As with all MINIs, it has that trademark go-kart handling which is a key part of the car's appeal, and enhanced by the all-wheel drive transmission which is offered on the Cooper D, SD and Cooper S versions.
This is a 2-door coupe interpretation of the MINI Countryman. MINI call it an SAV which stands for Sports Activity Vehicle and it's been built to cut a swathe through the urban jungle. It's the first SAV in the premium small and compact segment. It has a powerful, muscular front end, and that stretched coupe roof which swoops down to the rear. Rear tailgates are eye-catching and feature a horizontal design.
This is a car to have fun with and one that will turn heads. Mine certainly did with its exterior blue colour and snazzy white roof.
Four petrol and diesel variants are available ranging from 112-184bhp; all come with a six-speed manual gearbox, or the optional automatic. For petrol buyers, the Paceman features a 1.6 122bhp unit with a fuel economy of 47.1mpg and C02 emissions of 140g/km; the Cooper S version uses the same engine, tuned to deliver 184bhp. The Cooper D Paceman uses a 1.6 112bhp turbocharged engine; the flagship diesel the Cooper SD Paceman (review car) is powered by a 2.0-litre, 143bhp engine which I found was too torquey to allow me drive this particular car in comfort for everyday town motoring. Unexpectedly, it was also quite noisy on the road. It 2.0 takes 9.2 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint. Fuel economy is 61.4mpg with an emissions figure of 112g/km.Passengers are protected by a full complement of airbags and every Paceman is fitted with rear ISOFIX child seat attachments and a tyre pressure warning system.
Strictly a four-seater, with two individual seats in the back.
The stylish interior is all MINI with the huge central speedometer in the centre of the dash and the rev counter behind the steering wheel. A change is that the buttons for the windows have been moved to the door trim panel - they were previously toggle switches below the speedo.
The aircraft-like handbrake was great to use. Steering was excellent and I had a nice 'fit' behind the wheel. A small gripe is that the radio station indicators on the speedo unit are too small for ease of reading for some and should be larger as there's plenty of space available. Another would-be problem, the sharp pointed edges of the keyring that will damage pockets or handbag linings.
While the driver is enjoying the car's solid handling, passengers won't appreciate the car's firm suspension, particularly on long journeys. Along with the run flat tyres it makes the ride a bit too firm for comfort.
They will, though, have no problems with head, shoulder or knee room and armrests have been integrated into the rear trim.
A neat feature is the two-section version of the Mini Centre Rail storage and attachment system that runs between the front seats comes as standard.
Boot space is 330 litres and this can be extended to 1,080 with the rear seats folded down. The high opening tailgate and low boot sill is practical for loading or unloading items.
Paceman is priced from €27,960 but my test car (from €35,850) was stuffed to the gills with extras features which came to another €6,877.00 bringing the review car's retail price to a whopping €44,263. Prices include VAT and VRT.
Onboard features included sports seats, cruise control, Bluetooth, front heated seats, and sporty aluminium pedals.
Of course, you also pay extra for run flats (which get you home safely if you get a puncture) and in this case, they added another €111.49 over the cost of ordinary tyres.
A fun package. But expensive.
