Compare the2023 Ford Escape FHEVVS 2023 MINI Cooper Clubman

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Escape FHEV have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The MINI Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Ford Escape FHEV 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 Escape FHEV offers an optional Reverse Brake Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Escape FHEV 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 Escape FHEV’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 Escape FHEV’s standard Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Escape FHEV and the Cooper Clubman have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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 Escape FHEV the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 177 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Cooper Clubman has not been tested, yet.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Escape FHEV 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than MINI covers the Cooper Clubman. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Cooper Clubman ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 29 times as many Ford dealers as there are MINI dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escape FHEV’s warranty.

The Escape FHEV 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 Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than MINI vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, MINI is rated lower.

The Escape FHEV’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 11 more horsepower (200 vs. 189) than the Cooper Clubman S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Escape FHEV uses regular unleaded gasoline. The JCW Clubman requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Escape FHEV has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cooper Clubman (14.3 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Escape FHEV 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.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Escape FHEV higher (8 out of 10) than the MINI Cooper Clubman (3 to 7). This means the Escape FHEV produces up to 30 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Cooper Clubman every 15,000 miles.

The Escape FHEV 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.

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

The Escape FHEV stops shorter than the Cooper Clubman:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Escape FHEV’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 Escape FHEV is 1.1 inches wider in the front and .4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Cooper Clubman.

The Escape FHEV has 9.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Cooper Clubman (102.2 vs. 92.5).

The Escape FHEV has 1 inch more front legroom, 2.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 4.6 inches more rear legroom and 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cooper Clubman.

The Escape FHEV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Cooper Clubman with its rear seat up (34.4 vs. 17.5 cubic feet). The Escape FHEV has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Cooper Clubman with its rear seat folded (60.8 vs. 47.9 cubic feet).

The Escape FHEV’s cargo area is larger than the Cooper Clubman’s in every dimension:

The Escape FHEV’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 Escape FHEV offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer a power cargo door, so its cargo door has to be closed manually.

The Escape FHEV has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Cooper Clubman has no towing capacity.

The Escape FHEV 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 Escape FHEV can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Cooper Clubman can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Escape FHEV 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.

The Escape FHEV offers a 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 Escape FHEV’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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

Intelligent Access standard on the Escape FHEV 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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Escape FHEV 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.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Escape FHEV has standard extendable sun visors. The Cooper Clubman doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Escape FHEV Elite/Platinum’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.

Insurance will cost less for the Escape FHEV owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Escape FHEV will cost $1830 to $6245 less than the Cooper Clubman over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Escape FHEV will be $7472 to $13395 less than for the MINI Cooper Clubman.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Ford Escape FHEV, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Ford Escape outsold the MINI Cooper Clubman by almost 56 to one during 2022.