2020 MINI Clubman Review

　　

2020 Mini Clubman Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The Mini Clubman is a stretched version of the iconic Mini Cooper Hardtop. As such, it benefits from an increase in both cargo capacity and rear passenger space. Want a Mini bigger than the Hardtop but not as big as the Countryman SUV? This is your car.

　　It also might be your car if you're looking for performance. For 2020, Mini has given the John Cooper Works (JCW) trim a big performance upgrade. The JCW's turbocharged 2.0-liter engine gets a significant bump in power output thanks to a larger turbocharger. A new eight-speed automatic transmission, mechanical front differential, upgraded brakes and a strengthened chassis ensure the rest of the Clubman can keep up with the added power. A new grille, LED exterior lighting and piano-black trim round out the styling updates.

　　Overall, we like the Clubman and recommend it if you're looking for a small and sporty hatchback. Outside of its own Mini stablemates (Hardtops and Countryman), the Clubman faces off against hatchbacks such as the Honda Civic, Mazda 3 and Volkswagen Golf as well as small crossovers such as the Honda HR-V and Hyundai Kona. Want to know more? Check out our Expert Rating below to get our full in-depth take

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.7

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Clubman drive? The Clubman JCW uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes an impressive 301 hp. At our test track, it propelled our test car from 0 to 60 mph in a rather outrageous 4.7 seconds. Using launch control, the Clubman JCW blasts off the line, cracking off shifts and even getting some tire chirp on the 1-2 upshift. It feels quick in routine driving too, with plenty of low-end torque and a responsive gas pedal.

　　Around turns, the Clubman JCW is relatively composed, but it doesn't have the go-cart feel of older Minis. The steering is heavier than you might expect, but it feels good and responsive. Even with all-wheel drive, there is a mild amount of torque steer. In general, the handling isn't markedly different or more enjoyable than that of a Cooper Clubman S.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Clubman? Mini spent a lot of time tuning the suspension and handling. Unfortunately, the engineers have tuned it for performance, with no regard for comfort and refinement. The Clubman JCW is stiff. Uncomfortably so. It crashes over bumps, and potholes will rattle your teeth. The firm and oddly padded seat doesn't help much either. Yes, the bolsters do a great job of keeping you planted on winding roads, but it only compounds the ride-quality issue.

　　It's not all bad inside. When it's not sending shockwaves through your spine, the Clubman JCW is actually fairly quiet and refined. The turbocharged engine makes a nice-sounding growl, even if much of it is prerecorded and piped in through the speakers. The climate control works well and has air vents for the rear passengers.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? Despite its minuscule proportions (pun intended), the Mini Clubman JCW is relatively spacious inside. The upright, semi-boxy design means there's plenty of headroom and shoulder room. Legroom is a bit less than what you'll find in some rivals, but it's still relatively good, especially compared to the standard Hardtop. Those upright windows help with visibility too. It's easy to see out in every direction.

　　The driving position is pretty good. The compact size means controls are well placed, and it's not difficult to settle into a comfortable driving position. The square doors make in and out pretty easy. It's not quite as spacious as a Honda Civic or VW Golf, but we're impressed given just how small the Clubman JCW is on the outside.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? This is where you really notice parent company BMW's influence. A lot of the Clubman JCW's tech is ripped straight from the BMW parts bin. The infotainment system is basically BMW's with a colorful, Mini-themed interface. It's easy to navigate and looks a bit more premium than some rivals. Navigation and voice controls work well, and having turn-by-turn direction in our test car's optional head-up display was great. Our tester's Iconic trim came with Apple CarPlay, but the lack of Android Auto was disappointing.

　　The driver aids have been influenced by BMW too. The adaptive cruise control works well, maintaining tight gaps and holding speed up- or downhill. The lane keeping system will bounce the car between the lane markers somewhat, but overall the Clubman's driver aids are pretty refined.

　　

Storage

7.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The Clubman JCW's 17.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats is less than what you get from a Hyundai Veloster N, Honda Civic Type R or VW Golf R. That said, the area is low and boxy, so it's more usable than it seems. There's also a good bit of underfloor storage. The split barn-style rear doors make getting things in and out easy too. And the cargo area expands to a much more competitive 47.9 cubic feet if you fold down the seats.

　　Up front, there are decently sized door pockets and some small bins for your small personal items. Got small kids to take along? The rear seat is tight for installing a child safety seat, but no smaller than anything else in the class.

　　

Fuel Economy

9.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The Clubman JCW is one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in its class. The EPA estimates it'll get 26 mpg in combined city/highway driving. That bests the Civic Type R and Veloster N, both of which get 25 mpg combined. We observed 28.5 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation route, so the EPA's estimates seem to be realistic.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Clubman a good value? Whether the Clubman JCW is a good value or not depends on just how big of a Mini fan you are. A base Clubman JCW starts at $40,250, but it lacks features such as adaptive cruise control, leather upholstery and even Apple CarPlay, though those can all be added on if you select one of the higher trims. Our loaded test vehicle was $48,100, significantly more than any other hot hatch around. That said, it does feel more premium than most rivals, and a lot of the cost goes toward the JCW's sporty tuning. Mini also includes three years of scheduled service and four years of roadside assistance, both better than most.

　　

Wildcard

9.0/10

　　Despite the torquey turbocharged engine, all-wheel-drive traction and nimble handling, the Clubman JCW doesn't have that constant sense of fun you'll find in other hot hatches. The ride is so stiff on most roads that you spend more time avoiding potholes than you do dipping into the engine's copious torque curve.

　　On the upside, it oozes as much personality as its Mini brethren. It looks distinct both inside and out, and it seems to revel in all the little touches including the two-tone paint, color-changing ambient lighting and Union Jack outlines in the taillights.

　　

Which Clubman does zzdcar recommend?

While the JCW model provides plenty of fun thanks to its powerful turbocharged engine and sport-tuned chassis, we suggest going with the base Cooper S Clubman in Signature trim. Not only will you save a good bit of money compared to the JCW, you still get a decently powered 2.0-liter turbo inline-four, optional all-wheel drive, and a solid number of standard features.

　　

2020 MINI Clubman models

For 2020, the Mini Clubman comes in three main trim levels: Cooper S Clubman, the all-wheel-drive Cooper S Clubman All4 and performance-focused John Cooper Works All4. Each of those is broken into three subtrims: Classic, Signature and Iconic. It's a little confusing, but the main takeaway here is that the main trims vary by powertrain while the subtrims determine what features you get.

　　Cooper S Clubman

　　The front-wheel-drive Cooper S Clubman is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four (189 hp, 207 lb-ft) paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

　　Standard features on the Classic include:

　　17-inch alloy wheels Leather-wrapped steering wheel 6.5-inch infotainment display Heated front seats Simulated leather upholstery Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) The Signature model includes those features, adding:

　　Panoramic glass roof Keyless entry LED headlights Premium sound system Dual-zone automatic climate control Adjustable suspension dampers (for a more comfortable or sportier ride) The top-of-the-line Iconic trim adds:

　　18-inch wheels Leather upholstery with power-adjustable front seats 8.8-inch touchscreen navigation system with Apple CarPlay Wireless device charging Cooper S Clubman All4

　　The Clubman All4 generally mirrors the equipment and features of the standard Clubman but comes with all-wheel drive.

　　John Cooper Works Clubman All4

　　The JCW Clubman All4 is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (301 hp, 332 lb-ft). It comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Features on the Classic, Signature and Iconic trims mirror those on the Cooper S Clubman All4. Other features include:

　　JCW sport seats with cloth upholstery Sport-tuned suspension Larger brakes Additional chassis bracing for improved stiffness JCW-specific styling, including front and rear bumpers and a roof-mounted spoiler There are three main option packages available for the Clubman:

　　Connected Media System package (adds remote connectivity features) Touchscreen Navigation package (the Connected Media system features plus an integrated navigation system, Apple CarPlay and a wireless charging pad) Driver Assistance package (traffic-adaptive cruise control, parking sensors)

　　

2020 Clubman Highlights

Type: HatchbackJohn Cooper Works ALL4Hatchback

　　Trim: Cooper SCooper S ALL4John Cooper Works ALL4Cooper S

　　

Base MSRP	$30,900
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$128/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	17.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles