Overview
BMW’s sporty but fuel-efficient Mini Coopers are among the hottest cars on the market right now. The company’s plant in Oxford, England, is running 24/7 and still can’t keep up with demand. Eager buyers have already ordered just about every ’08 Mini Cooper the plant can make, so we recommend getting your order in now on an ’09. The model we like best is the new Clubman, a 9.4-inch-longer and roomier version of the car. Like the regular Mini Cooper, the Clubman comes in a base model or a speedy “S” version with a turbocharged engine. Both get well over 30 mpg on the highway, and the Clubman’s extra rear-seat legroom and luggage space make it more practical than the regular Mini Cooper. The Clubman can’t match the Toyota Prius’s 46-mpg average mileage, but it’s a lot more fun to drive. Bottom line: It’s worth the wait.
