2021 MINI Clubman Review

　　

2021 Mini Clubman 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).

　　The Mini 2 Door Hardtop (previously just called the Mini Cooper) is the undisputed icon of the Mini lineup, but its diminutive size means it's not practical for all buyers. Thankfully, Mini offers a range of models that are more passenger- and cargo-friendly. They include the 2022 Mini Clubman, a hatchback/wagon with more room than the 4 Door Hardtop but without the lifted height and extra mass of the Countryman SUV.

　　Unlike the Hardtop and Countryman — which each come with a three-cylinder engine standard — the Clubman is only available in spicy and blazin' flavors. The base Cooper S model is good for nearly 200 horsepower, while the John Cooper Works trim bumps output to over 300 hp. The result is a small car that is sporty and engaging no matter how you spec it — especially if you select the returning-for-2021 manual transmission.

　　Read zzdcar' Expert Rating below to see how the Mini Clubman stacks up against other hot compacts from Honda, Hyundai and Volkswagen.

　　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 the 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 a 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 rival systems. 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 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 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?

The John Cooper Works model is fun to drive in canyons, but its aggressively stiff suspension is a buzzkill in day-to-day driving. Choose the tamer Cooper S instead. On the trim level side, the Signature is a pricey upgrade but comes with some pretty good stuff, including adaptive dampers that let you switch between a comfortable or sporty ride at the flick of a switch. The Signature trim also includes the 6.5" Touchscreen Media Display package that outfits the Clubman with Apple CarPlay smartphone compatibility, which should really come standard on this spunky hatchback.

　　

2021 MINI Clubman models

The 2021 Mini Clubman is a small hatchback/wagon available in three main trim levels: Cooper S Clubman, the all-wheel-drive Cooper S Clubman All4 and the 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 four-cylinder engine (189 horsepower, 207 lb-ft). A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the Classic trim, with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic available for extra cost. On the Signature and Iconic trims, the automatic is standard and the manual is a no-cost option.

　　Standard features on the Classic include:

　　17-inch alloy wheels LED headlights Automatic wipers Heated mirrors Keyless entry and ignition Leather-wrapped steering wheel Dual-zone automatic climate control 6.5-inch infotainment display Heated and height-adjustable front seats Simulated leather upholstery (Cooper S models) Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in behind the vehicle when parking)The Signature model includes those features, plus:

　　6.5" Touchscreen Media Display package (see below) Adjustable suspension dampers Panoramic sunroof Harman Kardon premium sound system Satellite radio Faux leather-and-cloth combination upholsteryThe top-of-the-line Iconic trim consists of:

　　Signature trim 8.8" Touchscreen Navigation package (see below) 18-inch wheels Power-folding mirrors Auto-dimming exterior and interior mirrors Power-adjustable front seats 40/20/40-split rear seat Leather upholstery Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield)Cooper S Clubman All4

　　The Clubman All4 generally mirrors the equipment and features of the standard Clubman but comes with all-wheel drive and is only available with the automatic transmission.

　　John Cooper Works Clubman All4

　　The JCW Clubman All4 is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (301 hp, 331 lb-ft). It comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Features on the Classic, Signature and Iconic trims generally mirror those on the Cooper S Clubman All4. Other features include:

　　18-inch alloy wheels JCW sport seats with faux suede-and-cloth combination upholstery Sport-tuned suspension Larger brakes Additional chassis bracing for improved stiffness JCW-specific styling, including front and rear bumpers and a roof-mounted spoilerAll Clubman models offer several packages and stand-alone options, including:

　　6.5" Touchscreen Media Display package Digital instrument panel Navigation system Touchscreen functionality for the central display screen Apple CarPlay compatibility 8.8" Touchscreen Navigation package Contents of 6.5" Touchscreen Media Display package but with an 8.8-inch touchscreen Wireless device charging pad Driver Assistance package Front and rear parking sensors Head-up display Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Clubman and the car in front) Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention) Premium package (Signature trim required) Power-folding mirrors Auto-dimming exterior and interior mirrors Power-adjustable front seats 40/20/40-split rear seat Leather upholstery Roof rails Satellite radio

　　

2021 Clubman Highlights

Type: HatchbackJohn Cooper Works ALL4Hatchback

　　Trim: Cooper SCooper S ALL4John Cooper Works ALL4Cooper S

　　

Base MSRP	$29,900
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