2013 MINI Cooper Paceman Road Test & Review: Features & Controls
Aside for the window switches, which have been moved to the doors to make them easier for people migrating from other brands into a MINI to find them, the Paceman’s interior is classic MINI. Dominated by the large center mounted speedometer, the MINI’s interior treatment is highly distinctive. The single row of toggle switches along the bottom of the center stack adds an aircraft-oriented feel to the car.
MINI’s use of chrome for the switchgear definitely contributes to its upscale interior appearance. This, along with the horizontal geometry of the door panels gives the MINI an interior ambiance no other car approaches. A particularly interesting feature of the interior, one you might not notice immediately, is the way the climate system’s control panel mimics the shape of the MINI logo. While it can be a bit tedious to read the speed of the car if the optional Nav screen is fitted into the center of the speedometer, the secondary speed readout in the bottom of the tachometer mounted on the steering column provides considerable relief in that regard.
Standard Paceman features include air-conditioning, electrically adjustable exterior mirrors, the Center Rail system, and a CD-based audio system with an AUX-IN audio jack. Optional are a leather-wrapped sport steering wheel with multifunction buttons and cruise control, an armrest between the front seats, heated seats, an automatic climate control system, and an electrically actuated glass roof. Other options include Keyless Access and Start, Xenon Adaptive Headlights, automatically dimming rear-view and exterior mirrors, Park Distance Control, front foglamps, and a rain sensor for the windshield wipers.
A high-powered harman/kardon audio system can be specified, along with the aforementioned navigation system. The MINI connected option brings the best features of Apple’s iPhone into the Paceman fully integrated. This includes Facebook and Twitter feeds, along Dynamic Music, Driving Excitement, Mission Control, and the MINIMALISM Analyser apps.