What’s going on with comebacks? Prince is back as a speck on the horizon at the O2 Arena. Marco Pierre White has returned to the kitchen with more attitude than a ravenous rottweiler. And Fiat is back on the road with a new 500.

Now BMW, which six years ago staged one of the most brilliant motoring comebacks of all time with the Mini is taking the revival to a second stage. The car has been stretched, opened up and redecorated and the end result is the Clubman.

For younger readers the Clubman tag may mean nothing, but anyone who drove the original generation Mini will know this is a successor to a family of practically minded miniature workhorses – well before marketing types in rectangular glasses started extolling the virtues of building more than one body on a single chassis. It started with the 1960s Mini Van and was followed by the Morris Mini Traveller and the Mini Estate Countryman, Traveller and Clubman. Mini plumped for the latter for today’s audience.

The Clubman is meant to be the Mini you can fit your life into. It’s longer, by 9½in, of which 3in goes towards saving you from a kneecapping in the back.

And it’s got more doors. But they aren’t mundane, trips-to-Tesco doors. Oh no. The pair at the tail are wondrous affairs. Squeeze the right-side door handle and a gas strut swings it open sideways, no effort required. Likewise the left door. The rear corners of the body swing out with the doors, leaving the rear lights in place.

But the nice touches can’t hide the fact that this remains a boot better suited to Bond Street boutiques than Bluewater superstores. It’s still only 260 litres – 100 litres more than a regular Mini but 100 litres less than a Honda Jazz.

So what? After all, you can always fold the back seats flat for a shooting brake effect. Once you’ve impressed onlookers with the automated back doors it’s time to have them spellbound at the Clubdoor, the “suicide” rear-hinged rear door on the driver’s side (in the UK).

The Clubdoor is designed to give the Mini what it has never had: ease of access for rear-seat passengers. For safety, it can be opened only when the driver’s door is open and it is said to be as strong in a side impact as the regular door on the passenger side. Opening both the driver’s door and the Clubdoor gives a wide opening. Shame, then, that the driver’s seatbelt intrudes on the aperture.

The important question, though, is have the weight of extra mechanicals and the lengthened wheelbase ruined the driving experience? I’m happy to report that the Clubman drives like, well, like a Mini. It’s a pert, firm, feisty little thing. Full of fun and frolics. Especially in Cooper S spec.

The 175bhp 1.6 litre turbo engine is as good as they come. The twin-scroll turbo technology means precious little lag, and with peak torque coming in at 1600rpm it offers effortless speed. Keep that right foot planted and you’ll savour the rasping exhaust note and the potent punch out of every bend.

This car is alive. It’s the perfect antidote to modern day mediocrity. Because it’s nimble it is as fast as a much more powerful car across country, but would never be so rude as to put the frighteners on you, should you make a misjudgment. After just one mile down the road you’ll remember why you enjoyed driving so much in the first place.

And with impressive fuel economy (44.8mpg on the combined cycle) and low emissions, you needn’t feel any pang of guilt. Especially given the latest raft of tweaks from the men in white coats. Across the Clubman range, and also on the regular Mini, you’re treated to clever stuff like an optimum gearshift indicator, brake energy regeneration and (switchable) auto stop-start. They all do their bit to eliminate the wasteful use of energy.

But the greenest feature of all with the Clubman is that now a Mini driver can have three adult passengers enjoying the ride, instead of just one.

It’s just a shame Mini didn’t take the comeback seriously and bring “Woodie” back: a model with wooden cladding down the sides. Treating it with linseed oil would have brought a nostalgic glow to the weekend car washing ritual.

Vital statistics

Model Mini Clubman Cooper S
Engine type 1598cc, four cylinders, turbocharged
Power/torque 175bhp @ 5500rpm / 177 lb ft @ 1600rpm
Transmission Six-speed manual
Fuel/CO 44.8mpg (combined cycle) / 150g/km
Performance 0-60mph: 7.6sec / Top speed: 139mph
Price £17,210
Verdict Get in the queue fast
Rating
Date of release November 10

The opposition

Model Mini Cooper S £16,000
For Nice engine, sizzling handling, great proportions
Against Everyone’s got one, limited space in back

Model Volvo C30 2.4i £18,760
For Looks great from behind and is well made
Against Shame about the face and uninspiring drive