Compare the2024 MINI Cooper ClubmanVS 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan

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 Tiguan doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Tiguan doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Cooper Clubman and the Tiguan 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available front parking sensors.

The Cooper Clubman’s corrosion warranty is 5 years and unlimited miles longer than the Tiguan’s (12/unlimited vs. 7/100,000).

MINI pays for scheduled maintenance on the Cooper Clubman for 1 year and 16000 miles longer than Volkswagen pays for maintenance for the Tiguan (3/36,000 vs. 2/20,000).

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 36 points higher than the Tiguan.

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 Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks MINI above average in initial quality. With 70 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen 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 Volkswagen 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, Volkswagen is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that MINI vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks MINI third in overall reliability. Volkswagen is ranked 27th.

The Cooper Clubman S’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (189 vs. 184) than the Tiguan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The JCW Clubman’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 117 more horsepower (301 vs. 184) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (331 vs. 221) than the Tiguan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Cooper Clubman S is faster than the Volkswagen Tiguan (automatics tested):

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

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

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

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

The Cooper Clubman stops much shorter than the Tiguan:

For better traction, the Cooper Clubman has larger standard tires than the Tiguan (225/45R17 vs. 215/65R17).

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 Tiguan S’ standard 65 series tires. The JCW Clubman’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Tiguan SEL R-Line’s 40 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 Tiguan doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

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 Tiguan’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Cooper Clubman S handles at .91 G’s, while the Tiguan 4Motion® pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Cooper Clubman S ALL4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the Tiguan 4Motion® (26.5 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Cooper Clubman’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Tiguan’s (37.1 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The MINI Cooper Clubman may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 450 pounds less than the Volkswagen Tiguan.

The Cooper Clubman is 1 foot, 5.6 inches shorter than the Tiguan, making the Cooper Clubman easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Cooper Clubman is 9.8 inches shorter in height than the Tiguan, 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 Tiguan doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Cooper Clubman has .6 inches more front headroom and 1.2 inches more front legroom than the Tiguan.

The front step up height for the Cooper Clubman is 1.7 inches lower than the Tiguan (15.7” vs. 17.4”). The Cooper Clubman’s rear step up height is 2.5 inches lower than the Tiguan’s (15” vs. 17.5”).

The Cooper Clubman has a much larger cargo volume than the Tiguan with its rear seat up (17.5 vs. 12 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Cooper Clubman easier. The Cooper Clubman’s trunk lift-over height is 27.2 inches, while the Tiguan’s liftover is 29.4 inches.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that MINI service is better than Volkswagen. J.D. Power ranks MINI fourth in service department satisfaction. With a 40% lower rating, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

The Cooper Clubman offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 Tiguan can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

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 Tiguan doesn’t offer headlight washers.

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 Tiguan 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 Tiguan 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 is only available on the Tiguan SEL R-Line.

The Cooper Clubman has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Tiguan SE/SEL.

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

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 Tiguan only retains 48.29% to 50.45%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Cooper Clubman is less expensive to operate than the Tiguan because it costs $137 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Cooper Clubman than the Tiguan, including $220 less for a water pump, $249 less for a muffler, $138 less for a starter, $211 less for fuel injection and $72 less for front struts.

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