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
Our verdict | |
The Cooper Clubman John Cooper Works (JCW), which is what we tested, is the quickest and most powerful model in the Clubman lineup. It's all about performance and entertainment. But that comes at the expense of other things, including your wallet. And while it has tons of personality and respectable performance, the Clubman JCW isn't any more entertaining than the significantly less expensive Clubman S. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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 | |
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. | |
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.
2020 Mini Clubman
2020 Mini Countryman
While the Clubman is considered a wagon, the Countryman fits into the more traditional SUV mold. The Countryman is taller and slightly longer and wider than the Clubman. It does offer more rear-seat legroom, but its cargo and front passenger space is roughly equal to the Clubman's. It's fine to drive as far as SUVs go, but it's not quite as fun as the more nimble Clubman. To learn more about the Countryman, read Edmunds' long-term road test of a Mini Countryman S E Hybrid.
The Hardtop is the modern version of the original Mini Cooper. The current model is available with either two or four doors; both are smaller than the Clubman. That means less passenger and cargo space, but it does make the Hardtop a little more nimble and light on its feet. It's also less expensive and available with a reasonably fuel-efficient turbocharged three-cylinder engine.
Honda offers the Civic as a sedan, coupe and hatchback, with the latter available in sporty Type R guise, a direct competitor to the Clubman JCW. The Civic is available with a manual or automatic transmission, though there's no all-wheel drive. The Civic is our top-rated small car thanks to great fuel efficiency, a comfortable yet athletic ride, and unparalleled utility for the class.
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. The John Cooper Works (JCW) trim is the highest-performing model in the lineup.
The Mini Hardtop provides plenty of personality and charm but falls short when it comes to practicality. The solution is the Clubman since its longer interior better accommodates both adult rear passengers and luggage. There aren't a lot of hatchbacks being made today, and even fewer with this kind of performance and personality.
Outside of its own Mini stablemates (Hardtops and Countryman), the Clubman JCW faces off against rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf R, Honda Civic Type R and Hyundai Veloster N. Shoppers may also be interested in more conventional hatchbacks such as the Kia Forte and Mazda 3.
Unleashing 301 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque could conceivably overwhelm the front wheels, but that's when the All4 all-wheel-drive system sends as much as 50% of that power to the rear wheels. You'll feel a slight tug of torque steer to the right if you stomp the gas pedal from a standstill. But it requires minimal wheel correction to maintain your intended path.
If you've been in any recent Mini vehicle, the 2020 Clubman JCW will look and feel very familiar. The old Mini heritage styling cues are prominent, from the round gauges to the old-school toggle switches. Technology features are also identical to other Minis and feature healthy contributions from parent company BMW.
The Clubman and Countryman are the most practical models in the Mini lineup but still fall short in some areas compared to rivals. You get 17.5 cubic feet of space behind the Clubman's rear seats. Folding them flat opens it up to 47.9 cubic feet. Both of these figures are similar to the Countryman's.
Edmunds saysThe 2020 Clubman John Cooper Works may be the more practical Mini, but it's still not as accommodating as its primary competitors from VW, Honda and Hyundai. That said, none of these rivals have quite the personality of the Clubman, either. In an apples-to-apples comparison, the Clubman JCW is also more expensive and, if you opt for the numerous customization features, the price gap widens further.
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2020 MINI Clubman:
The least-expensive 2020 MINI Clubman is the 2020 MINI Clubman John Cooper Works ALL4 4dr Hatchback AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $39,400.
Other versions include:
