The smallest modern MINI is still a very small car, but it has some siblings which are much better-suited for family use. Let’s look at the current range to see which MINI will be good for families.
Purists often complain that the modern MINI has grown too large to justify its name, and they do have a point. Unfortunately, today’s market demands are very different from those in 1959 (when the original launched), so a tiny and basic car like the classic Mini would have limited appeal as a new car in the 21st century.
Having grown up to accommodate modern demands for comfort and strict safety regulations doesn’t mean that the base MINI has become massive, mind you. It’s about as small as a 2+2 city hatchback could be, while still meeting a whole lot of requirements that never bothered the original icon.
But, even though it’s much bigger than its 63-year-old inspiration, a 3-door MINI is still less-than-ideal for family duties. Fortunately, there are different models available under the MINI brand now, and most of these will make a family considerably happier than their smallest sibling.
The current range
At the time of writing, MINI’s South African range consists of 2 main model lines, of which one is split into 4 derivatives. The range opens with the MINI Hatch, in either 3- or (slightly enlarged) 5-door form, followed by the wagon-like Clubman with 6 doors, and a Convertible body style spawned from the 3-door Hatch completing the smaller range of MINIs.
The Countryman is based on the larger “UKL2” platform (also used in lower-end BMWs), and is currently the biggest MINI of them all. It is almost 4.3 meters long and weighs upwards of 1.5 tons, but offers a rather more-spacious cabin in exchange for its size- and heft penalties. At least the silly and pointless 3-door Paceman (a “coupé” derivative of the first-generation Countryman) disappeared when the current-generation arrived in 2017…
Practicality and space
MINI Hatch
Small on the outside, small on the inside: The MINI Hatch is more of a style statement than it is a people-mover, especially in 3-door format. The rear seats are for occasional use only, and its luggage space is can handle little more than two gym bags and a laptop.
Things are more positive in the 5-door Hatch, which has a longer wheelbase to give easier access to somewhat less-confined rear seats and a luggage compartment that grows from 211 litres to 278 litres (with the folding rear seats in use). Either way, the MINI Hatches are pretty cramped and impractical, especially for family use.
MINI Convertible
But if you think the MINI Hatch is impractical, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Its Convertible sibling is as short as the 3-door, but loses even more usable space to its bulky folding roof. The electric mechanism and roof frame takes up space whether up or down, and the multi-layer roof has to join it behind the rear seats when folded down.
This affects the rear seating area, which becomes narrower and with even less legroom, as well as the boot space, which drops to a paltry 160 litres. So, in spite of offering unlimited headroom (with the roof out of the way), the MINI Convertible most definitely is not good for families.
MINI Clubman
Of all the “small” MINIs, the Clubman is the best bet for a family. It’s not really small anymore, though, stretching almost as long as the Countryman crossover but weighing about 200 kg less. The payoff comes in practicality, because the rear seats score more legroom, thanks to another wheelbase stretch, and the boot grows to 360 litres. It’s still not great, but cargo volume (with all seats in place) at least approaches an acceptable volume now.
The current (second-) generation Clubman drops its predecessor’s odd 2+1+2 door configuration (2 doors on the left, 1 on the right, and 2 at the rear) to offer the normal 4 passenger doors, but retains the original barn door design for the tailgate. Practicality is thus greatly improved, albeit at the cost of some distinctiveness.
MINI Countryman
The big boy MINI Countryman fits the bill best in a family scenario, with decent rear-seat space and a reasonably voluminous boot of 450 litres. It’s proportioned like a family car, too, with an elevated roofline and large, square-cut doors for easier access, and fairly upright seats for better space utilisation.
It’s fairly versatile too, because folding away the rear seats liberates up to 1 390 litres. Once again, the MINI not the most spacious in its size class, but it’s enough to be useful for most family transport needs.
Safety
Safety credentials differ through the range, with the newer Countryman being the safer of the two MINI platforms, achieving a 5-star Euro NCAP rating in 2017. The older (2014-vintage) Hatch achieved a 4-star ANCAP rating in 2014, losing that final star mainly on account of a lack of advanced driver aids.
Safety equipment is up to modern standards across all models, with 6 airbags, stability control and rear ISOFIX child seat anchors (except the Convertible), so most MINIs will be pretty good at keeping your family safe in the event of a collision.
Comfort and convenience
The MINI Hatch received a mild update in 2021, to tide it over until the next-generation model arrives in a year or two. There’s a new infotainment system, standard-fit LED headlights across the range, and an updated digital instrument cluster to go with a range of new colours and personalisation options.
These changes bring the smaller MINIs in line with the larger Countryman (which also benefits from a recent update) in terms of specifications, although some differences remain. Standard specifications are fairly comprehensive, but you’ll have to move up the range to get nice toys as standard, else the option sheet will need plenty of frantic box-ticking.
All MINIs except the entry-level “One” feature rear parking sensors, although a rear-view camera is optional on all variants except the range-topping JCW variants (and no surround-view system can be specified in the current range at all). The Countryman also benefits from a powered rear tailgate, to make wrangling children and luggage just that little bit easier.
Verdict
Family users are advised to rather avoid a MINI Hatch, and consider a Convertible only as a second vehicle. The Clubman comes closest to being a family car of the smaller MINIs, but if you have a family but want a MINI, a Countryman is your most-realistic option. Check out these new and used examples to find your match!
Keyword: Are MINIs good for families?