Mini Clubman: A Stylish and Spacious Station Wagon Review

For most people, including novice car enthusiasts, the name Mini will most likely bring forth the image of the British marque’s most famous hatchback into their minds. However, they probably wouldn’t have a clue what a Clubman might be or look like. And to be honest, one can’t really blame them, either, as the Clubman tag was initially meant only for a facelifted iteration of the original Mini from the 1970s. That has all changed now, and the new Clubman is actually a Mini station wagon, which arrived on the automotive scene back in 2007. The B-segment Mini Clubman also has a commercial variant called the Clubvan, though no one really cares much about that one. The Clubman is built on the smaller Mini Hatch’s platform and is essentially a stretched Mini Hatch with more interior space.

The first-generation Mini Clubman lasted until 2014, when it was replaced by the outgoing second-generation model, which uses BMW’s UKL platform. It’s not only larger than its predecessor but also ditches the fancy suicide doors. In the UAE, the Mini Clubman competes against the likes of the BMW 1-Series, Lexus CT, and Volkswagen Golf.

Exterior

The Mini Clubman’s exterior design may not be the most stunning from the premium British brand, but it is a significant piece of machinery, measuring 4.253 meters in length, 1.800 meters in width, and 1.441 meters in height. The second-generation Clubman’s wheelbase has been extended to 2.670 meters. The minimum boot capacity is 360 liters, which can be increased to 1,250 liters when needed.

On the design front, the face of the Clubman resembles that of the Mini Hatch, featuring:

• Domed hood design
• Circular headlamps with signature LED surrounds
• Hexagonal grille with chrome detailing
• Stylish fog lamp housing
• Low-mounted air inlet on the bumper

The expansive side profile reveals the Clubman’s station wagon shape, complemented by its extended wheelbase and almost flat roofline. Notable styling cues include:

• Quirky door-mounted wing mirrors
• Stylish door handles
• Soft contours along the bodywork
• Two-tone paint scheme
• Plastic body cladding
• All-black door pillars
• Subdued roof rails
• Sporty 17-inch alloy wheels

The rear of the Clubman features:

• Smart LED tail lamps with custom Union Jack motif when lit
• Distinctive split tailgate with two chrome door handles
• Dual rear wipers
• Protruding roof spoiler
• Thick bumper with integrated fog lamps, faux vents, and dual exhaust pipes

Interior

The cabin of the Mini Clubman feels more spacious than some competitors in its segment. The rear seats provide ample legroom, headroom, and knee room. The interior materials are high-quality, and the styling is attractive and youthful, featuring:

• A sporty steering wheel
• A motorcycle-inspired gauge cluster
• An 8.8-inch touch-infotainment display
• Trendy door handles and gear lever
• High-quality toggle switches

Standard equipment in the Clubman includes:

• Keyless entry with toggle-switch engine start
• Adaptive LED headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Head-up display
• Leather-upholstered sports seats
• Ambient LED lighting
• Adaptive cruise control
• MINI driving modes
• QI wireless charging
• Infotainment system with navigation, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay
• Premium 8-speaker sound system
• Electronic parking brake

Engine and Performance

The Mini Clubman S houses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that generates 189hp and 280Nm of maximum torque. It’s paired with a 7-speed Steptronic transmission, allowing the 1.4-ton Clubman to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds, reaching a top speed of almost 230 km/h.

Verdict

In the UAE, the Mini Clubman is priced from AED 160,545 to AED 190,995 for the base Cooper variant and the range-topping Cooper S variant, respectively.