Mini Clubman as “Six-Door Sophistication.” This small Mini indeed has six knobs that open six different doors. Automakers used to refer to station wagons as having “five doors,” even though not many people consider a top-hinged tailgate to be a “door.” Called the sole new compact wagon in the United States, the Clubman is an enlarged Cooper. It isn’t even remotely a hatchback. Regardless of the meaning, the Clubman’s straightforward design and two side-hinged cargo doors set it apart from all other Minis now on the market.
2008 saw the release of the Clubman, a swollen two-door Mini. Although the brand’s second generation of the automobile, which debuted in 2016, broadened the car’s configuration (and appeal), the original iteration was technically a four-door with rear-hinged side doors to reach the back seat. With the addition of two rear passenger doors, the Clubman may now be mistaken for a four-door Cooper Hardtop from the front three-quarters of the vehicle. Looking closely, you can see that the Clubman has a four-inch greater wheelbase and ten more inches of length. The inside of the Clubman is much roomier than that of the four-door Hardtop thanks to its added size.
The Clubman hasn’t changed since its release in 2022, except for a new special edition with bronze highlights, sage green paint, and distinctive trim pieces. In contrast, the Cooper models got a makeover and more amenities. Starting costs for the Cooper S and John Cooper Works models in two trims are $35,495 and $44,245, respectively. Although a new generation of all-electric Minis is anticipated for 2025, it is still unclear whether an electric Clubman will be one among them.
There aren’t many direct rivals for the Clubman outside of other Minis. The closest models in terms of spirit are the Mazda3, Honda Civic Hatchback, Volkswagen Golf GTI, and Golf R (all of which come with manual gearboxes). Alternatives to the Clubman that are priced between $40k and $50k, such as the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe or Mercedes-Benz CLA, are appealing sedans. Nothing compares to the Clubman’s versatility or quirky, colourful personality, which draws Mini owners in and encourages them to return.
Mini’s construction and material quality, turbocharged engines, and agile handling contribute to its premium pricing compared to other small vehicles. Since Mini is a BMW brand, elegance is evident. It is unquestionably more comfortable than a two- or four-door Cooper, which lacks the Clubman’s optional all-wheel drive. The current Clubman, like the Hardtop, was first introduced in Europe in 2014. Hence, several technological features, like Android Auto, are not accessible.
Positioned next to the taller and chunkier Countryman, the Clubman balances between the two-door Cooper and SUV-in-waiting. This is the perfect balance for Mini owners who want a more prominent rear seat and room but still want to enjoy driving. The Clubman is ultimately not a vehicle that people cross-shop very frequently. Part of the appeal of this automobile is that you’re either in the mini-camp or far, way away.
Performance: Mini Clubman
Driving a mini is enjoyable. They feel at home on back roads and are agile, light, stiff, and tiny enough to slip past congested areas. That all applies to the Clubman, whose excellent performance is primarily the result of BMW engineering. The chassis feels sturdy and provides nimble handling; it is shared with the 2 Series Gran Coupe and the previous generation X1 and X2. On any Clubman, the brake pedal feels solid and stable.
The four-cylinder turbocharged engines are flawless. Smooth, quick, and powerful beyond their weight class are these 2.0-litre engines. With its 189 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque, the Cooper S can drive without taxing the front tires with abrupt bursts of acceleration. The John Cooper Works (JCW) has a powerful engine that sends 331 pound-feet of torque and 301 horsepower to all four wheels. Quick, loud, and unfiltered.
Mini is The only carmaker devoted to using manual transmissions on almost every model. Still, due to supply chain issues, Mini no longer offers manuals for any of its models other than the two-door Hardtop. As a result, the six-speed Clubman Cooper S is now unavailable. It has been replaced with a seven-speed automatic transmission that shifts quickly and functions similarly to a manual transmission thanks to a dual-clutch mechanism.
Conventional eight-speed automatic transmissions are standard on Clubman models equipped with ALL4 all-wheel drive (AWD); ALL4 is available on the Cooper S and standard on the JCW. Fortunately, Mini’s automatic transmissions are almost as excellent as its engines, particularly in the JCW model, where switching to Sport mode and the “S” mode of the gearbox turns the vehicle into a hooligan that makes swerving in and out of traffic much too simple.
The bumpy price makes longer excursions unpleasant and loud when paired with run-flat tires. All Clubman trims suffer from somewhat distant and sluggish steering, another disappointment. This is incompatible with the chassis and engine of the Clubman.
Fuel Efficiency: Mini Clubman
The EPA rates the Clubman Cooper S with front-wheel drive and automatic transmission’s fuel efficiency at 25 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg overall. Although you cannot purchase the handbook, most measurements show a 2 to 3 mpg loss. Ratings for the Cooper S All4 are 23 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg overall.
On the EPA cycle, the tense JCW does not do much worse—it just gets one mpg less on the highway and combined. Expect far worse while driving in the real world, where the 301 horsepower of the JCW will likely urge many a motorist to floor it.
With a combined fuel economy of 29 mpg for all hatchback versions, the Mazda3 performs somewhat better than the Golf GTI and Golf R, which average 26 mpg combined. The lightweight Cooper 4 Door, which only has front-wheel drive and a smaller three-cylinder engine for the basic model, averages 32 mpg combined. This is where the significant savings reside.
Safety and Assisting Driver:
The 2023 Mini Clubman’s safety rating is withheld since neither the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have assessed it. Additionally, the automobile received just four stars from the European New Automobile Assessment Program (EuroNCAP), an EU organization comparable to the IIHS and NHTSA, back in 2015.
Both agencies rate the normal Mini Hardtops as decent but not exceptional, and the Clubman has several structural similarities. Like the other Minis, the outdated Clubman loses many points for not having active safety features.
Not much more is standard, although lane departure alerts, forward collision warnings, and automated emergency braking are. Blind-spot monitoring is absent, and features like parking assistance and adaptive cruise control require the purchase of a driver-assistance package. Most rivals provide more readily accessible or standard active-safety equipment.
Coziness & Space:
The inside of Mini reflects its premium cost, with premium materials and construction. The seats, which are sufficiently plush in the rear and supportive up front, are a good use of the money. Rear legroom is 34.3 inches, an increase of 2 inches over the Hardtop 4 Door. It has much more space than the GTI or Mazda3, particularly in headroom. The true advantage of Mini’s endearing box-top design is that.
The Clubman’s wider rear doors also make it simpler to install a kid seat than in the four-door Mini Hardtop or Mazda 3. The back seat is also more spacious than tiny crossovers like the Lexus UX and the Toyota Corolla Hatchback. There’s a little more shoulder and leg space in the rear of the Golf GTI and R, but none of these vehicles are limousines.
Infotainment: Mini Clubman
The grandfather clock tower, which serves as the Clubman’s centre stack, has an 8.8-inch touchscreen. An LED ring that replicates your inputs and changes colour surrounds it. Like a manual dial, the call will display the relative amount over half of its band if you boost the temperature or loudness. When the parking sensors detect an obstruction, they may function as a supplementary tachometer or flash the full yellow ring. Although it seems corny, it serves as a helpful visual help.
Compared to the most recent BMW version, the infotainment software based on iDrive from BMW is outdated. The rotary dial and shortcut buttons on the bottom console are challenging to use because they are too near to the armrest, but other than that, it is easy to operate and adjust the settings. The half-digital instrument display has a matte-finish cover that blurs the text below and attempts to jam too much information into a small space.
Along with a six-speaker and name-brand audio with SiriusXM, navigation comes standard. While Android Auto is not supported, Apple CarPlay is wired. The more expensive Iconic Trim 2.0 has features like a head-up display, wireless phone charging, Harman/Kardon audio, power front seats, and a parking assist. Dual-zone temperature control, proximity key, heated seats, and a heated steering wheel are all standard.
Storage & Cargo Space:
An advantage of the Clubman is its cargo space. There are 17 cubic feet behind the back seats, much more than the Hardtop 4 Door (13) but a few cubes behind the GTI and Mazda 3 (20 apiece). When folded, the Clubman’s 48 cubic feet (47.9) surpass all those vehicles’ capacity. Not to be overlooked is what distinguishes the Clubman: Doors with two side hinges that open in either direction.
While side-hinged doors could obstruct curbside unloading, a tailgate will not damage a garage door. The Clubman looks like a delivery van with these rear doors. Additionally, you may open one door rather than the tailgate. You have a long piece of furniture or wood that doesn’t cover the whole area. Besides, there isn’t much interior storage: the centre console bin is tiny, and the door pockets are shallow.
Design: Mini Clubman
Other than another Mini, no other vehicle looks like the Clubman. That speaks much about Mini’s timeless and unique design. The flat roof, shallow overhangs, bug-eyed headlamps, and squat attitude are as attractive today as they were decades ago. Compared to the shorter Hardtop 4 Door and the taller Countryman, the Clubman seems sportier and more aesthetically pleasing due to the Hardtop’s extended length and low to the ground.
Although the carmaker provides a wide variety of colour options, the Ultimate Edition’s hues are a matter of personal preference. The Clubman maintains its cuteness without going overboard when paired with different roof colours, mirrors, decals, and stripes. For a refined English style, choose the saddle-coloured Chesterfield leather.
The Clubman’s half-circle door handles, toggle switches, and circular dashboard seem strange compared to rivals’ traditional fixtures, but they are a welcome change from the competition. But Mini survives because of its aesthetic. It’s the vehicle that makes you happy while sacrificing dependability, affordability, and utility.
Is the 2023 Mini Clubman Worth it?
The Cooper S model of the 2023 Clubman begins at $35,495*, including a $995 destination charge. All-wheel drive is included on the $44,245 John Cooper Works model but adds $2,100 on the ordinary variants. We cannot suggest a JCW since alternative quicker, higher-performance vehicles, such as the BMW M240i, Hyundai Elantra N, or Honda Civic Type R, cost around the same with extras. Mini pricing may quickly rise to maxi prices. A JCW could be the most appealing choice among those in-demand models due to short inventory and dealer markups.
A Cooper S All4 with the basic Signature package is what we advise. Black wheels, a black (or white or grey) roof, mirror caps, and British Racing Green IV over Chesterfield leather make up our dream specification. The only additional $1000 is for the leather. Spending total: $38,595. That compares well to a loaded Volkswagen GTI and a faster Mazda3 Turbo. Both of those vehicles have additional technology and convenience amenities. With the Clubman, the aesthetic and usefulness might make up for the lack of substance.
Since the 2023 models were revealed, Mini has increased pricing many times; thus, the price shown below represents the cost as of this writing.
How Much Does Mini Clubman Insurance Cost?
Generally, the Mini Clubman is less costly to insure than its rivals. The average yearly premium for a 30-year-old female driver with a spotless record is $2,116, which applies to all 50 states. JCW purchasers should budget an additional $250 each year. In contrast, the Mercedes-Benz CLA costs $2,650, the BMW 228i Gran Coupe costs $2,560, the Golf GTI costs $2,217, and the Mazda3 Turbo costs $2,170.
MINI Clubman Generations
Second Generation
2014 to Present
The model year 2014 saw the MINI undergo a redesign, while the model year 2016 saw the Clubman follow suit. It was given a significant makeover for the 2020 model year.
First Generation
2008 to 2013
An extended version of the second-generation MINI Cooper S body was used for the first-generation Clubman’s debut. The Clubman S’s wheelbase was 3.2 inches larger than that of the MINI Cooper, but it also offered all-wheel drive as an option and more baggage space. A 208-horsepower John Cooper Works version was added to the lineup in 2009.
Verdict
Mini’s finest and most helpful four-door is the Clubman, which stands out because of its quirky look and agile handling. If you include the unique horizontal split rear, there are six doors. The handling and performance of the smaller Mini Hardtop are expertly transferred into a more helpful car by the Clubman, which is your only option if you’re looking for a wagon that’s not as big as a Subaru Outback. That being said, the Clubman, like other Minis, is becoming pricey quickly, and it is lagging behind rivals that provide greater convenience and technological capabilities for the same amount of money.
