Compare the2022 MINI Cooper ClubmanVS 2021 Lexus NX Series

The MINI Cooper Clubman has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The NX Series doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Cooper Clubman has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The NX Series doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Compared to metal, the Cooper Clubman’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Lexus NX Series has a metal gas tank.

Both the Cooper Clubman and the NX Series have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available front parking sensors.

The Cooper Clubman’s corrosion warranty is 6 years longer than the NX Series’ (12 vs. 6 years).

MINI pays for scheduled maintenance on the Cooper Clubman for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the NX Series (3/36,000 vs. 1/10,000).

The Cooper Clubman S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (206 vs. 199) than the NX 300h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The JCW Clubman’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 66 more horsepower (301 vs. 235) and 73 lbs.-ft. more torque (331 vs. 258) than the NX 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Cooper Clubman S is faster than the NX 300 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the Cooper Clubman gets better mileage than the NX Series:

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the Cooper Clubman’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Lexus only offers a regenerative brake system on the NX Series 300h.

Regardless of its engine, the Cooper Clubman’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. Lexus only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the NX Series 300h.

The Cooper Clubman offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The NX Series doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

An eight-speed automatic is available on the MINI Cooper Clubman, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the NX Series.

The Cooper Clubman offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The NX Series doesn’t offer an SMG.

The Cooper Clubman stops much shorter than the NX Series:

The Cooper Clubman S’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the NX Series’ standard 65 series tires. The JCW Clubman’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the NX Series F Sport’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the JCW Clubman offers optional 19-inch wheels. The NX Series’ largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the Cooper Clubman can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The NX Series doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Cooper Clubman S handles at .91 G’s, while the NX 300 F Sport AWD pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Cooper Clubman S ALL4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the NX 300h AWD (26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

The MINI Cooper Clubman may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 700 pounds less than the Lexus NX Series.

The Cooper Clubman is 1 foot, 2.2 inches shorter than the NX Series, making the Cooper Clubman easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Cooper Clubman is 8.1 inches shorter in height than the NX Series, making the Cooper Clubman much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The front grille of the Cooper Clubman uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The NX Series doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Cooper Clubman has 20.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the NX Series (92.5 vs. 71.6).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Cooper Clubman easier. The Cooper Clubman’s trunk lift-over height is 27.2 inches, while the NX Series’ liftover is 31.2 inches.

The Cooper Clubman has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The NX Series doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

The Cooper Clubman offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The NX Series doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Cooper Clubman’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The NX Series’ power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Cooper Clubman’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The NX Series’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Cooper Clubman to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The NX Series doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Cooper Clubman offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The NX Series doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the MINI Cooper Clubman offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The NX Series doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Cooper Clubman’s optional Parking Assistant can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The NX Series doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Cooper Clubman is less expensive to operate than the NX Series because it costs $518 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Cooper Clubman than the NX Series, including $59 less for a water pump, $341 less for a muffler, $25 less for a starter, $386 less for fuel injection and $512 less for a timing belt/chain.