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Avenue of the Giants Weekend Run - Sat. March 23, 2024

Saturday will be a very full day of cruising from Novato up through the Avenue of the Giants and ending at Eel River Brewing in Fortuna. Sun...

Can A Crossover Also Be A Coupe?

Aaron Cole, the Managing Editor of the Aurora Sentinel, believes the 2013 MINI Paceman is MINI's answer to that question. In his review Cole concludes:
Despite its heft, and proportionately less might, the Paceman is composed and planted on the road. Like most Mini’s the steering feels confidently tight, and the suspension is responsive if not a little nervous. I didn’t mind the bumps and sharpness coming from the corners during my weeklong drive of the Paceman, but I can see how it might be a little much for some.

Speaking of a little much, there’s no good way to say this so I’ll break it fast: The Cooper S Paceman starts at $28,500. Our tester was $39,800 with leather, panoramic roof, stereo and divorce papers if you don’t tell your spouse you’re buying one of these things before you do. Despite the Paceman’s quirky nature and looks, don’t be mistaken, it’s serious money.

Oddly, that propels it into the strata of another quirky two-door crossover, the Range Rover Evoque. Like the Paceman, the baby Rover is seriously British but instead of high tea in the parlor, perhaps the Mini is a pint and slapboxing in the street. Both share qualities that differentiate each other from the other coupe crossovers, but for the money it boils down to class or quirk.

Now that’s truly a surprise. I never thought I’d see a Mini compete against a Range Rover before.