The MINI Clubman could become an SUV

The MINI Clubman could become an SUV and follow in the footsteps of the Bavarian brand in converting to a new segment with the BMW X2.

The MINI Clubman has faced heavy criticism for being too close in design to the more affordable five-door Cooper. Further differentiating the Clubman could be the answer for MINI, just as SUVs of all sizes are booming.

If it seems like everything is slowly turning into an SUV these days, that’s because everything is slowly turning into an SUV. MINI, the only automaker that still has a few non-SUV models in its lineup, could soon get a second SUV with the redesigned next-generation Clubman, according to some sources.

The MINI Clubman could become an SUV

MINI design chief Oliver Heilmer has recently indicated that the MINI Clubman, a six-door model positioned above the similarly sized five-door hatchback, could switch to an SUV body style. But Heilmer did not say whether the Countryman would also change to reflect the new positioning strategy, or whether the Clubman would be a larger model positioned above the Countryman.

The most important question (pardon the pun) could be how the two SUV models might be repositioned to attract different buyers: the Countryman could focus on off-road features and adventure, while the Clubman could focus on more refined and luxurious comfort while still maintaining road manners and cargo capacity. There is certainly room in the range to differentiate the two models and give them different roles.

The move appears to be part of a broader effort to reorient the model range to better attract consumers, so not all models will become larger or more similar to SUVs.

For example, the basic three-door compact could actually be reduced in exterior size. “For the future architecture, we are having weekly discussions to improve interior space and reduce the car’s footprint,” Heilmer told the sources. “But it’s not resolved yet. Maybe next year.”

What is driving these changes? In the case of the Clubman, we can probably blame hatchback sales these days. MINI has had a fairly solid grip on compact sales when it comes to the upper end of the price range. However, the problem is that much of the brand’s lineup has relied on the premium hatchback market in each region. While 10 or 15 years ago the premium compact market was a major force in Europe, this is no longer necessarily true, and it certainly isn’t true in the United States, where it clings to regular buyers. That is an increasingly shrinking audience, one that is being directed toward compact and subcompact crossovers, some built by MINI’s parent company, BMW in the case of the new X2.

Another problem the Clubman has faced since becoming a six-door model is that its design is too close to the less expensive five-door Cooper hatchback Mini, introduced in 2015. We suspect the manufacturer would eventually be forced to differentiate the two models in a more meaningful way than barn doors for the Clubman, and the answer could be turning the Clubman into an SUV, as Heilmer hinted.

When it comes to the MINI Cooper, it will be interesting to see whether this model shrinks in size when the next generation is unveiled, but that is an indication that premium hatchback owners don’t necessarily want bigger hatchbacks. The MINI Cooper had grown noticeably with the last redesign, introduced in 2014, and although it was praised in reviews, the growth in exterior size has cooled some potential buyers of the brand belonging to the BMW group.