MINI Clubman JCW 2019 Review

The new MINI Clubman JCW is a bit of a hot hatch for every occasion.

The most powerful MINI to grace Australian roads lands this month with credentials that place it among the most potent hatchbacks in the land, including the 213kW Mk7.5 Volkswagen Golf R, the 200kW Peugeot 308 GTi, the drift-worthy 257kW Ford Focus RS, 202kW Hyundai i30 N and 228kW Honda Civic Type R.

Fitted with the latest B48 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder that also powers BMWs including the new M135i xDrive, the new MINI Clubman JCW betters many of those competitors with a credible 225kW and 450Nm – enabling a nought to 100km/h dash of 4.9 seconds.

Better yet, the four-pot wagon drives all four wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (sadly, no manual transmission is available).

For perspective, the new engine trumps the predecessor models by 55kW and 100Nm, and winds back the benchmark 0-100km/h claim by 1.4 seconds.

These strengths team with a practical interior space, barn-style rear doors and genuine MINI-isms in a segment full of varying degrees of boy racer.

The two-model MINI Clubman JCW range starts at $57,990 – pricing it north of all hot hatches but below the Mercedes-AMG A 35, which also packs a 225kW punch, at $67,200 (plus on-road costs).

The Clubman JCW range is topped by a more upmarket version priced at $62,990 (plus on-road costs) – our full pricing story has the rundown.

The MINI Clubman JCW ushers in subtle styling and technology enhancements that include revised front and rear ends punctuated by LED lights (the rear with a smart Union Jack motif), subtle interior tweaks and the inclusion of more standard technology.

The performance repertoire is strong, even in entry Pure form: two-mode adaptive dampers, a mechanical limited slip front differential, 360mm front and 330mm rear disc brakes and Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber.

On the safety front, the MINI Clubman JCW gets six airbags, adaptive cruise control, city crash mitigation (city speed autonomous emergency braking) with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.

Servicing intervals are spaced every 12 months or 15,000km, with the option to prepay services for the first five years/80,000km of ownership ($1389 for a Basic package and $3676 for a more inclusive ‘Plus’ package. A three-year/100,000km factory warranty is standard.

The regular 2020 Clubman range was recently updated with new trims and treatments, but it is the JCW variant which brings the biggest evolution, adopting BMW’s fire-breathing four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

While performance enthusiasts will no doubt welcome the new donk, the emphasis on firepower exposes an ageing interior layout.

Even at $60,000, the MINI Clubman JCW’s internals are showing their age, with a dashboard that is festooned in buttons and switchgear, locked into a design layout that has been around for more than a decade in its current guise.

An analogue speedo and instrument cluster means the Pure variant misses out on a digital speedo altogether (the more expensive version gets a head-up display) and there is no Android Auto availability.

That said, the MINI Clubman JCW does stay relatively up to date though an 8.8-inch touch-screen display with navigation, which is integrated into a single laminated round dial. There’s also wireless Apple CarPlay and USB points front and rear.

A sporty theme manifests the interior, with bolstered front buckets, an aircraft style switchgear layout and plenty of black colour treatment. It’s all quite upmarket when compared with the plastic-fantastic internals of something like the Focus RS.

Equally, the space is generally accommodating with two central cup-holders, an open centre cubby and cavernous door pockets big enough to house a full-size drink bottle (the first MINI offerings were designed to accommodate a bottle of Gordons Gin…).

The rear space is likewise well considered, with decent leg and head proportions fit for a couple of adults on longer journeys. ISOFIX child points on the outboard seats bring some family friendly amenity, along with two rear USB-C points and rear air-vents.

A 360-litre boot is another welcome feature in a segment that is generally more concerned with performance. The area is accessed via large aperture courtesy of barn-style rear doors.

So, here’s the rub. The MINI Clubman JCW’s 4.2-metre long proportions all-wheel drive underpinnings equate to a kerb weight of 1550kg, which in hot hatch speak is heavy. A Porsche 911 weighs nearly 100kg less.

The hot-hatch/practical hatch balance is also upset by the JCW’s ride. It is unapologetically firm and brittle, making for rough progress on B-grade country roads that is accentuated by ever-present tyre roar – both factors owed in part to run-flat tyres. Wicking up the two-mode adaptive suspension to Sport makes it harsher again.

Dynamically, the JCW offers excellent grip levels and a general surefootedness through corners, underlined by its front-biased all-wheel drive system and judicious but benign stability control system.

It’s an unflustered offering even when driving at a brisk clip, with powerful 360mm front and 330mm rear disc brakes that provide reassuring stopping power and no sign of fade.

The MINI’s steering is sharp and fast, too, but like other elements of the JCW, ultimately lacks the nuanced feel and feedback typical of a traditional performance hatch.

Slinking the MINI Clubman JCW through a tight, twisting road is fun, but lacks the involvement and playfulness of similarly-minded competitors – at least when sticking to road speed limits.

Then, there’s the engine. The BMW-sourced four-cylinder has power everywhere, with peak torque materialising between1750rpm and 4500rpm before trailing away, while maximum power chimes in at 5000rpm before dipping at 6250 revs. The dash to 100 is brisk, while in-gear acceleration brings smile-inducing exits out of slower corners.

Again, the engine bears the signature pop and crackle that is expected of a hot hatch, but does so with a digital veneer, piping artificial sound through the cabin and failing to reach a meaningful crescendo. A big factor here, rightly or wrongly, is the lack of a manual transmission.

Low take-up numbers mean many modern performance hatches are making do without a stick-shifter. In its absence in this application is an eight-speed automatic that is near-faultless, however, offering precise shifts, a terrific spread of ratios and a willingness to play corner carver or frugal commuter.

The MINI Clubman JCW is a solid all-rounder, offering hot hatch-like thrills with a practical interior. It’s also far less boy-racer than your typical hot hatch crop, lending it a slightly more mature vibe.

Like any kind of performance car, there is a compromise: in this case, ever-present road noise and a harsh ride. But considering this is the fastest MINI ever produced, that seems like a fair price to pay.

How much does the 2019 MINI Clubman JCW cost?
Price: $57,990 (Pure), $62,990 (JCW), plus on-road costs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 225kW/450Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 175g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2017)