Item: Used Mini Clubman 2015-present
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

Our current favourite rival to the Clubman would be the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/used-review/n776">Volkswagen Golf</a>. It’s comfier, roomier and even a little classier inside than the Clubman, although the downsides are that it blends into the crowd more readily&nbsp;and isn’t quite as taut or exciting to drive.

If you want a classy family hatchback with a premium badge on it, you could also try the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/used-review/n17405">Audi A3</a>. Again, it doesn't quite have the stand-out looks of the Clubman, but its fabulously classy interior, excellent efficiency and cracking balance between ride and handling should make up for that.

If what you’re really after is a small estate, try the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/fabia/hatchback/used-review/n808">Skoda Fabia</a> Estate. It’s about half the price of the Clubman, but you pay for this with a cheaper interior and a smaller boot.

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

<h3>Engine crankshaft bearings&nbsp;</h3>

The 1.5-litre petrol engine has been subject to a recall to deal with excessive crankshaft bearing wear; this problem is serious and could lead to considerable engine damage if not remedied. It’s therefore worth checking with your local dealership whether the car you’ve got your eye on is affected.&nbsp;If it is&nbsp;and the work hasn’t been done, get it booked in as soon as you buy. Better still, get the vendor to get the work done; it should be carried out for free.

The Clubman did rather well in the 2019 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-what-car-reliability-survey-family-cars/n20053">What Car?&nbsp;Reliability Survey</a>, finishing in joint&nbsp;7th place with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/used-review/n798">BMW 1 Series</a> and ahead of other premium rivals, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/used-review/n17405">Audi A3</a>. In the same survey, Mini&nbsp;finished 8th out of 31&nbsp;manufacturers.

If you'd like to see the full reliability list, head to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>&nbsp;pages for more information.

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Estate

Talk about taking an idea and running with it. The big-selling Mini hatchback is still at the core of the firm’s range, but its cute styling and relatively compact dimensions have been spun off into an estate (the Clubman) and an SUV (the Countryman), as well as a convertible.

Despite its small size, the Mini is a firmly premium product, and the three-door hatchback counts the Audi A1 and Volkswagen Polo among its key rivals.

The fact that Mini is owned by BMW brings some big advantages –&nbsp;not least the fact that its infotainment system is based on BMW’s industry-leading iDrive.

MINI

CLUBMAN

A fun and fashionable alternative to the usual family cars, the Mini Clubman is great to drive

Used Mini Clubman 2015-present

<h3>MPG</h3>

The pre-<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-are-wltp-and-rde-new-fuel-tests-explained/n1223">WLTP</a>&nbsp;101bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine had a combined figure of&nbsp;55.4mpg, while&nbsp;the 114bhp 1.5-litre and 187bhp 2.0-litre diesels got 74.2mpg and 62.8mpg&nbsp;respectively. Post-WLTP engines may appear worse on paper, but that's because you're more likely to actually achieve the numbers quoted. The 136bhp 1.5-litre petrol achieved a figure of 44.2mpg, the faster 192bhp 2.0 petrol got 40.4mpg&nbsp;and the crazy John Cooper Works is rated at 34.9mpg. Diesel lovers can get a 148bhp 2.0-litre engine good for 56.5mpg.&nbsp;

<h3>CO2 emissions</h3>

The 1.5-litre diesel slips into the free road tax band, thanks to official CO2 emissions of 99g/km, but the 2.0-litre diesels aren't far off this, at 113g/km and 114g/km&nbsp;respectively. Low road tax can be enjoyed by petrol fans as well, because the 101bhp 1.5-litre spits out only 119g/km, while the 136bhp 1.5-litre&nbsp;emits 127g/km. The 192bhp 2.0-litre in the Cooper S chucks out 145g/km, while&nbsp;the John Cooper Works is on&nbsp;169g/km.&nbsp;

<h3>Road tax</h3>

Road tax for all models registered before 1 April 2017&nbsp;will vary depending on official CO2 emissions, while examples registered after this date will incur the flat rate fee for all cars that cost less than £40,000 when new.&nbsp;Beware, though:&nbsp;top-end Cooper SD and John Cooper Works models fitted with a few option packs could sneak into that higher-rate tax band. To find out more about the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs, click here</a>.

<h3>Servicing</h3>

Servicing costs for the Clubman are similar to those of the Audi A3, reflecting the fact that it's a premium product. Alternatively, you can opt to set up a monthly direct debit and buy a service&nbsp;plan online that covers two services, an MOT&nbsp;test, seasonal health checks, fluid top ups, sat-nav mapping updates and car cleaning for £17.99 plus a deposit.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h3>Insurance groups</h3>

The entry-level, insurance-friendly&nbsp;1.5-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel&nbsp;One models&nbsp;sit&nbsp;in insurance groups 12 and 15 respectively. However, the more powerful 136bhp 1.5-litre petrol found in the Cooper isn't too much more costly in group 17. The 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel sits in group 18, but the punchier 187bhp Cooper SD is in group 23. Performance-hungry drivers that want to keep an eye on the purse strings should choose the Cooper S&nbsp;(group 26), because the upgraded John Cooper Works&nbsp;(from 2019) is in group 40.

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A fun and fashionable alternative to the usual family cars, the Mini Clubman is great to drive

Expect to pay at least £9500 to get your hands on an early Clubman. A 2017 example with the&nbsp;1.5-litre petrol engine,&nbsp;in desirable Cooper form and with the Chili Pack, can be found for £12,500,&nbsp;while a facelifted Cooper Exclusive with the same engine can be had from £19,000. Anyone looking for the ultimate Clubman will need £31,000 for the 302bhp John Cooper Works. In other words, it’s one of the more expensive family car options, sitting above the equivalent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/used-review/n776">Volkswagen Golf</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/used-review/n17405">Audi A3</a>.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">Not sure how much you should pay for a Mini Clubman? Try the What Car? Valuations tool – it’s free to use!</a>

<h3>Specification</h3>

Because the Clubman isn’t exactly cheap to buy, we reckon keeping it simple is the order of the day. That means picking a Cooper, which gives you all the equipment you need and none you don’t. If you do fancy a few extra fripperies, though, we’d suggest finding one with the Chili&nbsp;and the Media packs if possible,&nbsp;rather than upgrading to the Cooper S.

<h3>Engine</h3>

Of the&nbsp;engines available with the Clubman in Cooper form, we reckon the 138bhp 1.5-litre petrol is the best choice for economy and performance. If you do lots of miles on the motorway, go for the 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel, because it's smoother than the 1.5 three-cylinder engine, and cheaper than the 187bhp version found in the Cooper SD.

Our favourite Mini Clubman:&nbsp;1.5 Cooper

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Huge boot and excellent practicality</li> <li>Plenty of interior space so you can carry passengers as well as luggage </li> <li>Strong engines to pull a heavily laden car</li> <li>Comfortable ride, especially on the motorway</li> <li>Low running costs for company car drivers</li></ul>

If you’re after bags of space but you don’t want to commit to the van-like dimensions and styling of an MPV, there are some great estate cars on offer that should do the job.

Tricks to look out for include an electric tailgate&nbsp;that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper; this is&nbsp;particularly handy if you’re trying to load in a heavy or&nbsp;bulky item. You should also look for handles in the side of the boot itself that can drop down the rear seats; these are much more convenient than having to walk around the side of the car to do it.

There are some terrific estates at most price ranges. The humble Skoda Fabia Estate offers cavernous space for not much cash at all, for example.

Further up the price range, another of our perennial favourites is the Skoda Superb Estate;&nbsp;it’s great to drive and as practical as most people should ever need. Meanwhile, for serious mile-munching ability and a premium, well-finished interior, it’s hard to look beyond the BMW 5 Series Touring.

The barn doors may be neat, but it’s easy to forget how far back they extend when you open them, so check that the&nbsp;inner edges haven’t been scuffed against a wall; if the paint is damaged, it could lead to rust problems later on.

Lots of models&nbsp;came with big wheels and will have been used in tight urban environments, so make sure you check these for kerb damage. Light grazes aren’t too much of an issue, other than cosmetically, but larger scrapes, especially with chunks taken out of the wheels, could point to significant suspension damage. While you’re there, check that there are no scuffs or scrapes to the car’s extremities.

Inside, you’ll want to examine the interior carefully for signs of abuse at the hands of a less-than-careful family; have a look at the plastics for cracks or scrapes and check the seats for stains.

If you're looking for information on the older model, click here for <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/clubman/estate/used-review/n19120">our used review of&nbsp;the 2007-2014&nbsp;Mini Clubman</a>.

If there’s one thing we know about the Mini hatchback, it’s that it’s not very maxi inside. Space in the boot and rear is at a premium;&nbsp;that's the penalty you must pay for choosing such a cute, dinky&nbsp;car. Or is it? Enter the Mini Clubman.

In essence, the Clubman is an estate version of the Mini hatchback, but that’s not quite the end of the story. While its&nbsp;origins might give you the idea that its main rival is the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/fabia/estate/review/n147">Skoda Fabia Estate</a>,&nbsp;it’s actually more spacious than that car, not to mention more expensive. As a result, its most natural rivals are the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/used-review/n776">Volkswagen Golf</a> family hatchback and cars of its ilk.

The engine range starts with a 101bhp 1.5-litre petrol in the One model, followed by a more potent&nbsp;134bhp version of the same unit in the&nbsp;Cooper. If you want more poke, you can go for one of the two 2.0-litre petrol engines, with&nbsp;189bhp in the Cooper S and 228bhp (or 302bhp after the 2019 facelift)&nbsp;in the John Cooper Works.&nbsp;High-mileage drivers have a choice of&nbsp;three&nbsp;diesel engines: a 114bhp 1.5-litre in the One D, a&nbsp;148bhp 2.0-litre&nbsp;in the Cooper D and an 187bhp version of the same&nbsp;engine in the Cooper SD.

Standard equipment on the Cooper model is generous, with cruise control, automatic lights and wipers and air conditioning all coming as standard. Cooper S models get sports seats and that more potent engine but very little extra equipment of real significance.

Having said all that, it’s worth shopping around for a Clubman that fits your ideal specification, because many will have been upgraded with picks from the expansive options list, not to mention two-tone paint effects and decals. For example, cars fitted with the popular Chili Pack, which adds climate control, LED headlights and rear parking sensors, are worth seeking.

Mini has a reputation for building cars that are fun to drive, and the Clubman is no exception. Fast, direct steering means it turns in to a corner eagerly, while tight body control means it barely leans over as it does so. There’s loads of grip, too, and the chassis responds well to the accelerator, so you can easily adjust your line as you go. In short, it’s far more fun that it has any right to be.

The effect is amplified by the engines; even the cheapest petrol has a sporty sound and is perky and responsive, while more potent models are genuinely fast. Diesels, too, have lots of shove, although they naturally don’t sound quite as nice.

The trade-off for the zingy character is that the Clubman isn’t the most comfortable car in the world, with a ride that’s rather firm and a touch jiggly around town. Having said that, it’s tolerably so, and its ride smooths out on the motorway enough that it rarely proves to be an issue.

Inside, you’ll find an interior that looks like nothing else (well, with the obvious exception of another Mini), with a big central binnacle that houses the media display, cute chrome-effect switches and optional ambient lighting that allows you to choose any colour you like. It’s all built sturdily enough, too, although some family cars like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/used-review/n17405">Audi A3</a> do it better.

As we’ve discussed, space is reasonable by comparison with similar-priced hatchbacks, although the rear seats are a touch cramped; they’re also&nbsp;on the tricky side to get in and out of, due to the Clubman’s low roofline. However, they do at least fold down flat. The boot’s opening&nbsp;is narrower than most, due to the side-hinged doors, but the load lip is low and the luggage area is well shaped. Those barn&nbsp;doors are also useful when you want to load smaller items, requiring much less effort to open than a traditional bootlid.

A facelift in 2019 changed very little on the exterior; the big clue is the Union Jack tail-lights. The 1.5-litre One D and more powerful 2.0-litre Cooper SD diesels were removed from the range, while different model designations (Cooper Classic, Cooper Sport and&nbsp;Cooper Exclusive)&nbsp;with improved levels of equipment were introduced. The Cooper S carried over mostly as before, while the John Cooper Works received a significant power increase.

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Used Mini Clubman 2015-present review

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used Mini Clubman estate?