2019 MINI Clubman Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　

What's new

Revamped trim structuresAltered standard and optional equipment availabilityPart of the second Clubman generation introduced for 2016

　　The classic Mini Hardtop invokes images of rally car racing and a high-speed caper through the streets of Turin or Los Angeles, depending on which decade you were born. Think of the 2019 Mini Clubman as the Hardtop's more responsible older sibling. With more usable interior space than the other small cars in Mini's lineup, the Clubman is the ideal pick for drivers who desire fun and practicality in equal measure.

　　The Clubman slots between the four-door Hardtop and the Countryman small crossover in Mini's lineup. Its moderate weight and balanced handling give it the driving dynamics smaller Minis are known for, while a longer wheelbase allows for more backseat legroom and a spacious cargo hold that is nearly the same size as the Countryman's. The Clubman offers the best of both worlds, as long as you upgrade to the turbocharged four-cylinder in the Cooper S to bolster its performance.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.9 / 10

　　The 2019 Mini Clubman is both practical and enjoyable, with a relatively spacious interior and Mini's typical fun-to-drive handling characteristics. It's one of the best all-rounders in its class, provided you can live with its high price tag.

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on a full test of the Mini Clubman Cooper Hatchback (turbo 1.5L inline-3 | 6-speed automatic | FWD).

　　NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2016, the current Clubman has received some revisions, including a revamped trim structure in 2019. Our findings remain applicable to this year's Clubman, however.

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.9 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	7.5
Interior	8.0
Utility	8.5
Technology	6.5

　　

Driving

7.5

　　The Clubman's base engine has a hard time coping with the significant weight it has to move around. Because of this, the base model isn't particularly spry. The larger 2.0-liter engine in the Clubman S and the JCW provide better performance.

　　

Acceleration

6.5

　　In casual driving, the Clubman's 1.5-liter engine is adequate. But it can feel slow to respond when quick action is required to merge with traffic. Sport mode helps, but it's still outpaced by many competitors, needing 8.6 seconds to get to 60 mph. The JCW version needs just 6.1 seconds.

　　

Braking

9.5

　　The Clubman is a stopping superstar. The brakes are smooth to operate in everyday driving and feel stable and confident under panic-stop conditions. In performance testing, the Clubman needed only 107 feet to stop from 60 mph, a commendable result considering the all-season tires.

　　

Steering

8.0

　　Steering is a tricky aspect to tune and a big contributor to confidence behind the wheel. The Clubman's steering system is precise and maintains a good balance between assist and road feedback. The meaty steering wheel feels substantial in your hands.

　　

Handling

7.0

　　Usually renowned for snappy, playful go-kartlike handling, this Mini seems to be dialed back for a calmer demeanor. The Clubman still responds well to initial steering inputs and exhibits impeccable balance, but the overall feel is more composed and deliberate, not eager and frenetic.

　　

Drivability

7.0

　　The six-speed automatic shifts quickly and smoothly, and it makes the Clubman easy to wheel around town. Our test sample's transmission exhibited some vibration when rolling to a slow stop, but we're not convinced this is typical behavior.

　　

Comfort

7.5

　　The Clubman offers a lot of comfort inside, with no shortage of plushly padded surfaces and more room than before for passengers to stretch out. Downsides include a slightly stiff ride and fair amounts of wind and road noise that find their way in.

　　

Seat comfort

8.0

　　The seat cushions are firm but offer plenty of padding, as do the armrests. Even the simulated leather upholstery feels pretty nice. There's good lateral support and a decent amount of lumbar support, even without the upgraded power seats.

　　

Ride comfort

7.5

　　The Clubman skews toward the stiff side of the ride-quality spectrum, possibly due to the rigid sidewalls of its run-flat tires. But with a longer wheelbase than other Minis, the Clubman has a less busy ride than the smaller Hardtop and Convertible models.

　　

Noise & vibration

6.5

　　There is a fair amount of wind noise from the mirrors and consistent road noise from the tires, although neither is overly intrusive. Particularly rough roads can transmit a rumbling noise into the Clubman's cabin.

　　

Climate control

8.0

　　Set it and forget it. The Mini's climate control has no problem ensuring the cabin stays at the right temperature, though adjustments come in 2-degree intervals. Heated front seats are optional; ventilated seats are not available. Rear passengers get two adjustable vents in the center armrest.

　　

Interior

8.0

　　Mini used to champion style over function, sometimes to a fault, but has since evolved its design approach with the Clubman to successfully incorporate both. The company's commitment to heritage is evident in the distinctive 50/50-split cargo-area doors, which swing outward like a cargo van's.

　　

Ease of use

8.5

　　The central entertainment and climate controls are well-organized, intuitive to navigate and easy to use. The only issue we had was with the front seat belts running across the manual recline lever when buckled, which is somewhat inconvenient.

　　

Getting in/getting out

8.0

　　Front-seat entry is excellent, with wide door openings and ample dash clearance for knees. But it's fairly difficult to get into the rear, with a wide doorsill and little foot clearance because of the seat's proximity to the central pillar. This could pose problems for tall or elderly folks.

　　

Driving position

8.0

　　Seat and steering wheel adjustments provide plenty of customization for drivers of all sizes. The gauges adjust with the steering tilt, ensuring they're always within view. Thumb pads on the wheel promote correct hand placement. No compromise needed to get arms and legs where you want them.

　　

Roominess

8.0

　　Four passengers are optimal, but five will fit without much sacrifice. Despite the dual sunroofs, headroom is generous across the board, and the front seatbacks are soft, so rear passengers have a nice space buffer if seated behind a tall driver.

　　

Visibility

9.0

　　With the exception of the split rear window — more a quirk than a hindrance — visibility is excellent. Folding rear headrests are clever, and the large windows provide great 360-degree visibility. A rearview camera and parking sonar are optional.

　　

Quality

9.5

　　Soft-touch interior surfaces, doors that seal solidly when closed, and rubberized climate control knobs that rotate with soft detents are all of palpable quality. Mini's personality remains, but it's matured and it befits a luxury compact.

　　

Utility

8.5

　　Not only is cargo space plentiful, but it's easily accessed, too. Kick your foot underneath the rear bumper and out opens one of the barn doors. Do it again for both — just don't stand too close. Parents will appreciate how easy it is to locate the car-seat attachment points.

　　

Small-item storage

7.5

　　Front occupants have access to two inboard cupholders and door pockets large enough to hold most 1-liter bottles. The center console has space for most small items, except for handbags. Rear passengers have fewer options, but they shouldn't have difficulty finding space.

　　

Cargo space

9.5

　　Storage space is a generous 17.5 cubic feet and easily accessed thanks to barn doors and 60/40-split rear seats that fold flat. The rear cargo area has a false floor, providing hidden storage options. A clever latch holds the floor up when you need to access it, saving your arms needless strain.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

8.5

　　The rear seats have lower LATCH anchors under easy-to-reach and clearly marked flip-up plastic covers, so you don't have to go digging. The tether anchors on the rear seatbacks are similarly easy to locate. The rear accommodates two car seats.

　　

Technology

6.5

　　Though the optional entertainment and navigation system boast flashy graphics and strong intuitiveness, the Clubman is let down by poor voice controls and device integration that's well behind the curve. The absence of blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert is baffling.

　　

Audio & navigation

8.0

　　The optional large entertainment screen boasts attractive graphics and a variety of control methods. The touchscreen is straightforward, while the touch-sensitive rotary dial surrounding shortcut buttons make inputs quick and simple, so you don't need to take your eyes off the road.

　　

Smartphone integration

6.0

　　Apple CarPlay is available, but only as part of an expensive option group. Android Auto is not supported. There are two USB ports and one auxiliary-in port. Mini offers limited device integration through a phone app. But there are better solutions available in cars that cost far less.

　　

Driver aids

6.5

　　A backup camera and rear parking sensors are standard, but blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and lane departure warning are not available. Options include adaptive cruise control, a parallel parking assist system and a head-up display.

　　

Voice control

5.5

　　Mini's voice control system had difficulty understanding simple commands, even when spoken slowly, loudly and clearly. The voice the car uses to communicate back to occupants is warped and occasionally garbled, sometimes sounding like something out of a science fiction movie.

　　

Which Clubman does zzdcar recommend?

　　The turbocharged three-cylinder in the Cooper is fine if you're flying solo, but it starts feeling weighed down as you add passengers and cargo. We'd start with the Cooper S model, with its more powerful turbo-four that never feels sluggish. The base Classic trim doesn't give you the truly custom feel that Mini is known for, so we recommend the Signature. The options list is lengthier, with additional paint choices and available real leather upholstery.

　　

2019 MINI Clubman models

　　The 2019 Mini Clubman is for people who love the driving and handling characteristics of a Mini but need more rear-seat room and cargo space than the four-door Hardtop provides. All three models — Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works — have similar feature content but are differentiated by the engines underhood. From there, buyers choose between three trim levels (Classic, Signature and Iconic) with an increasing variety of features. A healthy number of styling, performance and luxury upgrades are available on most models.

　　Powering the Cooper is a turbocharged three-cylinder engine (134 horsepower, 162 pound-feet of torque) paired to your choice of a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. Although it's the base trim, the Classic is still well-equipped. Feature highlights include 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic wipers, foglights, heated mirrors, rear parking sensors,height-adjustable front seats, simulated leather upholstery, a 60/40-split folding rear seat and multicolor ambient lighting. Among the standard tech items are Bluetooth, a 6.5-inch central display, a rearview camera, and a six-speaker sound system with a USB port.

　　Stepping up to the Cooper S adds a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (189 hp, 207 lb-ft) mated to the six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic (steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters are optional). It also gets 17-inch wheels, dual exhaust tips, extra styling flourishes, and front sport seats with adjustable thigh support.

　　The most powerful Clubman is the John Cooper Works model. Motivated by a more potent version of the turbocharged four-cylinder (228 hp, 258 lb-ft), this Clubman comes only with all-wheel drive. Upgrades include 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, cornering lights, a rear spoiler, a sport-tuned suspension, keyless entry, a sport steering wheel, more aggressively bolstered sport seats, and simulated suede and cloth upholstery.

　　Features added by the Signature trim differ slightly depending on model, but generally, it adds a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, frontal collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam control and touchscreen functionality. Cooper models get 16-or 17-inch wheels, Cooper S versions get adjustable driving modes, and JCW models get adaptive dampers. Selecting the Signature trim also opens the door to additional paint choices, interior dashboard appliques and upholstery choices.

　　The Signature's Premium package further adds power-folding mirrors, auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, chrome exterior trim, LED headlights and foglights, cornering lights, satellite radio and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

　　The Iconic trim includes those upgrades, plus power-adjustable front seats, a 40/20/40-split rear seat, leather upholstery, a navigation system, wireless charging, an 8.8-inch touchscreen and a spare tire. Depending on powertrain choice, selecting the Iconic trim will add different features. Cooper and Cooper S models get a choice of several 17- and 18-inch wheel styles, while Cooper S and JCW models get adaptive suspension dampers.

　　Many of the above options can be ordered separately. A Driver Assistance package for Signature and Iconic trims adds front parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display and an automated parallel parking system. Additional stand-alone options include exterior and interior styling modifications, all-season tires and roof rails.

　　

2019 Clubman Highlights

Type: HatchbackJohn Cooper Works ALL4Hatchback

　　Trim: CooperCooper ALL4Cooper SCooper S ALL4John Cooper Works ALL4Cooper

　　

Base MSRP	$24,900
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	28 MPG
Cost to Drive	$166/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	17.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles