2022 MINI Clubman Trim Levels, Configurations & Comparisons.

The original MINI cars are considered a part of British pop culture. They're a true icon of the automotive industry. MINI cars in their modern iteration first came to the North American market in 2002. They brought with them a fun driving experience with a unique European flare. Their diminutive size and undeniably British styling really stood out on American roads.

The MINI Clubman is one of the larger versions of this car. It is officially classified as a wagon and offers more passenger room and cargo space than its smaller counterparts. This makes it quite popular on this side of the Atlantic where SUVs and crossover vehicles dominate the market. Its agile handling has made the little vehicle quite popular with the American tuner culture and track-racing crowds too.

The 2022 MINI Clubman has a brand-new exterior design while still maintaining its recognizable British aesthetics. This new Clubman features unique split rear doors and optional all-wheel drive. The interior of this wagon is almost at the level of a luxury vehicle, but the Clubman still comes in at a very affordable price. The power and handling of this vehicle are just as sporty as ever.

The 2022 MINI Clubman is available in three different variations. While these are technically trim levels, they work a bit differently from the concept of trim levels for other vehicles. Here, the variation differences are all about performance specs. Here's a rundown of what every version of the Clubman has to offer. The three trim levels will be compared to highlight their differences.

 

Compare the Cooper S vs Cooper S ALL4. What is the difference?

All versions of the Clubman are the same size. They're around 168.5-inches long, 70.9-inches wide and 56.7-inches high. The Cooper S base model weighs in at around 3,333 pounds while the Cooper S ALL4 weighs in at 3,534 pounds. Both trim levels can accommodate five people and offer a cargo space of 17.5 feet when the rear seats are in use. When those rear seats are folded down, the maximum cargo space is increased to a volume of 47.9 feet.

The base model of the Clubman is powered by a Twin-Power Turbo, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine with direct injection and double VANOS. VANOS is a type if variator system for varying the valve timing. This engine produces 189 horsepower at 5,000 rpm (revolutions-per-minute) and 206 pound-feet of torque at 1,350 rpm. That's good enough to take the Clubman from 0 to 60 mph (miles-per-hour) in just 6.9 seconds.

The Cooper S ALL4 is powered by the same engine, howbeit with some tuning upgrades to squeeze more power out of it. The horsepower gets increased to 228 hp while the torque gets bumped up to 235 pound-feet. This means significantly improved acceleration and overall speed. In fact, 0.3 seconds gets shaved off of the 0-to-60 time, which now comes in at 6.6 seconds.

When it comes to the exterior of the Clubman, the MINI brand provides unprecedented levels of choice and customization options. The roof, body and mirror colors can be matched or different. There's a crazy amount of options here as well as the choice for a Dual-Pane Panoramic Moon-Roof. The choice of 17-inch or 18-inch alloy wheels is available for both of these models of the Clubman. MINI also offers a wide array of stripe patterns and graphics for the exterior.

Both versions of the MINI Clubman have automatic projector-beam LED headlights up front and LED taillights and turn signals in the rear. The exterior mirrors are power adjustable and have a heating feature for quick and easy defrosting. A set of rain-sensing windshield wipers kick in automatically when needed.

On the inside, there's a choice of cloth with leatherette inserts or real leather upholstery. There are numerous color options here such as brown, gray, blue or black. Buyers can opt for a standard manual transmission or a 7-speed Sport Dual-Clutch Transmission for even better performance. The front seats are heated for more comfort during cold winter days.

Keyless Entry is offered for both of these models of the 2022 MINI Clubman. There's also a push-button ignition and Dual-Zone Automatic Air-Conditioning for those hot summer days. The Clubman has several standard driver-assist features such as Front Park Assist, Rear Park Assist and a Forward-Collision Warning System. A Lane-Departure Warning and Adaptive Cruise Control both are optional.

There's an available Harmon Kardon premium sound system for the audiophiles out there. This system provides amazing sound quality through its 12 high-quality speakers. This includes five tweeters, five mid-range speakers and two bass speakers underneath the front seats for bass sounds that the passengers can actually feel. The stereo system itself offers 360-watts of power for some serious volume.

The standard infotainment system has an 8.8-inch touchscreen with full-color, high-definition graphics. There's a handy built-in navigation system to make sure that the driver never gets lost. The ever-popular Apple CarPlay app is compatible with this system. Bluetooth Technology and multiple USB ports are there for streaming music, connecting and/or charging up your smartphone and other devices.

Almost every single feature offered for these vehicles is an option or part of a package. This makes the differences between trim levels completely up to the buyer. Once again, the main variations lie in the performance specs. The main difference between the Cooper S and the Cooper S ALL4 is found in the trim-level name itself. This is, of course, the ALL4 all-wheel drive system.

ALL4 is a proprietary all-wheel drive system that was created by the MINI engineers. MINI describes this technology as the ultimate insurance that wet weather will not put a damper on your plans. When wet or icy pavement causes a loss of traction, the ALL4 system redistributes power between the front and rear axles in order to compensate for the situation. This is done by the system on the fly, as needed.

ALL4 technology is capable of monitoring and detecting changes in the road surface. Adjustments can be made accordingly for the best performance possible. This is done extremely fast and accurately. The ALL4 system works in tandem with the Clubman's standard Electronic Brakeforce Distribution for the ultimate level of control.

This special all-wheel drive system makes for a safer driving experience during rain or snow. It's not just about increment weather, however. The all-wheel drive system also means better steering and handling in general. The base-model Clubman already excels in this category. When its already great driving dynamics are combined with the ALL4 all-wheel drive, it's on a whole new level.

The Cooper S is already a fun car to zip around in. With the added horsepower and all-wheel drive, the Cooper S ALL4 brings the fun factor up by quite a bit. This is a practical family wagon that's also a blast to drive. The 2022 MINI Clubman Cooper S ALL4 can take tight curves with ease.

Compare the Cooper S ALL4 vs John Cooper Works ALL4. What is the difference?

The John Cooper Works ALL4 is the top-performing trim level of the 2022 MINI Clubman. This is a family wagon that can also double as a race car with little to no modification. It's truly an incredible performer as is. This model gets the full name of John Cooper just as it gets the full works when it comes to tuning upgrades.

John Cooper is a famous engineer and race-car driver that founded the Cooper Car Company with his father. He is credited with designing this iconic car that bares his name. The first major upgrade here is with the engine. This is once again a Twin-Power, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine with direct injection. This time around, there's a Valvetronic direct-injection system for even greater efficiency.

The engine for this trim level now makes an impressive 301 hp at 5,000 rpm. It also produces 331 pound-feet of torque at 1,750 rpm. Acceleration is breathtaking in this version of the small wagon. The John Cooper Works ALL4 can get you from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds flat. That stat is comparable to a good number of sports coupes. Best of all, in the MINI Clubman, the owner still has a practical car with plenty of room for passengers and cargo.

Steering and handling get fine-tuned here for the best steering dynamics of any model. This car was designed for sharp turns on a race track. There's even a sports-tuned, upgraded suspension system. This helps to mitigate body roll and to further enhance this car's already amazing traction and handling. This version of the MINI Clubman really sticks to and hugs the road when cornering, even at high speeds.

While the changes are mostly performance related for this trim level, there are some nice cosmetic upgrades as well. MINI seems to have wanted everyone to know when they're looking at a John Cooper Works ALL4 model. The front end, front fascia, rear end and bumpers all get a more aggressive design. There are a few extra exterior-paint options as well. The John Cooper Works ALL4 models of the 2022 MINI Clubman have a sportier appearance to match what's under the hood.

 

Final Thoughts

There's no shortage of options to choose from when buying a new 2022 MINI Clubman. Selecting between the Cooper S, Cooper S ALL4 and the John Cooper Works ALL4 may be the easiest choice of all. One could spend a good amount of time just selecting the exterior color scheme. This is made especially true by the unique setup of the MINI exterior where one can select contrasting colors for the different parts. Then there are the endless racing stripe packages.

All of the interior choices can be overwhelming as well. There's not much in the way of standard features here. Almost everything is up to the buyer. When it comes to those three trim levels, the one in the middle will be the best choice for most buyers. The performance upgrades make a huge difference that can really be felt when driving around town or back-country roads.

The Cooper S ALL4 has the amazing all-wheel drive system. This means better handling and a safer ride in rainy, snowy and icy conditions. As for the convenience features, again, these can be customized to one's liking. The price jump from Cooper S to Cooper S ALL4 is absolutely worth the added benefits.

If you're looking for a track car, then the John Cooper Works ALL4 is the way to go. Everyone else should just stick with the Cooper S ALL4. One thing is for certain. No matter which version of the 2022 MINI Clubman is purchased, the owner will have a unique-looking car that's a lot of fun to drive.

Previous Year Trim Configurations:

• 2021 MINI Clubman Trime Levels