What We Like
JCW treatment makes the stylish Clubman sportier
Highly responsive powertrain
Great handling and feedback
Looks and feels expensive
What We Dislike
Nil
Think of an all-wheel drive hot hatch and the cars that often come to mind are the Ford Focus RS, the Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG and the Volkswagen Golf R.
There is, however, another model that deserves to be in that list and it's the new MINI John Cooper Works (JCW) Clubman, which I recently had the chance to drive in Auckland, New Zealand, after the BMW Alpine xDrive experience.
Launched late last year, the JCW Clubman aims to offer roominess, everyday practicality and long-distance suitability, with an added bonus of speed and sound. And with this new JCW Clubman, MINI is for the first time combining its most potent engine offering with its ALL4 all-wheel drive system.
But it's not exactly your run-of-the-mill hot hatchback
Yeah, well, the Clubman is skewed more towards being a contemporary interpretation of the tradition-steeped estate body type, although MINI still classifies it under the hatch umbrella.
With the JCW treatment, this upsized MINI gets aggressively sculpted bumpers that assist with the car's additional cooling requirements, a rear wing to help reduce lift and unique two-tone 19-inch wheels - all of which definitely add to the 'hot' aspect of the topic.
That's not to say the car is all form without function. After all, hot hatches are supposed to be as practical as they are fun and, in this aspect, the sporty-looking JCW Clubman nails it right on the head. It's a hooligan of a MINI with a generous 360-litre boot and seating space for five.
Neither does it sound too hot, compared to said Golf R rival
On paper, the JCW Clubman's 228bhp, 350Nm of torque and 0-100km/h-sprint time of 6.3 seconds are more closely matched to the outgoing Volkswagen Golf GTI. But what it does is it compensates for that lack of outright speed with the way it dances on the tarmac.
Torque is abundant throughout the rev range, available almost immediately as soon as you get on the gas, with very little turbo lag.
There is, however, another model that deserves to be in that list and it's the new MINI John Cooper Works (JCW) Clubman, which I recently had the chance to drive in Auckland, New Zealand, after the BMW Alpine xDrive experience.
Launched late last year, the JCW Clubman aims to offer roominess, everyday practicality and long-distance suitability, with an added bonus of speed and sound. And with this new JCW Clubman, MINI is for the first time combining its most potent engine offering with its ALL4 all-wheel drive system.
But it's not exactly your run-of-the-mill hot hatchback
Yeah, well, the Clubman is skewed more towards being a contemporary interpretation of the tradition-steeped estate body type, although MINI still classifies it under the hatch umbrella.
With the JCW treatment, this upsized MINI gets aggressively sculpted bumpers that assist with the car's additional cooling requirements, a rear wing to help reduce lift and unique two-tone 19-inch wheels - all of which definitely add to the 'hot' aspect of the topic.
That's not to say the car is all form without function. After all, hot hatches are supposed to be as practical as they are fun and, in this aspect, the sporty-looking JCW Clubman nails it right on the head. It's a hooligan of a MINI with a generous 360-litre boot and seating space for five.
Neither does it sound too hot, compared to said Golf R rival
On paper, the JCW Clubman's 228bhp, 350Nm of torque and 0-100km/h-sprint time of 6.3 seconds are more closely matched to the outgoing Volkswagen Golf GTI. But what it does is it compensates for that lack of outright speed with the way it dances on the tarmac.
Torque is abundant throughout the rev range, available almost immediately as soon as you get on the gas, with very little turbo lag.
In Sport mode, its free-flowing sports exhaust system satisfies all craving for aural delight with a properly bassy note, which also gives you the full-on JCW experience with pops, bangs and crackles whenever you lift off the throttle at high revs.
Typical of the MINI brand, or most of the BMW Group's cars for that matter, the car's steering is well-weighted, steady and precise, allowing for a good feel of what's happening on the road.
With a longer wheelbase, tight chassis and sporty suspension setup, its handling is sublime, providing tons of mechanical grip and balance even over poor road conditions. But at the same time, it also feels somewhat domesticated because of how surprisingly comfortable it is on long-distance drives compared to JCW models before.
However, some may still find the car's suspension setup a lick too firm, especially if it'll serve primarily as a family car, but that never bothered me one bit. The only thing I'd have changed on the car is a front-wheel drive recipe for a lighter, naughtier experience.
Who might consider one?
If you're fussy about stuff like feedback, driver involvement and emotion, the JCW Clubman seems to be a more fruitful candidate than the Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG and the Volkswagen Golf R.
It certainly won't clock you as quick track lap times as the aforementioned cars will, but I can promise you its driving experience will leave you grinning like a five-year old boy getting his first kiss from his kindergarten crush.
We figure this is the car for stylish couples, perhaps with a pet or a child, who have mild obsessions with Fight Club, Glen Grant and quickish, good ol' MINI motoring fun.
Typical of the MINI brand, or most of the BMW Group's cars for that matter, the car's steering is well-weighted, steady and precise, allowing for a good feel of what's happening on the road.
With a longer wheelbase, tight chassis and sporty suspension setup, its handling is sublime, providing tons of mechanical grip and balance even over poor road conditions. But at the same time, it also feels somewhat domesticated because of how surprisingly comfortable it is on long-distance drives compared to JCW models before.
However, some may still find the car's suspension setup a lick too firm, especially if it'll serve primarily as a family car, but that never bothered me one bit. The only thing I'd have changed on the car is a front-wheel drive recipe for a lighter, naughtier experience.
Who might consider one?
If you're fussy about stuff like feedback, driver involvement and emotion, the JCW Clubman seems to be a more fruitful candidate than the Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG and the Volkswagen Golf R.
It certainly won't clock you as quick track lap times as the aforementioned cars will, but I can promise you its driving experience will leave you grinning like a five-year old boy getting his first kiss from his kindergarten crush.
We figure this is the car for stylish couples, perhaps with a pet or a child, who have mild obsessions with Fight Club, Glen Grant and quickish, good ol' MINI motoring fun.
