Compare the2024 MINI Cooper ClubmanVS 2024 Ford Escape

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

Safety

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The MINI Cooper Clubman has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Escape doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the Cooper Clubman and the Escape have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 front parking sensors.

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 Escape’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 Escape’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, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Escape.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Cooper Clubman’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Escape’s camshafts. If the Escape’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

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 32 points higher than the Escape.

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 Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in initial quality. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford 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 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.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that MINI vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks MINI third in overall reliability. Ford is ranked 22nd.

Engine

The Cooper Clubman S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 9 more horsepower (189 vs. 180) and 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (206 vs. 199) than the Escape’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder. The JCW Clubman’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 51 more horsepower (301 vs. 250) and 51 lbs.-ft. more torque (331 vs. 280) than the Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Cooper Clubman S is faster than the Ford Escape turbo 3 cyl. (automatics tested):

	Cooper Clubman	Escape
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	8 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	17.1 sec	24.8 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.8 sec	8.5 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.3 sec	4.1 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	4.7 sec	5.3 sec
Quarter Mile	15 sec	16.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94 MPH	86 MPH
Top Speed	142 MPH	122 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Cooper Clubman S ALL4 Auto gets better fuel mileage than the Escape 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder (23 city/32 hwy vs. 23 city/31 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the Cooper Clubman’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Escape 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 Escape. 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 Escape 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 Escape 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 Escape doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	JCW Clubman	Escape
Front Rotors	14.2 inches	13 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	11.9 inches

The Cooper Clubman stops much shorter than the Escape:

	Cooper Clubman	Escape
70 to 0 MPH	160 feet	162 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	107 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the JCW Clubman’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Escape (235/35R19 vs. 225/65R17).

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 Escape’s standard 65 series tires. The JCW Clubman’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Escape’s optional 55 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 Escape 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 Escape’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Cooper Clubman S handles at .91 G’s, while the Escape AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Cooper Clubman S ALL4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Escape (26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Chassis

The Cooper Clubman is 11.6 inches shorter than the Escape, making the Cooper Clubman easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Cooper Clubman is 9.3 inches shorter in height than the Escape, making the Cooper Clubman much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

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 Escape doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, 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 Escape 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

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 Escape’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens 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 Escape 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 Escape’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 Escape 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 Escape 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 Escape 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 Escape 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 charges extra for heated mirrors on the Escape.

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 Escape’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 Escape offers 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 Escape.

Economic Advantages

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 53.99% to 56.29% of its original price after five years, while the Escape only retains 51.82% to 53.93%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Cooper Clubman is less expensive to operate than the Escape because typical repairs cost much less on the Cooper Clubman than the Escape, including $1150 less for a muffler and $265 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the MINI Cooper Clubman, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Ford Escape isn't recommended.