheel with shift paddles, variable interior lighting colours and the central control panel just next to the gearbox, all make the interior feel like mixture of Top Gun and Haute Couture all at the same time.

Worth mentioning as well is the optional Mini connected electronics system which offers additional functionality, such as Smartphone app integration which, as was explained to me in simple terms, can be used to provide access to social media, internet radio and what have you. Worth noting though that at this point this feature is only available with iPhones, however, I was told that the compatibility with androids will be rolling out soon. 

One aspect of the interior that I found interesting was the centre rail instead of a typical console. It offers the flexibility of sliding your attachments such as your phone, the box for your glasses and your cup holders along the rail and place them where you may deem suitable.  

In terms of size the Paceman offers significantly more space than the Cooper, but is still smaller than some of the other hatchbacks and crossovers that we might consider as competition. The rear is fairly spacious with the sufficient space for two kids or average sized adults. A person on the higher end of the height scale might find it all a bit too cramped at the back. Worth noting as well is that the Paceman unlike the Countryman does not have a bench seat, rather two bucket seats which limits the total seating capacity to four, as opposed to five in the Countryman if people are willing to squeeze in.  

 

Safety Features

The standard safety equipment, as can be found in most vehicles these days include, antilock disc brakes, stability control, parking sensors, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags.

The Mini also features Automatic Stability Control and Traction Control, which prevents the front wheels from spinning. The braking system is also very impressive with a noticeably short braking distance. The two systems in tandem offer increased support when someone like me gets a bit carried away with the allure of the power and grip that the car can offer, but needs a little extra assistance in handling the car at critical times.

 

Interior Verdict 

Overall, the car was fairly spacious considering its size and the decent collection of knick knacks and the sports seats with the panoramic sunroof made it a pleasant place to be in.

There were however a couple of issues that should be kept in mind. The car I drove had a slight issue with the A/C where it wasn’t as cool on some occasions as one would desire. Perhaps it was the intense Dubai heat, the panoramic sunroof or the lack of tinting but it is worth a mention. Another minor issue I noticed was that the controls for the backrest seemed a bit primitive and were hard to reach, definitely not ideal for a quick adjustment.

Finally, the electronic system in the dash was less user friendly than expected perhaps so as not to compromise on the appearance. Being fairly tech savvy I am usually quick to work out the ins and outs of most electronic systems, however, due to the plethora of information and options available, it took some doing. 

 

Drive Performance

 

Power and Acceleration

The Paceman I had the pleasure of driving was the turbocharged 1.6 litre Cooper S capable of producing 184bhp at 5,500rpm and around 250Nm of torque. This in my opinion is a very impressive output for an engine of that size.

The acceleration is equally impressive with the Paceman S managing 0-100km/h in just under 7.5 seconds with the sport mode engaged. The engine can be pushed all the way upto 210km/h, all the while keeping you entertained with a quality turbo soundtrack.

The transmission is brilliant and the gear changes are quick and smooth, definitely up there with some of the best I have experienced. The six speed gearbox is perfectly synchronised with the turbocharged engine and with sport mode enabled accompanied by the resultant satisfying roars make chasing the redline more of a pleasure than a challenge.      

 

Handling and Suspension

Mini Coopers are popularly acknowledged to have a Go-Kart like feel to their drive, which in terms of handling is a very good thing. The Paceman, in my opinion has retained that Cooper essence. The car is very nimble and handles corners very well with minimal under or over steering. The steering is chunky and in sport mode, one can feel the weight on the wheel, but just enough so as not to be too heavy.

It has lost some of the control as compared to the Cooper S due to its bulkier nature and increased height, but there is no roll when going around corners despite the higher centre of gravity and the grip is quite remarkable, owing in part to the 4wd. The suspension seems to be a compromise between a saloon and a performance car, although on the firm side, which in my opinion is where an ‘S’ should aim to be. 

 

Verdict

All in all, the car offers a very fun drive especially in sports mode. Although it is small it packs a punch which makes it very suitable for driving on Dubai roads.  In terms of fuel efficiency as well it does very well consuming between 6litres and 7.5litres/100km depending on driving style. It also carries with it a prestigious badge and the uniqueness that can turn a few heads when one cruises through JBR on a weekend.

However, there is a reason that the car is unique. The Mini, overall, appeals to a niche in the market and I can see why. As much as I loved the drive, and enjoyed the car I could not see myself buying one simply because it is a Mini. Mechanically the car is beyond my expectations, the interior is plush and spacious and the functionality is great, but for me it does not do enough to convince me to overcome that personal Mini barrier.    

 

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