Compare the2023 Volkswagen TiguanVS 2023 MINI Cooper Clubman

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen Tiguan are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The MINI Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Tiguan SE R-Line Black/SEL R-Line has standard Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Tiguan SEL R-Line has a standard Area View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Cooper Clubman only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Tiguan’s blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Tiguan’s standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Tiguan and the Cooper Clubman have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and lane departure warning systems.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Tiguan its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 101 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Cooper Clubman has not been tested, yet.

There are over 6 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Tiguan’s warranty.

The Volkswagen Tiguan’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Cooper Clubman’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The Tiguan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 206) than the Cooper Clubman S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The Tiguan FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cooper Clubman (15.3 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Tiguan AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cooper Clubman (15.9 vs. 13.2 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Tiguan higher (7 out of 10) than the MINI Cooper Clubman (3 to 7). This means the Tiguan produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Cooper Clubman every 15,000 miles.

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

For better traction, the Tiguan SE R-Line Black’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Cooper Clubman (255/45R19 vs. 225/45R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tiguan SEL R-Line has standard 20-inch wheels. The Cooper Clubman’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tiguan’s wheelbase is 4.8 inches longer than on the Cooper Clubman (109.9 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

The Tiguan’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55.9% to 44.1%) than the Cooper Clubman’s (58.4% to 41.6%). This gives the Tiguan more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the Tiguan has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Cooper Clubman (7.6 vs. 5.6 inches), allowing the Tiguan to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Tiguan offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Cooper Clubman can only carry 5.

The Tiguan has 31.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Cooper Clubman (123.9 vs. 92.5).

The Tiguan has 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 2.3 inches more rear legroom and 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cooper Clubman.

The Tiguan’s cargo area provides more volume than the Cooper Clubman.

The Tiguan’s cargo area is larger than the Cooper Clubman’s in almost every dimension:

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the Tiguan’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Tiguan’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The Cooper Clubman’s two swing out doors impair rear visibility, need a lot of clearance, and can block loading in tight quarters.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Tiguan SE/SEL has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the Tiguan SEL R-Line, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer a power cargo door, so its cargo door has to be closed manually.

The Tiguan has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Cooper Clubman has no towing capacity.

The Tiguan has a higher standard payload capacity than the Cooper Clubman (937 vs. 871 lbs.).

The Tiguan has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Cooper Clubman (1157 vs. 871 lbs.).

The Tiguan SE/SEL has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Keyless Access standard on the Tiguan allows you to unlock the driver’s door, cargo door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The MINI Cooper Clubman’s Comfort Access doesn’t unlock the trunk.

The Cooper Clubman’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Tiguan SEL Premium R-Line’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

To shield the driver’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side window, the Tiguan has a standard extendable sun visor. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Tiguan SEL R-Line keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Tiguan is less expensive to operate than the Cooper Clubman because typical repairs cost much less on the Tiguan than the Cooper Clubman, including $41 less for front brake pads, $35 less for a fuel pump, $204 less for a timing belt/chain and $629 less for a power steering pump.