2024 Mini JCW Clubman Review: Too Weird To Last
The Mini Clubman was never going to be around forever.
On paper, this is basically the auto-journo holy grail. 300-ish horsepower in a small, all-wheel drive wagon? A design that is fun and friendly instead of dealing with a permanent case of ANGERY FACE? Weird doors?! All it’s missing is a manual transmission. Nonetheless, it checks all the boxes—which pretty much doomed it to a tiny amount of sales every year.
At the recent Midwest Automotive Media Association Spring Rally, I had a short-and-sweet final go in this delightful little weirdo.
2024 Mini JCW Clubman Quick Take
Blessed with a 301-horsepower engine, AWD, and a barn-door caboose, the Mini Clubman is a rolling eccentricity. The mature-yet-fun driving dynamics ensure it deserves that badge on the nose, but it is a very pricey plaything with a dated and plasticky cabin. Even that can't fully overshadow its charm.
Powertrain and Fuel Economy: Muscle Mini
The Clubman and Countryman were the first of the family to join the 300-horsepower club, followed shortly after by the limited-production (and still front-drive) JCW GP hatch. With 301 hp and 331 pound-feet funneled to all four wheels via a slick-shifting eight-speed automatic, the Clubman is incredibly quick, cracking off a dash to 62 mph (100 km/h) in under five seconds. It does so with a suitably rorty exhaust note too, a bassy burble that belies the B48’s more humble uses in squillions of 2 and 3 Series. It’s a responsive little mill that is happy to rev, though its best work is in the meaty mid-range. With all-paw grip, the Clubman avoids the torque steer that can occasionally upset the front-drive JCWs at lower speeds.
Fuel economy is… fine, when considering the firepower the JCW is packing. The official figures are 23 mpg city (not great) and 31 mpg highway (not bad), for a combined 26 mpg. Since my drive was less than an hour, I can’t remark on real-world scores.
Ride Quality and Comfort: Bigger is Better
I just got out of a JCW hatch weeks before driving the Clubman. While the 3-door was fun, it was also punishing around city streets, and even on the highway. Now admittedly the roads around Road America are in better shape, but even taking that into account, the Clubman is the friendlier Mini. There’s still a tautness to the ride that clearly indicates this is a JCW, but the Clubman’s longer wheelbase lets it roll over most bumps instead of clamber. Even as an un-mini Mini, it still turns in with a crisp enthusiasm that is rare in all-wheel drive cars. At higher speeds, there’s a surprising amount of noise insulation which, combined with that smoother ride, almost makes the Clubman seem sedate. Almost.
Mini’s seats are nicely comfortable, though they lack the lateral bolstering to stand up to the zig-zagging the JCW is capable of. Room in the back is decent, and the large dual-pane moonroof does improve the sense of spaciousness. The split-door tailgate is a definite style-over-substance sacrifice: not only does it obscure the view directly rearwards, but the doors aren’t exactly light to swing out each time. But look, if you want practicality, go buy a Countryman.
Interior Style and Quality: Feeling its Age
As I said in my JCW 1to6 review, the hardest part about driving these ’24 models is that I’d already driven a ’25 before them. Where the new Minis celebrate color and texture in their cabins, this Clubman is a whole lot of black plastic. The glossy trim oval adds a bit of visual interest, but only just. It’s not like there are oodles of storage spaces inside either, especially the tiny center console. If you have a larger modern phone, be prepared for it to go on its own adventures. At least Mini employs (employed) physical dials for climate control, and the row of toggle switches remains a tactile positive.
The central touchscreen is an odd one. It does what is needed, but the menu structure can be confusing, and the rotary control dial down in the center console functions backwards. Wireless Apple CarPlay is included, but it doesn’t make the most of that round display’s real estate.
Value, Dollars and Sense: Poor, Plenty, and Little
It’s true: the Clubman is not a sound, rational purchase. At $50,395 (including destination) as-tested, it’s knocking on the door of something like the recent Crown Signia, another wagon-in-all-but-name. The Mini eschews quite a few modern driving assists too: I get not having the most up-to-date suite, but not even blind-spot monitoring or a 360-degree camera? In fact, the back-up camera itself gives a grainy feed.
There is no Canadian pricing, as the Clubman quietly disappeared from the North after the 2022 model year.
Final thoughts: 2024 Mini JCW Clubman Quick Take
Thing is, the Clubman was never about being rational. It’s a 301-horsepower small wagon, a future collectible, and the only car of its kind. To a small subset of buyers, it’s the exact sort of lovable yet flawed misfit they’ve needed in their lives. If that sounds like you, and you haven’t already added a Clubman to the family, well, consider this the last call.
Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Still big fun | $50,000?! |
Added practicality | Barn doors aren't most practical |
It's a 301-hp AWD wagon | Dated cabin, small safety suite |
2024 Mini JCW Clubman | |
|---|---|
Engine: | 2.0L I4 Turbo |
Outputs: | 301 hp, 331 lb-ft |
Transmission: | 8AT, AWD |
Fuel Economy (mpg): | 23/31/26 |
Starting Price (USD): | $35,045 (inc. dest.) |
As-Tested Price (USD): | $50,395 (inc. dest.) |
Kyle began his automotive obsession before he even started school, courtesy of a remote control Porsche and various LEGO sets. He later studied advertising and graphic design at Humber College, which led him to writing about cars (both real and digital). He is now a proud member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), where he was the Journalist of the Year runner-up for 2021.
More by Kyle Patrick
Comments
Join the conversation
Simple reason these will fail in the market: it's the price. Same reason why even Toyota will sell very few Crown Signias: too expensive for all but the upper 5% of the market. Combine that with the fact that everyone who might be interested still remembers that the MRSP back in 2017 was around $26K, yet it's still the same car!
Just can save everyone some time whenever reviewing a new car over $35k. Simply post a picture of it with the evaluation "Nice car, but you can't afford it".