MINI John Cooper Works Clubman

FIRST DRIVE Four-wheel drive and 228bhp give ‘estate’ added punch

Four-wheel-drive, 228bhp hot hatch hits the road

THE letters JCW have long been synonymous with MINI’S most extreme models – sharpening Cooper S variants with various mechanical and aesthetic upgrades.

Over the past decade we’ve seen John Cooper Works versions of everything from the three-door hatch to the jacked-up Countryman. But now MINI has injected its Volkswagen Golf-rivalling Clubman with some JCW magic – and we’ve driven it.

Unlike the old model, the new car has been fitted with MINI’S ALL4 system. It’s the same part-time all-wheel-drive set-up as found on other MINIS, meaning most of the time it runs using only the front wheels.

The souped-up Clubman comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the familiar eight-speed auto tested here is a £1,600 option. It lifts the JCW hatchback’s 2.0-litre turbo engine unchanged – meaning 228bhp and 350Nm of torque. In fact, it manages an identical 0-62mph time of 6.3 seconds, too.

On the road, though, the 1,550kg Clubman feels lethargic. Where the threedoor is playful, the estate is reluctant to show its wild side. Grip is good, but the steering isn’t as sweet. Plant your right foot and it builds speed – but it never feels fast.

As with other MINIS, there are three drive modes. Using the most aggressive Sport setting sharpens the car’s responses and turns the exhaust up to 11. This transforms the Clubman from humdrum Golf rival to boisterous hot hatch, popping and cracking as you lift off the throttle. But our twisty Alpine drive highlighted failings in the car’s Brembo brake set-up. While they felt sharp on flatter sections, on lengthy downhill stretches the four-piston calipers didn’t offer sufficient bite. A Golf R would leave it standing through tight bends. The ride disappoints, too. Even on smooth Austrian motorways, the JCW sought out imperfections in the tarmac. It’s stable and secure at high speeds, but potholes send crashes through the chassis – and it’s only likely to worsen on rutted UK roads. The sports seats are comfortable, though, and you’ll find all the usual MINI luxuries inside.

NEED TO KNOW Unlike the hatch, the JCW Clubman is only available with ALL4 four-wheel drive Running costs 41.5mpg (official) £55 fill-up

Sport seats boost familiar interior; gofaster stripes add some flair to exterior

STYLING Unique badging marks the JCW out as the fastest Clubman. Wide bodykit, bumpers and sports exhaust hint at firepower on offer

EQUIPMENT All JCWS come with sat-nav and MINI’S intuitive infotainment system. The £2,000 Chili Pack adds bigger wheels and other extras

PRACTICALITY Cabin and boot are as in standard Clubman, giving a 360litre load area and spacious rear seats. Barn doors still affect rearward visibility