Compare the2023 MINI Cooper ClubmanVS 2022 Ford EcoSport

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Cooper Clubman has standard Automatic Emergency Braking, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The EcoSport doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

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 EcoSport 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.

The Cooper Clubman’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Cooper Clubman has standard Park Distance Control to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or, optionally, in front of the vehicle. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The Cooper Clubman’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Cooper Clubman and the EcoSport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

Warranty

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 EcoSport’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 EcoSport’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. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the EcoSport.

Reliability

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 60 points higher than the EcoSport.

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 Ford 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, Ford is rated lower.

Engine

The Cooper Clubman S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 23 more horsepower (189 vs. 166) and 57 lbs.-ft. more torque (206 vs. 149) than the EcoSport’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The JCW Clubman’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 135 more horsepower (301 vs. 166) and 182 lbs.-ft. more torque (331 vs. 149) than the EcoSport’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Cooper Clubman
FWD	Auto	S 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/35 hwy
AWD	Auto	S 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/32 hwy
		JCW 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy
EcoSport
AWD	Auto	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy

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

The Cooper Clubman has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks The fuel filler door is not lockable on the EcoSport. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

The Cooper Clubman offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The EcoSport 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 EcoSport.

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 EcoSport doesn’t offer an SMG.

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 EcoSport doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Cooper Clubman S	JCW Clubman	EcoSport
Front Rotors	12.1 inches	14.2 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	11 inches	13 inches	10.7 inches

The Cooper Clubman stops much shorter than the EcoSport:

	Cooper Clubman	EcoSport
70 to 0 MPH	160 feet	186 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	107 feet	132 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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

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 EcoSport’s standard 60 series tires. The JCW Clubman’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the EcoSport’s optional 50 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 EcoSport. The JCW Clubman’s optional 19-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels optional on the EcoSport.

The MINI Cooper Clubman’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Ford EcoSport only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

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 EcoSport doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

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 EcoSport’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 EcoSport doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cooper Clubman’s wheelbase is 5.9 inches longer than on the EcoSport (105.1 inches vs. 99.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Cooper Clubman is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the EcoSport.

The Cooper Clubman S handles at .91 G’s, while the EcoSport Titanium pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Cooper Clubman S ALL4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.8 seconds quicker than the EcoSport SE (26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .54 average G’s).

Chassis

The Cooper Clubman is 8.4 inches shorter in height than the EcoSport, making the Cooper Clubman much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

Passenger Space

The Cooper Clubman has .6 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the EcoSport.

Cargo Capacity

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 EcoSport doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its cargo door, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Servicing Ease

The Cooper Clubman uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The EcoSport 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 Ford. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 35% lower rating, Ford is ranked 22nd.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Cooper Clubman, the optional memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Cooper Clubman offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, 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 EcoSport doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Cooper Clubman’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The EcoSport has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Cooper Clubman’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The EcoSport’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

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 EcoSport can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 EcoSport’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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 EcoSport doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Cooper Clubman’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the EcoSport’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen. The Cooper Clubman’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the EcoSport’s projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

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 EcoSport doesn’t offer headlight washers.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Cooper Clubman detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The EcoSport doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Cooper Clubman has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The EcoSport doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 EcoSport 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. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the EcoSport SES/Titanium.

When the Cooper Clubman is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The EcoSport’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Cooper Clubman’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The EcoSport offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Cooper Clubman’s 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. The EcoSport doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Cooper Clubman and the EcoSport 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 EcoSport doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Cooper Clubman offers an optional Active Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The EcoSport doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

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 EcoSport 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 EcoSport doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The Cooper Clubman is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

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 EcoSport is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

The Cooper Clubman will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Cooper Clubman will retain 49.17% to 51.06% of its original price after five years, while the EcoSport only retains 44.94% to 46.13%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Cooper Clubman is less expensive to operate than the EcoSport because typical repairs cost less on the Cooper Clubman than the EcoSport, including $4 less for fuel injection and $172 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

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 EcoSport isn’t in the top three.

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