Mini

Paceman

It’s MINI’s first Sports Activity Coupe and it lives up to the headline billing with dynamic handling, beautiful eye-catching looks and plenty of on-board techno treats. It is also the only MINI to have its identity blazoned across the rear nameplate.

The good

Fantastic handling, especially the JCW edition

The bad

Be prepared to be noticed. You’ll have nowhere to hide in this model

Tech Specs

Price from

£19,115

Combined Fuel up to

67.3mpg

0-62 from

6.8 seconds

max speed up to

142mph

co2 from

111g/km

Test Drive

MINI Paceman 1.6 JCW

With blistering pace, dazzling good likes and dynamic driving capabilities, the MINI Paceman is certainly that little bit special.

And when a car comes with a CHILI pack you would expect it to be hot. Well, it is – sizzlingly so!

Admittedly, the special John Cooper Works edition of this beauty comes with an asking price just shy of £38k, including about £8k of optional extras, which a few years back would have been unthinkable for a MINI. But these days, buyers want their normal brands to offer something a little bit special whatever the cost.

The MINI Paceman looks amazing from every possible angle thanks to a gorgeous black and red colour combination, along with blackened headlights and black 19-inch alloys.

And if that doesn’t drive the imagination, other distinctive features include long doors that really accentuate the length of the car, twin exhaust pipes that crank up the volume, an electric glass sunroof, flared wheel arches that help project the car’s muscular stance and some very neat JCW badging on the tailgate, grille, wheel hubs, door sills and throughout the cabin.

The Paceman has been billed as MINI’s first sports activity coupe and the 0-62mph sprint time of 6.9 seconds along with a top speed of 140mph certainly suggest it lives up to expectations.

There is certainly a very sports-orientated theme running through the car’s DNA with snazzy leather sports seats that can be heated, sports suspension, a three-spoke multi-function sports steering wheel and also a sport button that changes the car’s driving dynamics.

But that unmistakable MINI charm is still just as apparent too with the traditional instantly recognised and centrally positioned large circular dial housing the speedo, rev counter and fuel gauge.

Toggle switches and round air vents also leave you in no doubt to the car’s identity.

The Paceman is packed with techno treats such as air conditioning, sat nav, a digital radio and CD player which is compatible with all today’s media devices, a parking distance control and plenty more besides.

In the deceptively spacious rear, there are two individual seats and passengers can stretch out with ample leg, shoulder and head room.

The boot can hold a few overnight cases and the capacity can be increased with folding rear seats.

In all honesty, the Paceman JCW looks fantastic and after a week behind the wheel I can say the performance measures up too.

The 1.6-litre petrol-driven engine delivers plenty of fizz and there is a constant supply of power on tap as the car moves swiftly and effortlessly through the six-speed manual transmission.

It boasts all the go-kart like handling that is a traditional MINI trademark and the all-wheel-drive is another bonus on this car. Road-holding is absolutely brilliant and any bend can be tackled and conquered with ease. There is a little engine noise, but it’s not particularly loud.

MINI has packed a whole array of safety specifications into the vehicle, such as automatic stability control and traction, brake force distribution, dynamic traction control, dynamic stability control, cornering brake control and six airbags.

Another first for the Paceman is it is the only MINI to be identifiable from a rear nameplate and that’s likely to be the view that most other drivers will have of this car.