The answer: “Yes, at least darn close.”

The question: “Are those odd-looking, slightly oversize Mini Coopers as much fun as the go-kart-spirited original?”

You may have done a double take on the highway over the last year or so spying a Mini Cooper that looked a bit different. That’s the Mini Cooper Clubman, nearly 10 inches longer than its iconic cousin with a split rear cargo gate that swings open like a barn door.

Reintroduced on U.S. roads in 2002, the regular Mini got a makeover for the 2007 model year, adding, among other things, two inches in length—but still giving short shrift to the backseat and cargo bay. The Clubman addresses those shortcomings—to a degree.

The backseat now is habitable for two adults, though certainly the Mini will never be the vehicle of choice for people who regularly carry a carload of people. The Clubman one-ups some small coupes with a third “club” door on the passenger side for easier access to the backseat, though you still have to push the front seat forward.

Cargo space gains 61 percent over the regular Mini, and the rear seats easily fold flat to make enough room for a long road trip for two.

And with the Mini sitting in my driveway, that sounds like a great idea. There are plenty of faster cars, but the Cooper’s tiny stance gives it that go-kart spirit, making it more fun to drive than many speedier rides. Just beware that it’s front-drive power can cause it to skitter about if you punch the gas.

Plus, there’s that look, different than anything else on the road, both inside and out.

Unlike some sporty little cars, Mazda Miata for example, gas mileage is great, although Mini wants you to use premium. The Clubman gets up to 37 miles per gallon on the highway with the base 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder engine, which is rated at 118 horsepower, and the six-speed manual transmission.

Like on the regular Mini, however, you can up the ante. The Clubman S goes turbo for 172 ponies, and a new-for-2009 John Cooper Works model jumps to 208 horsepower. A six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode is an option on all but the Cooper Works.

You will feel pretty small on the road next to giant SUVs and semis, but this is one solid little buggy. Parent company BMW also delivers a relatively upscale interior, which stands out for its quirky design more than ease of use.

The base Clubman starts at $20,850, $1,750 more than the smaller version. That includes a full lineup of safety equipment and decent list of standards, including mood lighting. That’s less than today’s roadsters, but more than some fun little hatchbacks like the Scion xD.

Clubman S adds $3,500 to the tab and the Cooper Works, $10,600. A convertible is not available, but this is one of those cars that begs for customization with add-ons such as interior and exterior graphics from Colorado’s Original Wraps Inc.

Although the new Clubman just joined its pal for the 2008 model year, it shares a heritage in Britain’s mod culture of the 1960s. A similarly stretched rig entered the Mini lineup in 1969 as the Clubman Estate.

The name doesn’t exactly create an image of fun. Nor does its look compared to the original—more like a wagon than a go-kart—but behind the wheel the difference in "fun factor" is small. Like the Volkswagen Beetle, PT Cruiser, and scant few other rides over the years, the Mini Cooper and Clubman really have no peers. And the Clubman opens the doors to would-be buyers who found the regular Cooper’s stature too mini.