Twin review: Audi A3 v Mini Clubman

The all-new Mini Clubman takes on the established leader in the premium hatch bracket.
1/10
John Calne|Whatcar25 October 2016

Mini got a little too quirky with the first-generation Clubman, but the new model plays things a lot safer. That counts as a big improvement – but is it enough to stand comparison with the latest breed of premium hatchbacks?

Of these, the recently face-lifted Audi A3 is the one to beat. So that’s what the Clubman must do here.

And it gets off to a good start. At first glance, its cabin is the coolest thing since Jimi Hendrix, and as well as being a whirlwind of design quirks it also gets the basics right with good materials and intuitive media systems. It’s also the more spacious in the back, albeit only by a touch.

But the A3 counters with a bigger, more usable boot, and while Mini has got rid of the ridiculous single rear door that blighted the old Clubman, this one’s side-hinged arrangement is still less convenient than a simple tailgate. This allows better rear visibility in the A3, too, and overall Audi does still play its trump card with an interior that’s just steeped in quality.

Kit-wise, there’s not a lot in it – both are pretty generous, though only Audi gives you rear park assist as standard. Another similarity is that both the models tested here have 2.0-litre diesel engines putting out 148bhp – though the A3 is usefully quicker away from the lights, while the Clubman has more in-gear pull up top.

Both are just fine on the motorway as a result, though over the piece Mini’s diesel is the louder of the two. It doesn’t ride as well, either, and as well as damping out bumps more effectively the A3 is better at screening you from wind rustle and road roar.

If you want a car to chuck around a bit, you’ll instinctively gravitate Clubman-wards. And it does have the tauter suspension of the two, though its steering is short on feel and its front wheels don’t hold their line with the same tenacity as the A3s’ when you lean on it a bit in a corner. The A3’s brakes are slightly more effective, too, and its front wheels are less likely to chatter as you pull away on a wet road.

So neither of these cars is bad to drive – and if you’re comparing the Clubman to the vehicle it replaced, it’s clear that Mini has done a sterling job of putting right all that was wrong.

It’s still not quite the equal of the A3 Sportback, however. Audi’s ever-popular premium hatch is the better car to drive – and by holding its value more strongly, it will save you about a grand on ownership costs over three years.

There’s no denying that the new Clubman is a very funky motor. But in answer to the question we asked at the outset, no, it’s not enough to stand comparison with the latest breed of premium hatchbacks. It’s close, though – but the A3’s crown remains in place.


KEY INFORMATION

Audi A3 2.0 TDI 150 SE Technik
Engine size 2.0-litre diesel
List price £24,080
Target Price £21,916
Power 148bhp
Torque 251lb ft
0-60mph 7.9sec
Top speed 135mph
Fuel economy 51.2mpg (True MPG)
CO2 emissions 108g/km

Mini Clubman Cooper D Media Pack
Engine size 2.0-litre diesel
List price £23,395
Target Price £22,254
Power 148bhp
Torque 243lb ft
0-60mph 8.6sec
Top speed 132mph
Fuel economy 51.1mpg (True MPG)
CO2 emissions 109g/km

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