MINI Clubman (2016-2024) Review

If it’s pure load-carrying space and practicality you’re looking for then the MINI Clubman may not be the car for you. There are more practical cars for less money which will do a better job of shifting people and stuff. However, if you want a car that is good to drive and has a bit of style to it as well as space, then the Clubman is a strong choice.

Whether you have a rapidly-expanding family that is finding a hatchback too impractical, or you want to trade your practical but dull estate car for something with more character and a sharper drive, the MINI Clubman has few rivals.

The  MINI Clubman range is available with a choice of three engines, a 1.5-litre petrol, a 2.0-litre petrol and a 2.0-litre diesel. For most buyers the 1.5-litre petrol is the optimum choice, with 102PS or, better still, 136PS which is usefully brisk with decent acceleration and comfortable cruising. The 2.0-litre diesel is less refined and doesn’t feel as quick in everyday driving but offers the best economy and is better-suited to carrying heavy loads.

The MINI Clubman comes in four models - One, Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works (JCW) - three trims, and there are numerous packs and personalisation options, so it’s important to have in mind what you want and need in advance. The standard Classic specification is strong, with a 6.5-inch infotainment screen, DAB radio with Bluetooth, ambient lighting and automatic headlights and wipers. Of the options available, the Comfort Pack adds things like heated seats, climate control and rear parking sensors for a reasonable price, but if you go for the Navigation Plus pack you get all this plus Apple CarPlay, enhanced Bluetooth with wireless charging and a host of connected services too.

There are few cars in any segment that have such strong style appeal. Volkswagen’s Golf Estate is much more understated in its appearance and isn't quite as sharp to drive, but it is more comfortable, comes with a broader range of engines and is much more spacious too. Audi’s A3 Sportback, meanwhile, is acceptably spacious but also has a strong premium feel, while the pricey Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake is a compact estate with coupe-like stylish looks.

The stylish design of the MINI Clubman's cabin is backed up by a sense of quality in the way the buttons and switches feel under your fingers. There’s a solid clunk when you shut the doors - in particular the tailgate doors feel like they could be on a bank vault - and you get a strong sense of solidity throughout.

The materials are also of a high standard with, depending on model, leather and flashes of chrome, ambient lighting and appealing trim pieces. Few Clubmans will have absolutely identical interiors thanks to a choice of finishes, trims and option packs, although the higher up the range you go, the more options you can choose from.

Both infotainment options available on the MINI Clubman are good. As standard you get a 6.5-inch infotainment screen with DAB, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay, although Android Auto is not offered. This basic system also comes with the rotary controller and steering wheel controls, although the screen itself does not operate by touch.

It is easy to operate and to understand, and although touchscreens are more common than ever it’s no hardship to use the rotary controller instead, in fact it's easier to use than a touchscreen when you're driving.

The upgraded system increases the screen size to 8.8-inches with touch facility, a digital instrument display, connected services including Amazon Alexa, and enhanced Bluetooth with wireless charging. This system works well, so it's worth looking for. There was also the option to upgrade to a more powerful Harman Kardon audio system - again, worth having in a used Clubman.

For front seat occupants of the MINI Clubman, there is a generous amount of space. Because of the chunky design of the interior and the smaller than average window area, the MINI Clubman’s cabin can feel smaller than it really is but it only takes a moment to get into a good seating position. Headroom is sufficient for occupants up to six feet tall and a bit more, while legroom will suit taller occupants too. Height adjustment for the driver’s seat is standard and optional for the passenger depending on the trim you go for.

In the rear, there is sufficient space for adults. Tall passengers sitting in the back will be fine for legroom as long as they’re not sat behind a fellow tall soul. The rear bench is best suited to two adults or three children. Three adults across the back is possible, but the person sat in the middle gets a rough deal as the centre seat is narrow and less comfortably shaped than the outer two, as well as things getting a little crowded for elbow room.

Head for the boot, and it’s hard not to be a little charmed by the vertical rear doors of the MINI Clubman. Later models have electric operation through gesture control, so you only need to wave your foot under the rear bumper and they will automatically open. 

Charming as they are, it also means they can’t be opened in confined spaces as easily as a conventional tailgate. Even so, the space inside is okay, with the MINI Clubman offering 360-litres of boot space with the seats in place, increasing to 1250-litres with the seats folded. That’s usefully more than the MINI three-door hatchback, if a lot less than you get in other family estates. 

The MINI Clubman was never going to be a car to trouble the likes of the Skoda Octavia in terms of space and accommodation. The MINI Clubman measures 4253mm long and 1800mm wide, compared to 4702mm long and 1829mm wide for the Skoda Octavia estate for example.

There are just three engines to choose from (excluding the high performance JCW model that is really a standalone performance model) but that should still be enough to suit most MINI Clubman buyers. 

The basic 1.5-litre petrol is one of the better options with the MINI Clubman. It’s a three-cylinder unit but turbocharged, providing 102PS in lower power for or 136PS and 230Nm of torque which is enough to give it useful acceleration. It’s also quite refined, there’s a pleasing three-cylinder thrum to it that is engaging rather than irritating, and it settles down to a quiet cruise. Despite that it still has decent fuel consumption too, so for many buyers it will be the best option.

The 2.0-litre petrol in the MINI Clubman Cooper S brings a significant increase in power and performance, this is the same engine that appears in the JCW model, but in a less powerful guise. With 192PS and 300Nm of torque it’s certainly fast - capable of fast overtakes and 142mph should you find yourself on an autobahn - and it’s a lot of fun as a result, although there is inevitably a penalty in respect of fuel consumption and running costs.

MINI discontinued the diesel engines, but you will find several examples on the used marketplace if you want the option. Badged Cooper D for the 2.0-litre motor with 150PS or Cooper SD with 189PS, the diesel engine is not particularly refined and performance is adequate - but it offers the best fuel consumption by some margin, so if you plan on doing big miles it's worth considering over the petrols. You could also opt for the MINI One D with its modest 115PS 1.5-litre engine that is impressively frugal.

The MINI Clubman might have a ‘fun’ personality but it’s also very much a premium product with a price tag to match, so there is an expectation that it will also be reasonably refined if not not quite as quiet as a Golf Estate.

Of the engine options the 1.5-litre petrol is surprisingly the smoothest and quietest of the bunch, what noise there is doesn’t intrude much into the cabin or assault the ears, and although it only has three cylinders there is little vibration too. At cruising speeds it fades away into the background and even when revved it doesn’t become raucous. The 2.0-litre diesel engine is the worst offender, with quite a lot of vibration at idle speeds and it doesn’t really quiet down until you are cruising.

Road and wind noise aren't quite as well contained as they are in a Volkswagen Golf. 

Euro NCAP tested the MINI Clubman in 2015 and awarded it a score of four stars overall. This included a very high score of 90 per cent for adult occupant protection, somewhat diminished by a below average score of 68 per cent for child occupant protection. It was also awarded a 68 per cent score for pedestrian mitigation and a similar score of 67 per cent for safety assist.

As standard, all versions of the MINI Clubman are fitted with front chest airbags for the driver and passenger, as well as side chest airbags in the front and curtain airbags for the front and rear occupants. Seat belt pre-tensioners and load-limiters are fitted to the front and rear seats, while ISOFIX is standard for the rear outer seats - ISOFIX can also be added to the front passenger seat along with an airbag deactivation switch as an option.

As for active safety systems, the MINI Clubman is fitted with ESP as standard, while the optional Driving Assistant pack includes automatic emergency braking for city and extra-urban environments, active cruise control and traffic sign recognition. A speed limiter was an option, but an active bonnet and lane keeping assist are not available as standard or optionally. 

The MINI Clubman was launched back in 2016 and since then, while we've heard of some isolated problems, there doesn't seem to be any common faults that you need to look out for. 

As a manufacturer, MINI's performance is a little disappointing, especially when you consider it has the weight of BMW behind it. It came in 25th out of 29 in HonestJohn's latest Car Satisfaction survey, beaten by the likes of Dacia, MG and Skoda. 

The MINI Clubman will cost a little more to insure than more humdrum cars, although it does vary quite considerably depending on the engine and trim you choose. 

The 1.5-litre Cooper comes in at Group 18, which compares favourably with the main competitors and isn’t excessive given its reasonable performance. Move up to the 2.0-litre Cooper S and this jumps up from Group 25 to 27 depending on specification. If you have a good insurance record, then you should find this relatively affordable, but the Cooper S in particular will be too expensive for inexperienced drivers.

All current versions of the MINI Clubman attract the most common rate of VED, with a £150 annual charge. However, if you are looking at a used example then there are savings to be had by choosing a version registered before 1st April 2017, although there will be a limited number of examples as the current Clubman was only introduced in 2016. Cooper Ds and 1.5-litre Coopers registered before this date qualify for a £30 annual VED rate, but revert to the £150 rate if registered from April 2017 onwards.

The entry-level MINI Clubman Classic model comes with a 6.5-inch colour infotainment screen, DAB digital radio and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as ambient lighting, exterior MINI logo projection and automatic headlights with rain sensor.

MINI Clubman Sport models add the John Cooper Works aerodynamic kit and spoiler, John Cooper Works alloy wheels, sports suspension, bucket seats, steering wheel and anthracite interior headliner. Sport models are available in combination with Cooper and Cooper S engines.

MINI Clubman Exclusive builds on the Classic model specification with upgraded alloy wheels, chrome line exterior finish, leather upholstery, leather steering wheel and unique interior trims. Exclusive models are available in combination with Cooper and Cooper S engines.

Prior to these trims levels introduced in late 2018, and identified by the Union Jack rear light design, the MINI Clubman came in its usual One, Cooper and Cooper S models. All had the Excitement Pack as standard, which brought LED interior and ambient lighting and an exterior mirror puddle light that projects a MINI logo onto the ground on the driver's side. MINI also added the Black Pack and City versions as trim options, which are down to personal taste for used buyers. There was the Untold version towards the end of the Clubman's life in 2022 finished in Sage Green paint.

As has always been the case with MINIs, it's worth finding a used example with the Chili Pack fitted, which brings rear parking sensors, LED headlights, and climate control.