Excellent turbocharged engine; fun to drive; good fuel economy; available all-wheel drive; funky styling
Weak base engine; firm ride; limited cargo space relative to other hatchbacks and crossovers
Except for a few minor changes to its option packages, the Paceman is unchanged for 2016.
The front-wheel-drive, turbocharged Cooper S Paceman hits the sweet spot for value, performance and fuel economy. Make ours a manual with the panoramic sunroof -- that's a pretty sweet ride at a pretty reasonable price. Find a Mini Paceman for sale
The Paceman comes in three trim levels: the base-level Paceman, the midlevel Cooper S Paceman and the sporty John Cooper Works Paceman.
The base-level Paceman ($24,500) includes a lot of standard equipment. Features include 17-inch alloy wheels, power accessories, air conditioning, premium vinyl upholstery (dubbed leatherette), cruise control, a CD player, an auxiliary jack, Bluetooth and a USB port for music. Base-level Paceman models are only offered with front-wheel drive.
Step up to the Cooper S Paceman ($27,900), and you get a turbocharged version of the base model's engine. The result is 181 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque, an increase of 60 hp and 61 lb-ft. Fog lights and sport seats are also standard.
Topping the range is the high-performance John Cooper Works Paceman ($36,600), which is only offered with all-wheel drive. The JCW model boosts power by another 27 hp and also adds a sport-tuned suspension and a performance exhaust.
But standard features only tell some of the story. Mini also offers plenty of options, ranging from wheel choices, paint colors and interior schemes to a panoramic sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, leather upholstery, heated front seats, satellite radio, a navigation system and Mini's Mini Connected infotainment system. All-wheel drive is also optional on the Cooper S Paceman.
| Hatchback | Original MSRP / Price | Engine | Horsepower | City MPG / Hwy MPG | Transmission | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper Paceman ALL4 2dr John Cooper Works | $35,600 / $31,885 | 4 Cylinder Turbo | 208 | N/A | 6-Speed Manual / 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | AWD4WD |
| Cooper Paceman ALL4 2dr S | $28,600 / $26,225 | 4 Cylinder Turbo | 181 | N/A | 6-Speed Manual / 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD / AWD4WD |
| Cooper Paceman FWD 2dr | $23,550 / $22,335 | 4 Cylinder | 121 | N/A | 6-Speed Manual / 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD |
| Cooper Paceman FWD 2dr S | $26,900 / $24,680 | 4 Cylinder Turbo | 181 | N/A | 6-Speed Manual / 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD / AWD4WD |
The 2016 Mini Paceman comes with standard stability control, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes and seven airbags (front, front-side, passenger-knee and full-length side-curtain).
The Paceman had not been crash-tested at the time this article was written, though MINI's larger Countryman earned a reassuring Top Safety Pick rating from the nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
| Basic | 4 Years/50,000 Miles |
| Drivetrain | 4 Years/50,000 Miles |
| Corrosion | 12 Years/Unlimited Miles |
| Roadside Assistance | 4 Years/Unlimited Miles |
| Maintenance | 3 Years/36,000 Miles |
2016 Kia Sportage -- The stylish Sportage lacks the Paceman's 2-door design and cool interior vibe, but it compensates with an excellent available 260-hp turbocharged engine.
2016 Volkswagen GTI -- The GTI arguably has a higher-quality cabin, and it's not as quirky (in case you find the Paceman to be a little over the top).
Used Range Rover Evoque -- The baby Range Rover offers similar sizing to the Paceman, and it delivers a more upscale driving experience -- although it's less fun.
2-Door SUVs are pretty uncommon, which only makes them cooler in our book.
