2019 Mini Clubman John Cooper Works Review

Remind me again, what’s a Mini Clubman?

It’s basically a Mini estate, and features a conventional two doors on either side of the bodyshell and a more unusual barn-door style layout at the rear. It’s not just a stretched Mini either, it’s actually based on the same underpinnings as the BMW X1 and X2, not the Mini hatchback or convertible. So it’s a longer, wider, more spacious kind of Mini. You’ll find decent room for adults in the second row and a reasonably spacious if far from spectacular boot – 360 litres is just 17 litres up on the Golf R hatchback, if 145 litres down on the Golf R estate. Remember too, that the quirky rear doors will block your view of following traffic.

It’s a mid-life facelift? Looks the same to me…

Yes, it’s a pretty gentle update, with a different honeycomb grille, LED fog lamps, new mirrors, refreshed alloy wheel options and rear lights that incorporate the Union Jack.

The 74bhp increase in performance is far more significant, and puts the Clubman John Cooper Works into competition with the likes of the Golf R. The engine gets an uprated crankshaft and cooling, and combines with standard-fit all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s enough to scoot the Clubman from 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds, some 1.4 seconds quicker than the previous JCW. There are also new four-piston brakes all-round to ensure stopping power to match the impressive performance.

How does the Clubman JCW drive?

The more powerful engine is the star of the show, with very precise throttle response, juicy energy in the mid-range and a proper turn of speed when you use all the revs. There’s a deep, bassy richness to the soundtrack too, which just adds to the feeling this is a fun little engine that’s always up for mischief.

The eight-speed auto gearbox is less convincing. It has a knack of picking the right ratio at just the right time, but it does yo-yo between slightly lazy shifts during gentle driving and too aggressive ones when you use all the performance.

If the Clubman now has the performance to beat its smaller siblings, the chassis still plays second fiddle, simply because this remains a longer, heavier, less agile kind of Mini. There’s still a sense of go-kart fun to the handling, and the all-wheel drive allows you to deploy every last bit of the 302bhp without wheel scrabble, but the steering doesn’t feel as alert as the hatchbacks’, there’s more body roll than ideal and too much uncomfortable patter from the chassis over rougher surfaces.

We tested the Clubman on the smallest 18-inch alloys and standard suspension, but you can also combine the 18s with adaptive dampers (press a button for softer suspension, or again to firm it up) and 10mm lower suspension, or uprated 19-inch alloys with 10mm lower suspension (if no adaptive dampers). It’s a guess, but the 18s with adaptive dampers and 10mm lower suspension would probably strike the best balance between ride quality and handling.

In a nutshell

A mid-life power upgrade to the Mini Clubman John Cooper Works at last provides it with performance to match rivals like the Golf R, as well as giving this more spacious Mini more pace than its smaller hatchback siblings. As such it strikes a great balance between fun, power and practicality. However, while it’s good to drive, the Clubman JCW doesn’t have the go-kart energy of the smaller Mini John Cooper Works hatchback, nor the rounded finesse of the Golf R. Both those hot hatches would be higher up our shopping lists.

Similar Car Reviews

If the John Cooper Works is a little too powerful for you, we’ve also reviewed the Mini Cooper S which still retains its iconic British Mini Hatchback style and is available as a hatch, hot hatch, electric, SUV, estate, and convertible!

Alternatively, there is the Mini Clubman, which is the less powerful version of the Mini Cooper John Cooper Works.

Moving away from the Mini, you cannot really go wrong with VW’s baby hatchback, the VW Polo. The latest model has sharp looks and a generous amount of space inside.

We then have the immensely stylish, upmarket Mercedes A Class is possibly the ultimate family hatchback, and comes in Petrol, Diesel, and Hybrid options.

Finally, the Ford Fiesta is consistently one of the best selling cars in the UK and is known as a great to drive good value car.