Compare the2024 MINI Cooper ClubmanVS 2024 Acura RDX

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 RDX 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 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 RDX doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

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

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

MINI pays for scheduled maintenance on the Cooper Clubman for 1 year and 12000 miles longer than Acura pays for maintenance for the RDX (3/36,000 vs. 2/24,000).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that MINI vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in initial quality. With 28 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is rated below average.

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 Acura 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, Acura is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that MINI vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks MINI third in overall reliability. Acura is ranked fourth.

The JCW Clubman’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 29 more horsepower (301 vs. 272) and 51 lbs.-ft. more torque (331 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

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

The Cooper Clubman offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The RDX doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

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 RDX 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 RDX doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the JCW Clubman’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the RDX:

The Cooper Clubman stops much shorter than the RDX:

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 RDX’s standard 55 series tires. The JCW Clubman’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the RDX A-Spec’s 45 series tires.

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 RDX doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Cooper Clubman S handles at .91 G’s, while the RDX A-Spec pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Cooper Clubman S ALL4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the RDX (26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Cooper Clubman’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the RDX’s (37.1 feet vs. 38.9 feet).

The MINI Cooper Clubman may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 700 pounds less than the Acura RDX.

The Cooper Clubman is 1 foot, 6.9 inches shorter than the RDX, making the Cooper Clubman easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Cooper Clubman is 9 inches shorter in height than the RDX, making the Cooper Clubman much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

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 RDX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that MINI service is better than Acura. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 2% lower rating, Acura is ranked 6th.

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 RDX’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 RDX 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 RDX doesn’t offer headlight washers.

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

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 RDX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Cooper Clubman has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the RDX.

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

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

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 RDX is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Cooper Clubman is less expensive to operate than the RDX because typical repairs cost much less on the Cooper Clubman than the RDX, including $19 less for a muffler, $210 less for front brake pads, $56 less for fuel injection and $33 less for a power steering pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the MINI Cooper Clubman and the Acura RDX, based on reliability, safety and performance.