Used Audi A3 Sportback vs Mini Clubman
If you're in the market for a premium hatchback the Audi A3 and Mini Clubman are both excellent family cars, but which one makes the most sense as a used buy? Read on as we find out...
What are they like inside?
If you want a car with an interesting interior then you’ll love the Clubman’s retro-styled cabin. It’s crammed with neat details such as funky mood lights and unusually shaped dials and switches. The materials used are of a good quality throughout. Consequently it feels and looks like the premium product you’d expect. The A3’s cabin is even better, though, being more restrained in its execution, but built from higher quality materials.
Up front, there’s a decent amount of head and leg room in both cars. Even taller drivers should be able to find a comfortable position, thanks to supportive seats and a wide range of adjustment.
Surprisingly, in spite of its low-slung looks,the Clubman actually offers fractionally more room in the back than the A3. However, occupants won’t feel cramped in either car– even if they’re six-footers.
The Clubman’s media and navigation system works well, with ease of use aided by the big rotary controller mounted just behind the gearlever. As a result it’s quick and easy to access functions. The A3’s system is similarly slick. You can also completely conceal its display for security when desired, unlike in the Clubman, because it drops into the dash at the push of a button.
Visibility is better out of the A3, primarily because it doesn’t have a big split in the rear glass. The Clubman’s twin rear doors also have quite wide surrounds, which obscure a good chunk of your rearward view.
Despite the large interior space in the Clubman, the A3 still has the edge in places. With the rear seats up its boot is slightly larger, and it’s easier to load thanks to a lower boot lip. The Clubman’s split, side-hinged rear doors are trickier to open in tight spaces, too, although it is occasionally useful to be able to open one door quickly and throw in some bags.
Another difference between the Audi and Mini is that the A3 comes with a spacesaver spare wheel as standard, while the Clubman gets run-flat tyres and a tyre repair kit.
