2019 Mini John Cooper Works Clubman Interior and Cargo

A range of seating materials and leathers make customizing the Clubman's interior a fun, if time-consuming, task. Upholstery choices include cloth/leatherette, Dinamica/cloth, cloth/leather cord, cross punch leather, Dinamica/leather, Mini Yours Lounge leather and Chesterfield leather. While Carbon Black dominates the interior color palette, there is also Black Pearl, Indigo Blue, Pure Burgundy and Satellite Grey to choose from. A selection of trims includes chequered, Mini Yours fiber alloy, Piano Black, Mini Yours Piano Black and Mini Yours Pure Burgundy. The leather-wrapped JCW steering wheel is unique to this model. While the Classic sub-trim doesn't give you a choice of leather or upholstery (or the option to upgrade the interior trim) the Signature model does provide this as an option, while the Iconic model includes these upgrades as standard.

A sizable 17.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats provides the Clubman with more cargo room than most other subcompacts. More than this, once the twin doors swing open automatically, loading large items into the back can be done with ease. 60/40 split-folding rear seats free up a total of 47.9 cubes of space, transforming the Clubman into the lowest, trendiest van you've ever seen.

Small-item storage is catered for by an average-sized center console, cup holders, and large door pockets. Space for small items is not quite as generous for passengers at the back. Overall, the Clubman's cargo bay doesn't disappoint and is one of the main reasons to go for this variant rather than the smaller hatchback.

There are enough differences to clearly distinguish between the three sub-trims of Classic, Signature, and Iconic. Classic models get a rearview camera, rear park distance control, manual climate control and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Heated front seats are optional on this variant, but standard on the Signature, which also gets a panoramic sunroof, dynamic damper control, and forward-collision warning with emergency braking. The top-line sub-trim, Iconic, builds on these features and adds power exterior mirrors with auto-dimming, wireless device charging and more premium interior surfaces. The optional Driver Assistance package (not available for the Classic) contains park assist, a head-up display and adaptive cruise control.

BMW's infotainment systems are considered benchmarks in the industry, and the Clubman benefits from the same fundamentals, albeit cloaked in Mini's more exuberant control layout. The base model starts off with a 6.5-inch screen, with the Iconic sub-trim enjoying a larger 8.8-inch touchscreen display. Bluetooth streaming, USB ports, and a six-speaker sound system are standard, while the Iconic sub-trim gets a Harman Kardon sound system, Apple CarPlay integration, Connected Navigation Plus, and SiriusXM satellite radio (optional on the Signature). Unfortunately, the Mini also inherits BMW's long-standing aversion to Android Auto, which isn't available on any Clubman. For the most part, though, the Clubman's infotainment system is up to scratch in terms of usability and processing speeds.