Compare the2023 Lincoln CorsairVS 2023 MINI Cooper Clubman

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Lincoln Corsair 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 Corsair has standard Reverse Brake Assist 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 Corsair offers an optional 360-Degree Camera 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 Corsair’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 Corsair’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 Corsair and the Cooper Clubman have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

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 available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Corsair the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 175 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Cooper Clubman has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Corsair 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than MINI covers the Cooper Clubman. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Cooper Clubman ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 7 times as many Lincoln dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Corsair’s warranty.

Reliability

The Corsair has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the car’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lincoln above average in initial quality. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is rated lower.

Engine

The Corsair’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 61 more horsepower (250 vs. 189) and 69 lbs.-ft. more torque (275 vs. 206) than the Cooper Clubman S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Corsair running on electricity gets better mileage than the Cooper Clubman:

			MPGe
Corsair
AWD	Auto	Grand Touring Electric Motor	83 city/72 hwy
Cooper Clubman
			MPG
FWD	Manual	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/23 hwy
	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

On the EPA test cycle the Corsair running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Cooper Clubman:

			MPG
Corsair
AWD	Auto	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	34 city/32 hwy
Cooper Clubman
FWD	Manual	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/23 hwy
AWD	Auto	S 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/32 hwy
		JCW 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy

The Corsair Grand Touring can travel with zero emissions for 28 miles. The Cooper Clubman can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The Corsair’s standard fuel tank has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cooper Clubman (16.2 vs. 13.2 gallons).

The Corsair has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lincoln Corsair higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the MINI Cooper Clubman (3 to 7). This means the Corsair produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Cooper Clubman every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Corsair Grand Touring has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Corsair stops shorter than the Cooper Clubman:

	Corsair	Cooper Clubman
70 to 0 MPH	165 feet	169 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	123 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Corsair’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Cooper Clubman (245/45R20 vs. 225/45R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Corsair Standard has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Cooper Clubman S. The Corsair’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the JCW Clubman.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Corsair’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the Cooper Clubman (106.7 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Corsair is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Cooper Clubman.

Chassis

The Corsair uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Corsair has 10 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Cooper Clubman (102.5 vs. 92.5).

The Corsair has 1.8 inches more front legroom, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 4.3 inches more rear legroom and 3.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cooper Clubman.

Cargo Capacity

The Corsair has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Cooper Clubman with its rear seat up (27.6 vs. 17.5 cubic feet). The Corsair has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Cooper Clubman with its rear seat folded (57.6 vs. 47.9 cubic feet).

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Corsair’s optional rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Corsair. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Corsair’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 Corsair has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally 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.

Towing

The Corsair has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Cooper Clubman has no towing capacity.

The Corsair Grand Touring can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Corsair can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Cooper Clubman can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Corsair uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Corsair 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.

The Corsair’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Corsair’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. MINI does not offer a locking feature on the Cooper Clubman’s standard power windows.

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

The Corsair’s standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Cooper Clubman’s available power window controls are down in the center of the dashboard, away from the windows and mixed with controls for unrelated features.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Corsair’s exterior PIN entry system. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Intelligent Access standard on the Corsair allows you to unlock the doors, 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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Corsair has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Cooper Clubman only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Cooper Clubman’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Corsair Reserve’s optional 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 and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Corsair has standard extendable sun visors. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the Corsair and the Cooper Clubman have standard heated front seats. The Corsair also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Cooper Clubman.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Corsair 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.

The Corsair Reserve/Grand Touring offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Cooper Clubman.

The Corsair’s optional Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Cooper Clubman’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Corsair owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Corsair will cost $2560 less than the Cooper Clubman over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Corsair is less expensive to operate than the Cooper Clubman because typical repairs cost less on the Corsair than the Cooper Clubman, including $139 less for a starter and $70 less for front struts.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lincoln Corsair, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Lincoln Corsair outsold the MINI Cooper Clubman by over 11 to one during 2022.