Compare the2023 MINI Cooper ClubmanVS 2023 Mazda 3

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 Mazda 3 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.

Both the Cooper Clubman and the Mazda 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The 3’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Cooper Clubman’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Mazda 3’s (12 vs. 5 years).

MINI pays for scheduled maintenance on the Cooper Clubman for 3 years and 36,000 miles. MINI will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 3.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Cooper Clubman has a 150-amp alternator. The Mazda 3’s standard 100-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Cooper Clubman’s reliability 31 points higher than the Mazda 3.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that MINI vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in initial quality. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that MINI vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in long-term dependability. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mazda is rated lower.

The Cooper Clubman S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 20 lbs.-ft. more torque (206 vs. 186) than the Mazda 3’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The JCW Clubman’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 51 more horsepower (301 vs. 250) and 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (331 vs. 320) than the Mazda 3’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Cooper Clubman S is faster than the Mazda 3 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

Regenerative brakes improve the Cooper Clubman’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

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 Mazda 3.

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 Mazda 3 doesn’t offer an SMG.

To help the driver achieve optimum performance and fuel economy, the Cooper Clubman JCW offers an optional up-shift light to indicate when to shift based on power needs and conditions. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

The Cooper Clubman Auto’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Cooper Clubman’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Mazda 3:

The Cooper Clubman stops much shorter than the Mazda 3:

For better traction, the Cooper Clubman has larger standard tires than the Mazda 3 (225/45R17 vs. 205/60R16). The JCW Clubman’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Mazda 3 (235/35R19 vs. 215/45R18).

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 Mazda 3 2.5 S’ standard 60 series tires. The JCW Clubman’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Mazda 3 Hatchback/Select/Preferred/Premium/Turbo’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cooper Clubman S has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Mazda 3 2.5 S. The JCW Clubman’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Mazda 3 Hatchback/Select/Preferred/Premium/Turbo.

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 Mazda 3 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For superior ride and handling, the MINI Cooper Clubman has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mazda 3 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Cooper Clubman has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Cooper Clubman flat and controlled during cornering. The Mazda 3’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Cooper Clubman offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Mazda 3’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Cooper Clubman has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Cooper Clubman S ALL4 handles at .89 G’s, while the Mazda 3 Premium Sedan AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Cooper Clubman is 7.1 inches shorter than the Mazda 3 Hatchback, making the Cooper Clubman easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces. The Cooper Clubman is 1 foot, 3 inches shorter than the Mazda 3 Sedan.

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 Mazda 3 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Cooper Clubman’s available cargo door can be opened just by waving your foot, leaving your hands completely free. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Cooper Clubman uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Mazda 3 uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that MINI service is better than Mazda. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 17% lower rating, Mazda is ranked 11th.

The power windows standard on both the Cooper Clubman and the Mazda 3 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Cooper Clubman is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Mazda 3 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the Cooper Clubman the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Mazda 3 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Mazda 3 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 Mazda 3 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To better shield the driver’s vision, the Cooper Clubman has a standard dual-element sun visor that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer a secondary sun visor.

The Cooper Clubman’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda only offers heated mirrors on the Mazda 3 Carbon/Turbo.

The Cooper Clubman has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Mazda 3 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Premium/Turbo.

Both the Cooper Clubman and the Mazda 3 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Cooper Clubman has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Cooper Clubman’s optional Parking Assistant can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Mazda 3 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Insurance will cost less for the Cooper Clubman owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Cooper Clubman with a number “5” insurance rate while the Mazda 3 is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Cooper Clubman is less expensive to operate than the Mazda 3 because typical repairs cost less on the Cooper Clubman than the Mazda 3, including $77 less for fuel injection.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cooper Clubman first among compact cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Mazda 3 isn’t in the top three.