I have a Clubman as a loaner all weekend, while my Hardtop is in the shop (just tires and some silly recalls. No biggie). My F56 is more loaded than this semi-loaded F54.

Interesting to contrast/compare:

Stick: shorter, and more comfortable/natural potition. Throws seem shorter, and feels crisper, even though I think they're actually mechanically identical (?).

Trim: mostly identical quality materials. Clubman's ante-upping mostly hype. Exceptions: more finished door trim, and framed windows are MUCH nicer. Cargo area also much nicer. The rest, is honestly the same.

Headunit: iDrive controller better positioned, but still not great. I don't understand why the couldn't just crib the 3-series design, and be done with it. Screen has improved resolution and brightness over my 2014's. Not limited to F54 though, I believe. HK on the Clubman sounds much crisper, and broader. I'm surprised at this. I expected them to be the same.

Engine: B38 engines in both. The Clubman is surprisingly peppy, despite the extra weight. Barely noticing it. I thought S was a must with the Clubman, but perhaps not?

Noise: not really noticing a difference/improvement.

Handling: slightly duller, but still fun. About 85% as darty, and slightly better bump absorption.

Size: it's certainly bigger, but not horribly so. I adjusted immediately. Cargo capacity is vastly superior, thus it's a more practical car. I'd surely pick the Clubman over the Hardtop in a do-over, on this basis alone. It's just kind of a no-brainer to me. The Clubman has a "normal" amount if space; the Hardtop, often too little. Ditto the rear seats. Do I like the split rear doors? Not really, but the obscuring bar is not that big a deal. The windows are much shorter in height though. A back-up camera and sensors are a must!

An interesting experience. I am even more puzzled now why anyone would choose the F55 over the F54, however.

The Clubman is an F56 with normal rear seats and cargo space. Nothing more, nothing less.
-- That's my take-home from this.

 

How is the arm rest? Do you like the fixed armrest and center console or does it get in the way?

 

If you have no need for the extra space, or don't like the split window or the horizontal taillights. Or in my case I really hate that the taillights don't work as brake lights. If they fix that wrinkle or someone offers a cure I'd be interested in looking again. It was a nice ride when I test drove one.

 

It's "okay", but as you say, it's fixed, so it's fixed, so it won't please everyone. The BACK and OPTION buttons are slightly blocked by the front of it.

 

I find the F55's doors to be too small (both front and rear).

 

^^^ What he said ^^^

 

Still driving the Clubman through Monday.

This car is one heck of an optical illusion, because as I look at it, all I can think is, "Damn this car is huge compared to my F56!!"

It's REALLY hard to believe it's the same length as a Golf.

 

Echo that. On normal entry - whacked my shoulder every time. I suppose after a while you'd figure out the trick to "worm" in.

 

In my case, it was that extra 15% of dartiness. I drove a Clubman S and an F55 S back to back. My experience was:

The clubman handled well for a car it's size. It's initial turn in is slow and it changes direction, well, not ponderously but not with the alacrity that feels MINI.

The F55 handled well. No qualifiers or caveats.

I wanted to like the Clubman more; it's a more handsome car, and I think has the size the F56 nose was really designed for. But the F55 was the car that spoke to me.

As always, your mileage may vary.

 

The combination of the clutch in my new f56 and my bad knee has me thinking I might be swapping for an auto when I move out of state in the next few months. I'm definitely going to request a clubman for a loaner in a few weeks to really live with it for a few hours or at least a day. I don't even need the extra doors or space but I'm loving the look of the new clubman.

 

The doors on the F54 are small to me as well. It takes a bit of figuring out how to get in and out if you are 6' and have broad shoulders lol. My concern will be on the extra wear and tear on the seats.

 

I've mostly stopped banging my head after a year and a half. Moved from a 2011 Countryman

 

Nailed my shoulder the other day getting into the passenger side with a pizza box lol. I feel your pain.

 

When I had an F55 as a loaner, upon my first ingress, I whacked my head so hard, I felt dizzy and disoriented. I just never imagined how different it would be, and paid for it! The Clubman, despite also having full-framed windows, was no problem.