MINI Clubman Review 2024

MINI Clubman At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The MINI Clubman competes well with the competition on price and standard equipment. It’s good to drive, comfortable and practical enough for a family. In fact we think it's the best of the current MINI crop.

+Now a proper estate with two rear doors, more upmarket interior than the standard MINI hatch, good sized boot has plenty of room for a pushchair.

-Top models are very pricey, options list is confusing.

New prices start from £23,545
Insurance Groups are between 17–28
On average it achieves 79% of the official MPG figure

The MINI Clubman is the estate car take on the popular MINI hatchback, designed to compete with premium products like the Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake and Volkswagen Golf Estate, as well as premium hatchbacks like the Audi A3 Sportback. It builds on the previous generation but is a more practical proposition; it’s a much bigger car than before and has a bigger boot, even though it retains the two vertical doors from the original car. Offered with the typical range of personalisation options as well as a broad engine range, it brings a more sensible side as well as still being fun to drive. Read on for our full MINI Clubman review.

It might still have two ‘barn’ doors for accessing the boot, but that’s about the only thing the new MINI Clubman has in common with its predecessor. This Clubman is more like a conventional small family car, with the added bonus of a luxurious interior.

In fact, despite the estate car styling the MINI Clubman is actually around the same size as an Audi A3 Sportback. Being based on the bigger MINI five door hatchback gives it the longer wheelbase and bigger body to offer both decent rear seat space as well as a bigger boot; it might not be a serious load carrier but it’s a far more practical proposition.

One thing the MINI Clubman has done is moved upmarket. It feels more grown up than the rest of the MINI range, with a different dashboard layout, subtle chrome details and unique vents.

There are also some really luxurious upholstery finishes, including the option of blue quilted leather that wouldn’t look out of place in a much pricier vehicle. It goes some way to justifying the MINI Clubman being pitched as a premium competitor to the likes of the Mercedes A-Class and BMW 1 Series.

Standard equipment is generous, with alloy wheels, navigation, Bluetooth and keyless start fitted to all cars. Being a MINI there are plenty of optional extras of course, including a wide choice of paint and roof colours, stripes, alloy wheel designs, interior upholstery finishes and bundles of extras including the popular Chili pack.

It’s easy to get carried away with the MINI configuration tool and to add thousands of pounds to the price of a Clubman, but somehow even examples with everything but the proverbial kitchen sink fitted manage not to feel overpriced.

The testament to the Clubman’s genuinely upmarket, luxurious and special cabin. Whether a fancy cabin and twin rear doors are enough to pull buyers away from the Audi A3 Sportback and Mercedes-Benz A-Class will come down to personal preference.

If you’re interested in a practical MINI then there’s also a chance you still want it to drive like a MINI too. The extra length and width means it’s not quite as agile as the regular hatchback, but there is still fun to be had. If anything, it rides better than the standard car as long as you choose the right suspension option, but it is still keen to turn into a corner and has a playful nature that is a big part of its appeal.

But if you've always wanted a MINI and found the rest of the range a little too tight for space, the Clubman is perfect. 

We lived with a Clubman for six months - find out how we got on with it in our MINI Clubman long term test. 

Ask Honest John

My space saver spare wheel is only 16 inches but my wheels are 18 inches - is it safe to use on the driven wheels?

"I have a Mini Clubman which has 18 inch alloys with low profile tyres. I have purchased a 16 inch space saver which I have been assured is suitable for use in case of emergency, even though the total diameter of the wheel and tyre is a lot smaller than the 18 inch alloy. I can understand that it is all right to use for a short time on one of the rear wheels, but I am concerned that if I put it on one of the front driven wheels (even for a short time and driven sensibly) that it could damage the differential/gearbox. Are my fears justified or not?"
A space saver spare wheel should only be used in case of emergency and for the minimum distance possible until you can get the original tyre replaced. Driving a long distance with the space saver on a driven wheel should be avoided - you can do this by swapping one of the rear wheels to the front - but it is important to remember that while the wheel size has a difference of two inches, the actual tyre diameter will be much closer. Your low profile 18-inch wheels have a low profile, while the space saver has a much bigger sidewall.
Answered by David Ross

Should a broken spring be covered by a manufacturer warranty?

"My MINI Clubman, which is slightly less than 3 years old, has just had its near side spring break. Should it be covered under the 3-year warranty? The car has done 17,000 miles."
It will very much depend on the cause of the spring damage. Most springs are broken by potholes, speed humps or mounting kerbs. These instances are not manufacturing faults and will not be covered by the warranty. If the spring has failed for some other reason then the MINI dealer should make a claim under the warranty.
Answered by Dan Powell

Should I trade in two cars to buy an electric vehicle?

"I’m recently bereaved and I find I’ve got two cars, a 2017 MINI Clubman and a 2016 Audi Q3. I don’t need both cars and I could buy an all-electric car/SUV with a 250-mile range. I’m prepared to put £10,000 - £15,000 to buy outright. What can you suggest I do?"
If you think your mileage will suit electric motoring, consider trading both in for an electric vehicle. To get the best from an EV, you'll need to be able to charge at home (i.e. have private parking with access to electricity where you can install a home charger). The Volkswagen ID.3 is a really good introduction to EVs, and the standard model starts from around £30k (after the Plug-in Car Grant). This can officially travel up to 250 miles on a charge, while the pricer Tour model can travel up to 336 miles. If you regularly travel 250 miles in one go, though, you might find that a diesel alternative is a better option.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Should I change my MINI Clubman for a Volkswagen Polo?

"I have a 2016 MINI Cooper S Clubman and I'm thinking of changing it. Any suggestions? I don’t want to end up regretting changing. I'm thinking of a Volkswagen Polo or Golf as they have good visibility but they're not as nice inside."
The latest Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI is a very good small car. Not as plush as your MINI inside, but less harsh on the road due to its softer suspension. The Polo will match your Clubman for bootspace, with 355 litres on offer: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/volkswagen/polo-vi-2017
Answered by Dan Powell
More Questions

What does a MINI Clubman cost?