The Design 100

The original Mini was born in response to U.K. gas-rationing caused by the 1956 Suez Canal crisis, and it quickly became a favorite of everyone from the Beatles to the royal family. Now, with oil topping $100 per barrel, maybe it's time to trade in gas-guzzling suvs for the newest member of the Mini family. Based on the beloved Morris Minor Traveller of the 1960s, the Clubman has two rear-hinged "barn" doors to make stowing gear easier. Starting at $20,600 for the standard model and $24,100 for the turbocharged S Clubman, the retro-chic auto is 9.5 in. (24 cm) longer—and 3 in. (7.6 cm) wider in the wheelbase—than other Minis. Though it still lacks the cargo space of an SUV, with the ability to nip rapidly in and out of traffic and get an average of 32 m.p.g. (13.6 km/L), there are distinct advantages to its cheeky stature. —Deirdre van Dyk