Mini Clubman 2018 range review

The short answer is, it is a small luxury car.

The more detailed answer takes longer to explain, as the addition of the five-door Mini Hatch has made the Clubman an ever more peculiar member of the range. The BMW-owned British brand likes to call it the Mini Wagon, but in terms of size and styling it still feels more like a five-seat small car.

Instead of a traditional hatchback it has a set of barn doors at the rear in order to stick with the styling cues of the original Clubman.

How many models can I choose from?

There are three Clubmans to choose from; Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works (JCW) - or to put it another way, fun, funner and funnest.

The base Cooper is powered by a 110kW/220Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, the Cooper S upgrades that to a 141kW/280Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol while both are front-wheel drive with the choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. Then there’s the flagship JCW which gets a a 170kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, eight-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive.

What do they cost?

Cooper - $36,900

Cooper S - $44,900

JCW - $54,990

Any options that I need to know about?

There are too many to list here. A big part of the appeal of the Mini is the wide array of personalisation options including six alloy wheel choices, two roof colours, mirror caps and decals as well as the usual palette of colours.

There are also a range of option packages that allow you to add a variety of luxury car items such as LED headlights, panoramic sunroof and upgraded sound systems.

Is it expensive to own?

Being owned by BMW means Mini offers the same service package concept as the German brand. So you can pay for your routine servicing in advance, with the Basic Service Inclusive Package costing $1295 for the first five years or you can get the Plus Cover pack (which includes extras such as brake pads and discs) for $3650.

Any issues I need to know about?

The original Mini may have been a simple city car but the current generation of BMW designed Minis are good quality premium cars. As such we haven’t heard of any significant ownership problems.

Which is the most economical model?

The three-cylinder is the most frugal, using just 5.4-litres per 100km, but even the other two return respectable figures given the performance they pump out. The Cooper S uses 6.4L/100km while the JCW is rated at 7.8L/100km.

Which is the safest model?

All models come standard with forward collision warning, six airbags, stability control and dynamic traction control with electronic differential lock control so there isn’t anything significant to separate them.

Which the best model to drive?

The JCW may seem like the obvious choice, but our preference is the Cooper S. It may miss the extra power and all-wheel drive from the JCW but that only serves to make it feel simpler, livelier and more engaging to drive.

In contrast the JCW feels a bit heavy, too complicated and lacks the ‘go-kart feeling’ that Mini prides itself on.

The Cooper, at the other end of the spectrum, is a little sweety. Where previous generation base-model Minis felt hugely undercooked, the three-cylinder is charming and perky, and the ride is far less brittle on smaller alloys fitted with tyres that offer a bit more give. It almost asks the question why you'd need to spend any more.

Should I buy one now?

Mini isn't currently offering any deals but as this second-generation Clubman launched back at the end of 2015, and the Mini three- and five-door range just got a mid-life upgrade, you could safely expect some sort of nip and tuck for the Clubman within the next 12 months.

Where's the sweet spot?

The JCW may look the business and the Cooper S may be the most fun to drive, but our money would go on the base Cooper. Even in its standard form it’s still a lot of fun to drive, the sweet three-cylinder engine offers up good performance and sounds nice, and it feels nimble and agile - just like a Mini should.