2017 MINI Clubman Review

If you live in a congested city and performance isn't a priority, you'll do just fine with the base Cooper. However, its turbocharged three-cylinder feels slow in merging and passing maneuvers, and it lacks the zip you'll find in a smaller Mini. We recommend stepping up to the Cooper S. Its tur...

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.

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 2.0-liter engine should do better.

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 it was shod in all-season tires.

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.

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.

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.

There is much comfort to be found inside the Clubman, with no shortage of plush 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.

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.

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 Cooper Hardtop and Convertible models.

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

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.

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.

Front-seat entry is excellent, with wide door openings and ample dash clearance for knees. It's fairly difficult to get into the rear, however, 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.

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.

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

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 befits a luxury compact.

Storage is generous, with two cupholders in the front, four in the rear and door pockets large enough to hold a 1-liter sport bottle. The cargo area measures 17.5 cubic feet, rear seats fold flat and underfloor cargo storage is brilliantly designed. The rear swing-out cargo doors allow for easy carg...

The Clubman's central display is accessed primarily through a control knob in the center console, though touchscreen functionality is new for this year. The operating system (a derivative of BMW's iDrive) is easy to use and features crisp, vibrant graphics.