First drive: 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman S

The steady march of the Mini brand away from its original diminutive philosophy takes its most deliberate step yet with the latest Clubman, a model which the company isn’t shy about labeling the biggest Mini(with Android Car Gps? Of course there’s a give and take when it comes to vehicle growth, and in the case of the Cooper S Clubman, out on the road it translates to a driving experience that is less go-kart and more grand tourer. Sure, there’s a Sport button, three pedals on the floor and a turbocharger under the hood, but the Cooper S Clubman has clearly been tuned more for comfort than corner carving. In comparison to the Mini Hardtop, the Clubman’s suspension tuning is noticeably softer, with body roll and brake dive quickly beginning becoming evident on demanding roads. Likewise, the Clubman’s steering feels more relaxed as well, with an electrically assisted setup that is easy to pilot but lower on feedback than some Mini loyalists might hope for, and enthusiastic drivers will likely find themselves pushing deeper into the brake pedal that they might expect to in order to reign in this big Mini at speed. But despite these concessions to commuting comfort, the Cooper S Clubman is still notably more driver-focused than most of its direct competition, even if it has given up a step or two for sake of wider appeal. If installing an