MINI Paceman 1.6i Cooper S

What is it?

The racy three-door Paceman is the seventh and newest member of the MINI family and is essentially a coupe version of the Countryman.

MINI has clearly turned on the style with the Paceman which sports a sleek and fashionable Evoque-style sloping roof, plus some new-to-Mini touches such as those horizontal rear lights and unique badging.

MINI admits the Paceman has been created to appeal to a new type of design conscious customer while the 4-seat interior is also unique to match.   

The Pacemen has the go to live up to all that show however. Lowered, sports suspension is standard fare and the Cooper S Paceman, tried here, offers a quick 0-62 time of 7.5 secs and 135mph top end. Through the twisties, this is a genuine fun car.

True to form, the level of personalisation on offer is virtually unending (1700 exterior combinations alone). Engines range between two 1.6 petrol units (the Cooper with 124PS, or Cooper S with 187PS).  

Or there’s the 1.6-litre diesel Cooper D Paceman (114PS), below the Cooper SD Paceman which musters 2.0-litres and 145PS.

Hottest of all is the 221PS John Cooper Works Paceman (read our review here) which dispatches 0-62 mph in a rapid 6.9 secs.

Auto transmission and four-wheel-drive are further variations across the extensive Paceman range. Choice, you have plenty of…

MINI is not a big player in the UK business car market, yet (around 70% of sales are retail), but they make a powerful statement, particularly in the Paceman format, which could be just what your business needs.

What’s hot?

• The Paceman has a lot of style, inside and out. Pumped up front end matched to that Evoque-style roofline and unique tail treatment means it will stand out from the pack, just as it was designed to do.
• Strong performance from the Cooper S 1.6 petrol engine gives the car plenty of pep. With wide torque band (from 1600-5000rpm), the Paceman’s not short on pulling power.
• On lowered sports suspension, the Paceman’s handling is pin sharp and a lot of fun. Top level steering response another plus.
• Precise 6-speed manual box and well judged clutch action
• The Paceman’s upscale designer-cool interior has four individual seats. In the back, the two separate seats are designed around “a lounge concept.” So again different from the norm.
• Decent levels of space in both front and back (despite that sloping roofline). Rear seats also fold down 50:50 to expand boot space from 330 litres to a maximum 1080 litres.
• Long standard equipment list includes 17-inch Black Star alloy wheels, leather steering wheel, Bluetooth, eco stop/start, sports seats

What’s not?

• In the Paceman family, the 1.6 diesel is more ‘sensible’ and business user friendly, with lower CO2 emissions and therefore lower company car tax, lower insurance, cheaper VED and better mpg – but the Cooper S will be more fun…
• You can get similar performance for less outlay in other, lighter MINI variants
• In the MINI interior, the handbrake is one of those small design touches that one has to learn to love…
• The Paceman’s front-end styling may not be the most graceful around, but it certainly stands out.

Business Car Manager Verdict

MINI spins the variations yet again with the Paceman which seems to have one eye on the smash hit success that is the Evoque while offering up the usual MINI premium compact qualities. Not a bad combination.

The Paceman will never be the most rational company car choice, but who wants rational with a car like this? The Pacemen has been designed to make a strong style statement and in front-drive Cooper S form, it also delivers on the road, with high level driver appeal. Albeit all at a price….

MINI Paceman 1.6i 187PS Cooper S 

The Low Down…

…and what it costs