2020 Mini Clubman JCW review: big enough for kids, fun enough for adults? 7-month hot hatch test!

I spent the past 7 months living with the Mini Clubman JCW - Mini's fastest accelerating car. Find out if it's big enough for families and kids, and what niggles have annoyed me - and what's impressed me. Is it fast? How does launch control work? Is it too stiff? Find out all this and moooooore!
I also make motorbike vids: / timrodie

[@shaunogle530]

A real world living with a car review - refreshing. Highs and lows spelled out crisply and clearly. Found very useful as I decide whether to purchase or not.

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Thanks Phil - despite the nonsense that's sort of what I was aiming for!

[@leumas75]

We bought my wife a 3-door Cooper S that came with runflats, and they ruined just about everything fun about a Mini. As soon as I replaced then with real boots it woke up and did all the right things and made you feel good in all the right places.

[@shankarbalan3813]

I absolutely HATE run flats. Living in India, Run flats are not practical at all. Indeed, I had a bad experience with Run flats in September 2019 in a rented Mini Cooper F56 in rural France. The tyre blew out and there was no replacement to be had for love or money. No spare means even more headaches. I use normal tubeless tyres with fat sidewalls on my Cooper S R56 in India. This makes for a much more comfortable ride. And tubeless tyres are much easier to repair.

[@pierrew8334]

What’s wrong with runflats? I got one F56 and is thinking buying a clubman recently

[@leumas75]

@@pierrew8334 They are fine if your principle concern is not having to stop to change a flat (like, say, a dainty young women commuting into downtown [enter big city of your choice now] at night. But the reason run-flats are what they are is that the sidewall of the tyre is incredibly hard, making them have no compliance with small bumps on the road and therefore ruining any comfort you might want, while at the same time not allowing for horizontal adhesion of tyre to road surface causing poor grip when you want to drive like a Mini driver should want to. It’s the worst of both worlds, really. (Also, almost NO repair shop will fix a run-flat, and they are expensive to replace.)

[@pierrew8334]

@@leumas75 Thank you for the explanation. Indeed, I experienced a lot of grip issue when I got out of a roundabout with gas paddle on (typical French road). Agree on the grip loss

[@seancook2264]

Have had mine since Sept/Oct 2020. Love it. Great balance of fun and practicality.

[@stevecade857]

That mini go kart feel is still there but it is muted by the longer wheelbase than the 3 door variants. Run flats are poor for driving dynamics on any car especially comfort and grip on bumpy corners. Roof rails are an essential option you never really mentioned. We had a long run down to the south of France and got 43 mpg while obeying speed limits. Coming back up we had the car fully loaded, floor to roof, with the seats down and full top box and still managed 36 mpg taking it a little easier. In summary it's not a sports car but a very practical, fast, safe, compact family car that's fun to drive with a quirky interior that stand out from so many others. Stick the thing in eco and with 18" (+not run flats) and with adaptive dampers in comfort the car will cruise on even bumpy road quietly and still entertain in the corners. Switch to sport with stiffened dampers and the cars ready to attack every roundabout as long as they're smoothly surfaced. Not many cars have its range of capabilities.

[@AngryBritain]

Great review, thanks. My wife also smacked her head on the previous gen spoiler and chipped the paint! This has made my mind up to ditch the 19s and order one on 18s with adaptive suspension instead. Cheers

[@MrPutman]

Love this channel - always a personable honest review with a bit of self flagellation humour

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Thanks! No point not being honest!

[@Rrr-rz1pg]

Entertaining, informative, funny - chapeau!

[@ASecureLab]

just to point out , the space in the back is great. The person in the video is quite tall, dont forget that this is the position of him (my guess is over 6 feet 2) behind HIMSELF. The chances to have 4 6 feet 5 persons in your car are quite small and I doubt anything but a school bus fit THAT good with that many tall people. im 5 feet 9 and I have gigantic knee space. its bigger than it looks from the exterior. Also tried the 3dr myself and the steering is EXACTLY the same feel (its essentialy the same car) the feel is totaly the same mecanic wise a sits the same thing, my guess is that he used the 3dr in sport mode but the clubman in normal mode (steering stiffen depending on the mode same with the dampers if equiped with the adaptative dampers). I tryed both in a short time and was VERY impressed in the clubman as it really felt nearly the same as the 3dr, far from being "night and day" especialy when you think it will feel like a SUV as it is a SUV. Also, the HK sound system is pretty good, way better than the normal. Ive not been in TONS of cars... but to me this one is in the "good ones" of the sub 50k car sound systems and if you arent a fancy audiophile, its pretty good

[@ASecureLab]

all in all, Mini is not for everyone, I feel like the reviewer have a bit of a hate relation with it. I hardly can belive he said the golf is more fun. I recommend people try them, they definitively feel go-karty and I cannot find another brand that gives you that go-karting fun driving feel.

[@chetanunindracusin664]

It is one of the best mini put out 100%

[@pigeonpoo1823]

Glad you liked it. Makes me tempted to look at the 3dr. Look forward to seeing a vrs Skoda on show

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Yup, the Octavia will be on soon

[@pigeonpoo1823]

@@TimRodieDrivesStuff sweet. Would be good to compare it to Mike's long termer???????

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

@@pigeonpoo1823 Should've done, but his Focus has gone back to Ford!

[@gavinbradley6134]

👍 Very real & funny review.Watch out Matt at Car Wow,a new silly person on the block.

[@tonywhite6985]

Brilliant review thank you. Torn between a fast clubman or countryman. I'm 6'3" and not sure how tall you are, but that non-adjustable headrest looks a problem, plus my daughter is already taller than Mum, so perhaps it's a countryman for us? I just crave the estate car looks, having once owned a 57 plate Clubman S :)

[@aaaronpark4830]

Thank you very much for your review -- from far East Asia Korea

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Thank you

[@aggitravel]

Just picked my 2023 JCW clubman same colour also. The 306bhp is crazy 😅 just going to lower her 20mm she sits a little high for me.

[@stevewren7687]

Luv it well done

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Thanks Steve! I miss the Mini!

[@andy00grant]

I'm looking at one of these the now since three doors doesn't work with a baby. I like estates and was looking at these and golf R estates.

[@ericpeay9720]

If this car came with a six speed Manual transmission I would for sure buy It but sadly It doesn't. So I will have to buy the older version cooper club wagon with 230 HP turbo four with the Manual Transmission.

[@deancostello14]

Fun fact, this car has roughly the same dimensions as my old E46 touring.

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Oof

[@lupislune]

I have the same year in the Countryman (S All 4) but I have not experienced excessively loud road noise. Given I've only had mine up to about 120, but I'm thinking it must be the tires.

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Yeah, I think the run-flats really killed my enjoyment of it in the end

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

Gotta love a MINI. Well it's not a 'traditional' MINI Hatch sure but still cool in it's own way (ignoring the oversized tail lights). I want to put a lift kit and off road wheels on one when the price comes down here in Au. Get a haircut Roadie.

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

I filmed this two months ago to be fair, my hair has been cut several times since… I don't know why I'm making it sound as if someone else cuts my hair and I don't just do it myself in my pants in the bathroom

[@moobaz8675]

Really want one.

[@TheDuckDude]

I just bought a clubman and I hit my head on the spoiler loading groceries. Lol

[@anerdwitdacamera204]

How tall are you? I’m 6 3 and wonder if clubman will fit me ok 😝

[@timoldland]

I got told off by An Internet Person on my Clubman JCW review because I said it was a ZF 8 spd. He said it’s an Aisin gearbox. I’m not sure what the right answer is. Sorry to be not very helpful as ever. Great vid Tim!

[@leumas75]

Sorry to disappoint, but your Internet Person was correct unless your review car is 2+ years old - Clubman JCWs moved to Aisin gearboxes in 2020.

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

I aim to disappoint 😂

[@leumas75]

@@TimRodieDrivesStuff Everybody needs a hobby, I guess.🤪🤪🤪

[@mlok4216]

Are you getting Octavia, Superb or Enyaq?

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

A new Octavia vRS Estate. I've had it for a bit already, will film it soon!

[@thebeardedyorkshireman8368]

Great review but it’s not a ZF gearbox it’s the Aisin 9 speed.

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Thanks, yup - several people have pointed that out (mostly in person)!

[@who_stole_my_username]

Piped noise in the cabin and overly raucous startups are two of my pet hates in modern cars. Why don't they give you an option to turn them off?

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Hear hear.

[@stevecade857]

Piped noise yes but the car is so quiet sometimes it's hard to know what the engine's doing. The noisy startup isn't really that loud just a few little crackles to let you know it's awake. I like that. Would be nice to have the options to switch either off though.

[@kaljuhyypio]

3:11 ZF box? I was under the impression it was an Aisin unit?

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

It is an Aisin. I made an unforgivable error

[@kaljuhyypio]

@@TimRodieDrivesStuff I shall forgive you :D And thank you for the video!

[@nomore6939]

Just bought one ... interesting

[@robbeard4648]

do you like it?

[@manmeshi]

I am always hitting my head the same way as you.

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Yes! I'm glad it wasn't just me. I thought I was being an idiot (possibly still true)

[@garycampbell7891]

Try 155 mph with the roof box on.😆💨

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

PARDON

[@rabola55]

We have lift-off.

[@DontPanicDear]

Grrrrr asymmetric 🐝

[@oddities-whatnot]

Minis Golf R ? I don't think so seeing as its front wheel drive.

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

But it isn't, it's 4wd

[@robotJox1256]

I wish they made this one convertible

[@AlmostBluesBand]

Thought the comment on the spoiler was bollocks and nit picky. I bought my clubman a month ago and the first thing I did was twat my head on the spoiler!! I apologise for my prejudice

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Hahahaha I'm so glad it wasn't just me being a lanky knob!

[@matt_d7828]

Same. I seriously thought he was just nitpicking but after seeing the video, I went to my Clubbie to get something from the boot and wham! Struck my head on the spoiler. And I’m 5’7”! But still love the car. 😂

[@timmo3351]

The mention of an ocelot suggests you’re a fan or Archer possibly? No interest in Minis but do enjoy your content, should have more subscribers blah blah blah!

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Thank you!

[@TG-pd3ft]

All of those options were a waste of money, and most of them were actually detrimental

[@fidelerobertson1225]

Very good review all the others I’ve watched are pretty shite!

[@CrazyJHO]

It has not ZF transmission, it has Aisin...please do not make not checkout info. I have the same

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

You’re the 2432nd person to point this out

[@michaelzero5144]

I don't think you know how to drive this car. Might be crap UK roads or bad driving. I can smoke people with this car in the twisty but I a not WT just going straight like a dummy.

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Woahhhh we got a badass over here. You’re right, I don’t know how to drive cars 😂

[@adhart81]

All minis are Monday cars

[@user-zi8lx5fw1w]

Does the box cotai an asylum seeker?

[@JimBob_1975]

Too big to be called a Mini.

[@stevecade857]

The Clubman & Countryman are Midis really.

[@allosaurusfragilis7782]

They should bring back the maxi name. My parents had an Austin maxi. It was quite a quirky car with its hydrolastic suspension and front wheel drive, when that was unusual.

[@craigpratt6192]

If you're going to live with a car for seven months and review it then at least get your facts right. Eight speed ZF box. Nope. Optional black alloys. Nope, they're standard. Communications pack. No such thing...

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Sorry Mr Prat

[@craigpratt6192]

@@TimRodieDrivesStuff Ah, you've misspelt my name - perhaps for comedy effect. Such a funny man. A shame you review cars and get so many points wrong. Not much point making videos if you can't get the fundamentals correct. 'Stability control into dynamic mode?' What...

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

@@craigpratt6192 Ok. You win. I’ll stop making videos.

[@jayrusty2012]

are all of these cars Automatics ?? or does it also come in Manual ??

[@gymbagger]

With Android Auto you can use actual youtube or watch any online tv for much better waiting time

[@xxxmarekxxx505]

SUPER CLUBMAN JCW!!!!!!!!!!!!!