2022 Mini John Cooper Works Clubman Performance

The BMW-shared power plant in the Mini JCW Clubman is a respectable piece of engineering, generating 301 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot has plenty of grunt, allowing the wagon to do the 0-60 mph sprint in just 4.6 seconds. That's quicker than a Ferrari Testarossa could do in its day, and the engine doesn't run out of puff when you get into triple figures either, accelerating strongly all the way to its limited top speed of 155 mph. For a Mini to be any good though, it needs to be a strong performer in the bends too. With an eight-speed automatic transmission providing shift paddles behind the steering wheel, you can keep your hands on the wheel at all times, and thanks to sharp steering, a nimble chassis, and all-wheel-drive grip, that classic Mini DNA shines through. It's not as exciting as lesser-powered Minis that send their power exclusively to the front wheels, but at least launching yourself from one traffic light to the next requires minimal restraint or skill.

The Mini John Cooper Works Clubman is only available in a single configuration in terms of its powertrain, although multiple sub-trims with different convenience features are offered. That engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that develops an impressive 301 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. It's managed by an eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels. Mini says that this is done because the front wheels can't handle that much power, but the Mini Cooper JCW GP gets the same output on just the front axle thanks to a locking differential. Nevertheless, wherever the power is sent, the engine performs well, with a linear torque curve that makes accelerating from a standstill easy. It's not too bad once you're on the move either, with the engine offering enough mid-range torque to make accelerating past slower traffic relatively easy. The automatic transmission fills any gaps by clicking down a gear or three when you need it, but as smooth and smart as it is in its default setting, switching to Sport mode and changing up or down yourself is certainly more entertaining. Fortunately, the experience is not dulled by slushy shifts, and the paddles respond to your commands instantly.

Since this high-performance wagon is only powered by a small-capacity engine, gas mileage figures are pretty good. According to the EPA's review, the USA version of the Mini John Cooper Works Clubman ALL4 will achieve 23/31/26 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. With a 13.2-gallon gas tank, you should see an average of around 343 miles of range with mixed driving. Interestingly, these figures are identical to those of the JCW Clubman before its power boost, when it was only developing 228 horses with 258 lb-ft of torque.