“I wish my MINI Clubman had four-wheel drive” is a statement which could be described as a ‘first world problem’, but thanks to the wonders of platform sharing, you can say that very thing to a MINI salesperson without them looking at all startled.

You see, the Clubman shares its underpinnings with the BMW 1 Series and X1 soft roader, both of which also come with optional four-wheel drive. So, while it was perhaps a no-brainer for MINI to include it too, do you actually need, or want it?

Performance

To be able to choose ALL4 drive, you first need to go for one of the most powerful 2.0-litre versions; namely the petrol Cooper S with 189bhp or the diesel Cooper SD with 187bhp, with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic. So, is ALL4 a performance option then? Well, not exactly, the MINI Clubman is a global product, so in countries like Canada, Austria, Russia and even some states in the USA, you have to imagine there’ll be snow on the ground for several months each year.

Here, the biggest benefit to All4 is likely to be during wet weather driving and in winter, where the Clubman should feel more secure and better at putting its power to the tarmac, without troubling the front wheels. In the Cooper S, the 0-62mph dash is cut by 0.2 seconds, to 7.0 seconds dead.

Ride and Handling

Most importantly, its steering is still much sharper than rivals like the Audi A3 or Mercedes A-Class

While the Clubman might have grown into a larger car – measuring 4.3 metres from nose to tail – it still feels like a MINI, albeit a rather comfortable one. The suspension has a characteristic firmness, which certainly keeps body roll in check, but also copes better with bumps and pot holes than the three-door Hatch. Most importantly, its steering is still much sharper than rivals like the Audi A3 or Mercedes A-Class, so it positively dives into corners. There is one fly in the ointment, however. With four-wheel drive we’d say the Clubman actually feels a bit less fun on dry roads. MINI’s are known for their lively, slightly frenetic demeanour, and the addition of four-wheel drive not only adds some weight (about as much as a teenager sitting in the car at all times), but it also makes the Clubman feel a touch more sensible.

Interior and Equipment

The MINI ALL4 four-wheel drive system usually sends power to the front wheels, but can actually predict when to send torque to the back tyres, as well as doing so when it detects slippage.

While some purists bemoan the size of modern MINIs, you can’t argue that their cabins have become at all homogenous. Drop into the low-mounted front seats and the upright windscreen, huge circular central display and characterful gauge pods all have a sense of fun missing from most rivals. Of course, being a MINI, there’s also an unmatched level of personalisation available. The Clubman is fairly well-equipped at Cooper S level, with standard sat-nav and ALL4 models getting the MINI Excitement Package; which somewhat disappointingly includes the MINI logo being projected from under the door mirrors onto the ground and some ambient lighting inside. The Chili pack is a wise choice, with a whole host of styling and comfort upgrades, including LED headlights and front fog lights.

Cost

The Cooper S ALL4 we tested, returns a claimed 40.9mpg

Adding ALL4 to the regular MINI Cooper S or SD adds around £1,200, so it’s certainly not to be sniffed at. And, given its price, most Brits will probably conclude they don’t need four-wheel drive, unless they live in a particularly remote part of the country. Still, there is a cache to having ALL4 - just look at the number of xDrive models BMW is now selling – and it’s likely to give resale values a boost. In terms of economy, the Cooper S ALL4 we tested, returns a claimed 40.9mpg, down from 45.6mpg in the front-wheel drive model, while emissions increase from 144g/km of CO2 to 159g/km.

Our Verdict

While the addition of four-wheel drive to the Clubman could be a real bonus for many, the chances are they live much further afield than our relatively mild shores. Here, the ALL4 will no doubt improve safety and performance in wet or wintry weather, but brings only small performance gains the rest of the time.