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Mini Clubman road test reports and car reviews

Average driver rating ( based on 9 driver reviews )
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MINI has always been a byword for an instantly recognisable appearance. This uniqueness lives on in the shape and contours of the MINI Clubman.

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Mini Clubman reviews by year of make: 1979 2007 2008
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Mini Clubman car reviews

Number of reviews: 9

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T Dyson, Oxfordshire

Mini Clubman Diesel 2008

Mixed feelings really. On one hand the car is economically on long runs but the build quality is unfortunately quite poor. Main gripes include; doors not staying open when you’re trying to get out, rattling plastic dashboard and trim, The seat belt retension system on the side hatch door doesn’t recoil my driver’s seatbelt quick enough and therefore is always left hanging out when I shut the door. Handling is quite bad on normal A-roads; if you’re turning a corner and you perhaps drive over the smallest of road defect then the whole car violently lurches which ever way your turning. This may only be a characteristic of ’run flat tyres’, which I have. If I could give it back I would. Sorry mini.

Submitted: 26/02/2010 06:22:10 | ID: 4715

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Michelle Underwood, Staffordshire

Mini Clubman Cooper 2008

A great car. I have owned mine for just over a year with no problems. Excellent if you have dogs as they can easily go into the boot space and have space to look out. I would recommend loads of the optional extras especially upgraded windows and wheels, I think they finish the look. Fab car my second mini, I have loved both.

Submitted: 08/12/2009 19:13:00 | ID: 4052

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Andy Baxter, England

Mini Clubman Cooper D 2008

Will try to be as neutral and honest as I can, I know often these reviews swing from extreme negatives to undying pledges of allegiance to the brand so this is hopefully a rounded view. Mine is a company car Clubman D selected as a low tax / high fuel economy choice with enough room to occasionally potter around in with the kids. As the main work car it actually made financial sense for me to downsize and my wife to have a big car, especially with the fuel situation at the time. I’ve just hit 12000 miles and my thoughts are mixed... Economy is nowhere near claimed figures (is it ever?), or at least I cannot get it there. I drive regular long runs from Manchester to Durham outside peak hours and even when very gentle can get around 59 mpg tops whilst holding everyone up. So economy is not bad, but then in my experience a carefully driven Mondeo/Vectra/Passat diesel isn’t that far behind at around 50-55 mpg average with more space and comfort to boot. I opted for three rear seats as a no cost option - but cannot fit three child seats in abreast so its pointless really. [to be fair we have an MPV for general use so it’s not an issue, just for information for those considering as a main vehicle]. Engine wise it’s a bit noisy and no fireball but then that was not a criteria for me and performance is more than acceptable for most needs, the 6th gear making motorway cruising very easygoing. If you want outright performance in this range go for a petrol Cooper S. Comfort wise, I actually find the car ok over long distances, but theres no doubt the run flat tyres and suspension make for a firm "Germanic" ride, and after a year I’m ready for some comfy seats to be honest. One surprise omission on the pepper pack is that the side mirrors are not heated - that was a surprise and means you have to manually defrost /demist them. I can’t believe that is not standard, wiping my mirrors with my sleeve in a morning takes me back years... Space wise it’s ok if you understand and accept the limitations of a car this size to start with - it’s no estate car for Ikea visits but will take a weeks family shopping ok. See it as a Mini + but don’t try to convince yourself or your other half it’s a family car. Quality - well I’m sorry but there’s just no getting over the hard, black plastics for me and the ones that are painted silver look and feel home painted as they are not lacquered i.e. "cheap". It feels cold, clinical and, well, Germanic. Everything is hard to touch in mine, and that registers on cold mornings! I’m sure you can up spec but at this price you’d have to be mad to stump up even more when you could get a decent new Golf for the same money. The side door is useful [when it works, which it often doesn’t on mine and the dealer cannot seem to fix] Which brings me onto reliability. Generally mine has been ok, but there are niggles such as that side door which sometimes does not work, the fuel filler cap which does not engage properly when the car is locked so hangs open, and a rattle under the bonnet on cold mornings. The rattle is quite bad, although the dealer cannot find it. I’d be a bit concerned and embarrassed about it if it was my own car, ditto the fuel filler flap. It’s all well and good having a warranty but that assumes the dealer can find/fix the problem! At least they wash and hoover it for me when it goes in. Long term [or if you are considering second hand], what worries me is the engine stop / start system, which swithches the engine off at idle to save fuel. Great idea, and you get used to it - but when you are doing high speed e.g. on the motorway and hit standing traffic the turbo must be frying itself when the engine stops and therefore the oil supply stops. Time will tell! You can switch this feature off but I suspect many owners won’t either without realising the potential for problems down the line or just because of the hassle factor. Pound for pound a Fiat 500 / Clio / Fiesta are probably just as good and economical for half the price, but failing that, and if image isn’t top of your list please don’t write off a second hand, well driven, well maintained rep mobile for comfort, safety, equipment, space and economy. For the dealers, it’s like shooting fish in a barrel; there’s no need for a "sales" team, these cars sell themselves. You buy one mentally before you actually drive one. You’ll love the 20 minute test drive, you’ll be grinning like an idiot and remembering the first mini you had in the old days and you’ll want one, whatever the cost - but how long will the novelty last? To sum up - there’s no doubt it’s a nice enough car, but there is an element of toy like novelty that will wear thin with the miles, and what you are left with is a very expensive [£15400], very small [260 litre boot], average supermini. I’m one year in to my 4 year tenure and already I wish I had followed my head, not my heart and got a worthy but dull Mondeo. I’m saving on tax and people stare at it but that isn’t enough for me to choose one again. A lenghtly review, but I hope I have been fair and this helps.

Submitted: 03/03/2009 08:35:09 | ID: 2593

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Stephen Howard, Sussex

Mini Clubman Diesel 2008

Great car to drive, save money on fuel and tax and so far I have only done 300 miles and got 75.7 mpg. I did order over £8000 of extra, however, satellite navigation for £1600 is an absolute rip off, it’s not even touch screen, and the trimming around the dashboard is very cheap and nasty! Not BMW quality at all. To be honest it is typical of BMW attitude to rip people off, like I said it is a real shame about the interior switches and controls, it lets the car down and especially the sat nav (I know I go on about it, but it really is disgusting waste of money). I hope BMW get their act together!

Submitted: 23/09/2008 08:34:08 | ID: 1915

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Sylvie Williams, Devon

Mini Clubman Cooper Diesel 2008

Great handling, but hard ride on run flat tyres. Diesel engine much noisier than my 9 year old VW Golf GT TDI. For a £17500 car ( the price I paid), the build quality is below average. Exterior trim is poorly fitted. All doors close without a satisfactory clunk, as my Golf did. Fuel consumption is high. 68mpg! You will be be lucky to get 50mpg on a long run.

Submitted: 25/03/2008 09:02:04 | ID: 1178

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Michael Wise, England

Mini Clubman 1979

Here is a proper classic car. I mean hey it may not be the most spacious of cars but they are awesome to drive. They are fairly reliable, good handling, and most of all fun to drive. It is stylish and most of all you have piece of history.

Submitted: 29/01/2008 09:52:26 | ID: 982

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Sarah, Neath Port Talbot

Mini Clubman

GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Submitted: 18/12/2007 09:15:23 | ID: 864

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Tony Saunders, Carmarthenshire

Mini Clubman Clubman 2007

I’m impressed with my Clubman, it gives me over 43mpg. It is also a pretty green car with low CO2 emissions and this puts it in the bottom tax bracket. This is great fun to drive, economical and has excellent residual values.

Submitted: 09/11/2007 09:56:26 | ID: 551

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Marcus Holness, Derbyshire

Mini Clubman 1.6 Cooper 2007

A mini with extra practicality!! I don’t think the looks will be to everyones taste though and undoubtedly more people will buy the diesel than the petrol. I think it looks good in Cooper spec and with Mini’s reputation for reliability I don’t think I will be spending too much time at the dealers service desk! Hopefully the residuals will be as good as the hatchback’s are!

Submitted: 31/10/2007 14:59:22 | ID: 462

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Number of reviews: 9

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