“MINIs aren’t so mini anymore” goes the trope we’ve all heard time and time again. As much as we don’t want it to be right, the trope isn’t totally wrong. MINI’s 2023 Clubman isn’t a huge car by any means at only 168.3 inches long, yet considering that the 2000’s reincarnated R53 Cooper was only 142.8 inches overall puts things in perspective. With this in mind, the 2023 Cooper S Clubman All4 has a lot riding its shoulders, tasked with delivering the fun, quirky, sporty MINI experience while dragging along a whole lot of not-so-mini cars. Does it deliver?

(While I did subject this vehicle to my regular routine, I didn’t drive it enough to do a full deep dive. As such, what follows is a quick-hit, bullet point rundown of the car’s Quick Positives, Quick Negatives, and Quick Bottom Line.)

Quick Info, Stats, and Price

Model Year: 2023

Make: MINI

Model: Cooper S Clubman All4

Engine: 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder — 189 horsepower / 206 lb-ft. of torque

Drivetrain: 8-speed automatic; all-wheel-drive

Base MSRP: $36,500

Options on test vehicle: Iconic trim ($4,900), MINI Untold Edition ($2,250), Heated Steering Wheel credit (-$100)

Total MSRP of test vehicle: $44,400 (Including $850 Destination Charge)

Quick Pros

• The oddball MINI fun and lightheartedness are still there
• Excellent seats
• Great usability in the second row
• Good visibility
• Direct, immediate steering
• Barn doors at the rear!

Quick Cons

• It’s not particularly quick (0-60 MPH in 6.9 seconds) or fast, especially given the price
• The engine sounds dreadful for a sporty-oriented (or at least marketed) car
• The trunk is lacking in space and functionality versus other hatchbacks
• 3,534 pounds and you feel it
• Steering is over-boosted in Sport mode despite providing no real feel/feedback
• It costs how much??

Quick Bottom Line

• This isn’t the MINI you remember or the MINI that enthusiasts crave, but it’s a solid year-round-capable hatchback that spices things up with the eccentricities that only MINI can pull off.