The Best Mini Station Wagons
While the Mini nameplate may seem contradictory to the body style, the Countryman and Clubman are some of the best-rated modern station wagons.
Written by Drew Waterstreet
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Mini Cooper’s Countryman and Clubman are station wagons by definition, though they’re smaller than the average wagon, as their name suggests.
The experts at
Jerry
, the super app that saves drivers money on car insurance
and more, are here with all you need to know. We’ll cover what a station wagon is, why the Mini Countryman and Clubman fit the bill, and some of the best models from present and past—plus, how to save on your Mini insurance costs
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Does Mini still make a station wagon?
Yes, the Mini Cooper Countryman and Clubman station wagons are still in production.
What’s the difference between a Mini station wagon and a Mini hatchback?
These are the general differences between station wagons and hatchbacks:
- A longer body than a sedan or hatchback
- Extended passenger/cargo space accessed by a liftgate
- Typically includes a D-pillar, the rearmost vertical support that sedans generally don’t have
- More cargo volume
Between Mini models, the key differentiators are the D-pillar and cargo volume—let’s break that down.
On the Mini hardtop hatchback models, you’ll notice the roof begins to slant towards the rear of the vehicle. On station wagons, the D-pillar represents the extra space that creates a vertical rear end, which the Countryman and Clubman have.
Next, you’ll notice that the Countryman and Clubman have a more extended length, creating additional cargo space. Here’s how the specs shake out:
- 2023 Mini Hardtop 4 door: 158.5”
- 2023 Mini Countryman: 169.7”
- 2023 Mini Clubman: 168.5”
With close to a foot in additional length, the Countryman and Clubman reflect the design of a station wagon more than a traditional Mini Hardtop hatchback.
Mini station wagons you can buy right now
2023 MINI Cooper Countryman SAV
Starting price: $34,950
Cargo volume: 47.6 cu ft
Trunk volume: 17.6 cu ft
Engine: TwinPower Turbo engine, 1.5 L 3-cylinder or 2.0 L 4-cylinder
The
Mini Countryman
is called an SAV (sports activity vehicle), but it meets the criteria for a station wagon. Names aside, it’s the most spacious Mini on the market.There are six trims to choose from in the 2023 Countryman, with horsepower ranging from 134 to 301—there’s even a brand new plug-in hybrid powertrain available on the Cooper SE ALL4.
So, you can have the best of both worlds with the Countryman—the snappy, go-kart agility of a Mini Cooper with space for five adult passengers.
2023 Mini Cooper Clubman
Starting price: $39,650
Cargo volume: 47.9 cu ft
Trunk volume: 17.5 cu ft
Engine: TwinPower Turbo, 2.0 L 4-cylinder engine
In terms of design, the
Mini Clubman
is a station wagon through and through. The multitone roof, available in three color gradients, ties the stretched-out design together. The Clubman’s dual swinging rear cargo doors add a retro touch.This Mini isn’t all that mini. The wagon comfortably fits five adults. To help tote your passengers around, you’ll benefit from 189 hp with the Copper S trim or 301 hp with the John Cooper Works trim.
The best MINI station wagons of all time
Mini Cooper Countryman 2017-2022
At the time, the 2017 Countryman was the biggest Mini ever, strongly competing with the Audi Q3, Mercedes-Benz GLA, and BMW X1. Even though it is bigger, it doesn’t lose the swift driving capabilities you expect from this low-center-of-gravity speedster.
The 2017 to 2022 era of the Countryman marked Mini’s persistent pursuit of perfecting size and speed, which is what any station wagon strives to do.
Mini Cooper Clubman 2016-2019
The 2016 to 2019 era of the Clubman stretched the brand’s name to the limit. It was about 10 inches longer and 3 inches wider than a traditional Mini Cooper, creating plenty of room for passengers and extra cargo. Not only was it big, but it shared its stunning exterior design with BMW X1 (Mini’s parent company).
This era of the Clubman played a big part in redefining the modern station wagon. Its design impacts are noticeable in the 2023 release and across the industry.
Are Mini station wagons reliable?
Mini Cooper had a bit of a rough start in terms of reliability. In its first generation, the NHTSA could barely keep up with the number of complaints submitted—ranging from 265 in 2002 to 829 in 2005. RepairPal estimated an annual maintenance budget of $846 to keep up with these growing pains.
Consumer Reports gave the 2006-2012 models the lowest possible predicted reliability score, noting 17 concerns with the engine, driving system, and suspension.
2014 brought on a full redesign for the Mini Cooper lineup that included a much-needed improvement in reliability ratings. Thanks to the original Mini Cooper, most of the dependability kinks were worked out so the new station wagon class could hit the ground running.
Today, the aggregate Mini lineup scores a 3.0 out of 5.0 reliability rating and has an average annual repair cost of $854 according to RepairPal.
MORE: How to do summer car maintenance
How to save money on Mini insurance
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