Massive Mini: 2016 Cooper Clubman is the longest, widest yet (pictures)

Mini grows the 2016 Cooper Clubman in more ways than one.

The new model is physically larger than before, stretching more than a foot in overall length.

However, the Clubman also grows stylistically. Mini wants to step into the premium compact class with this little family-friendly wagon.

The Clubman gains a wide range of premium amenities that Mini hopes will help justify its price tag.

The larger Clubman is now the longest model in Mini's lineup, besting even the Countryman by over six inches.

The asymmetrical coach door on the passenger side has been dropped, but the Clubman retains the split rear doors.

Technically, the Clubman is a six-door now.

With the touch of the remote fob, the Clubman's doors can be opened hands-free.

Under the clamshell hood is one of two modular TwinPower engines.

The more potent Cooper S model boasts a turbo four-cylinder that's good for 189 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque.

Non-S Clubman models feature a smaller 1.5-liter TwinPower turbo three-cylinder engine, which is surprisingly potent.

The cabin also grows up for the 2016 model year with a major improvement in materials and design.

Circles abound throughout the cabin, from the shifter surround to the infotainment cluster, to the gauges and door pulls.

Mini's dinner-plate speedometer is gone for this generation. In its place is a standard Mini Connected infotainment system.

Two versions are available: a smaller 6.5-inch unit and a larger 8-inch unit with navigation (pictured here).

At its core, Mini Connected is a re-skin of BMW's iDrive software.

Surrounding the infotainment stack is a color LED ring.

The ring's colors change to indicate infotainment features, match the swing of the tachometer, or suit the driver's preferences.

Mini Connected is not touch-sensitive. Drivers make their inputs via this physical control bank on the center console.

iPhone users running the Mini app also gain access to a host of quirky and Web-connected features when their phone is paired via USB.

The smaller, standard 6.5-inch system lacks navigation and doesn't fill the space as well, but retains the Connected Apps functionality.

The standard control knob also lacks the touchpad, which is fine because there's no navigation to input addresses into.

The speedometer moves to a more traditional position at the top of the steering column where it overlaps the tachometer's pod.

Mini's toggle switch bank is retained for the new model.

Here you'll find the flipper for the standard keyless starter.

Though now the largest of the Mini models, the Clubman is still fairly small. Its proportions are close to the Volkswagen Golf five-door.

The rear end features an interesting, seemingly truncated design.

Though exaggerated in this photo, the new Clubman is also the widest Mini in the line at 70.9 inches.

Mini's representatives used the term "flagship" when describing the Clubman, meaning it's the best that the brand has to offer.

With the rear seats folded flat, the Clubman's 47.9 cubic feet of storage bests even the Countryman CUV by 5.7 cubic feet.

The column in the middle of the rear window takes some getting used to, but doesn't block much of the view.

An optional head-up display puts speedometer and navigation data ahead of the driver's view.

The 2016 Mini Cooper Clubman starts at $24,100 for the base Cooper model. In the UK market, the Mini starts at £19,995, while Australian drivers can expect an AU$35,000 starting price.

More powerful and agile Cooper S models step up to a starting price of $27,650.