“The MINI hatchback is also available with five doors, making it much more practical for families, while still being fun to drive”
Pros
- Practicality hasn’t removed fun factor
- Efficient and powerful engines
- Stylish retro design
Cons
- Quite pricey to buy
- Extensive but expensive options list
- Other cars in the class are more practical
For more than a decade after its launch in 2000, the MINI hatchback was only available in the same three-door format. Today, though, the range has expanded to offer a MINI Countryman SUV and MINI Clubman estate, while the MINI hatchback itself is now available with five doors.
So, as well as appealing to fashion-conscious couples and individuals, the MINI is now far more suited to the rigours of family life. The five-door version accounts for around 40% of MINI hatchbacks sold, despite costing slightly more than the three-door. With three rather more spacious rear seats as a consequence of being a little longer than the three-door, it makes a stylish if pricey alternative to the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, Peugeot 208 and SEAT Ibiza, as well as rivalling the Audi A1 Sportback directly. Ultimately, it’s still a car you’d buy for style over practicality.
MINIs have never blended in with the crowd and although the five-door has slightly awkward proportions compared with the three-door, most of the styling cues and personalisation options are shared. The car received an update for 2021, with a larger grille and LED headlamps that now also incorporate the fog lights, allowing air inlets in their place. Much of the chrome exterior trim has also been swapped in favour of black, for a sportier look.
Despite being physically longer than the MINI hatchback, the five-door is still fun to drive – thanks to sporty suspension and three-cylinder petrol engines that feel enthusiastic when pushed. The engine line-up ascends through One, Cooper and Cooper S, with the One being the most economical, managing up to 51.4mpg and emitting 124-130g/km of CO2. At the opposite extreme, the MINI Cooper S can hit 62mph from a standing start in just 6.7 seconds, yet can still return a reasonable 47.9mpg in its most efficient form.
A dual-clutch (DCT) automatic gearbox was introduced at the start of 2018, replacing the old six-speed automatic. The newer gearbox is much smoother, both when pottering around town and under hard acceleration or shifting quickly in bursts between corners. It offers slight fuel-efficiency improvements, too.
Compared to the tightly packaged three-door model, the five-door offers rear-seat passengers much more leg and headroom, but despite growing by 67 litres, its boot is still smaller than a Ford Fiesta’s. There’s also quite a prominent loading lip and the 60:40 split-folding rear seats don’t sit flush when flipped forwards, which leaves a step to lift heavy items over.
MINI has become famous for the numerous options and personalisation accessories it offers customers and the five-door is no different. However, the introduction of three trim levels has made it easier to choose your ideal MINI. The line-up starts with Classic, which boasts an 8.8-inch colour infotainment screen, Bluetooth connectivity, DAB radio and audio streaming, as well as air-conditioning. It also offers standard features that were included in the previously optional Pepper and Chili packs, including automatic headlamps and rain-sensing wipers, as well as nifty projectors that cast a MINI logo on the ground when a door is opened.
You can choose to upgrade to the Sport or Exclusive, the former having a racy look and the latter a more luxurious theme. As ever, there's a long list of option packs and individual upgrades to choose from, which explains why you rarely find two MINIs that are exactly the same. It’s worth noting that current supply issues mean that not all specifications may be available; as of May 2022 you can’t currently order the Sport trim or a manual gearbox.
The MINI hatchback came 59th in our most recent Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, which covers both three- and five-door body styles. In our brand survey, only 11% of MINI owners reported a fault in the first year of ownership. The MINI three-door achieved four stars in Euro NCAP crash-testing, which is slightly disappointing when several rivals managed five stars.
Ultra-efficient engines, strong used prices and MINI’s good-value pre-paid service pack all mean that MINI five-door running costs should be low, although participants in our Driver Power survey suggest that this isn't always the case.
Making the case for the five-door stronger still is that MINI charges just £700 compared to the three-door for the two extra doors, a price that nets you additional rear-seat space and a bigger boot. The five-door shouldn’t be too expensive to insure, either, since it falls into insurance groups 13 (for the MINI One) to 26 (for the MINI Cooper S Exclusive auto).
MINI 5-door MPG & CO2
The MINI five-door is an economical and efficient car that’s perfect for private users but can be slightly pricey for company-car drivers. The MINI One is claimed to manage between 49.6-51.4mpg (according to stricter WLTP testing) and emits 124-130g/km of CO2, earning it an upper tier BiK rating.
Step up to the more powerful Cooper and fuel economy is down to 47.1-51.4mpg and emissions of 126-136g/km. The Cooper S is the fastest MINI with five-doors, making it slightly less efficient with fuel economy of up to 42.8-47.9mpg and CO2 emissions of 134-151g/km depending on specification. Automatic MINIs will probably be scarcer than manuals on the secondhand market, so they may just be worth a bit more when the time comes to sell or trade-in.
Insurance group
Depending on the model, the MINI five-door falls into insurance groups 13 to 26. The carmaker sells its own MINI insurance cover, but as always with motor insurance, it’s always worth shopping around to get the best possible deal.
Warranty
The standard MINI warranty covers the car for unlimited miles up to three years, which is better than those capped at 60,000 miles, but not as generous as Hyundai’s five-year or Kia’s seven-year policies. However, it’s probably sufficient for buyers on a typical three-year finance deal. If you decide to keep your MINI five-door for longer than that, you can buy an extended warranty before the official cover ends.
Servicing
It’s worthwhile choosing a servicing package, which covers servicing for three years or 36,000 miles for £300 and can be transferred to the car's next owner.
A MINI wouldn’t be a MINI if it didn’t have buckets of character and wasn’t good fun to drive: fortunately, the MINI 5-door has both of these qualities in abundance. It’s slightly heavier than the three-door model, but it still handles like a go-kart, with lots of grip and light, accurate steering that ensures the nose goes exactly where you point it. The ride is on the firm side but settles down comfortably at motorway speeds, and there’s very little lean in corners. With adaptive suspension fitted, the MINI offers more composure and comfort than sporty rivals like the SEAT Ibiza FR.
It's a shame the Cooper S can't quite match up to a Ford Fiesta ST because it doesn't quite have the Ford's level of involvement. This is mainly because of the steering, which is fast to respond but doesn't offer much feedback.
MINI introduced a dual-clutch DCT seven-speed automatic gearbox to replace the older six-speed automatic, and the new gearbox is more in keeping with the MINI's sporty nature, providing smooth yet rapid gear changes – but we wish there were shift paddles behind the steering wheel.
MINI 5-door petrol engines
The MINI One is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces 101bhp. 0-62mph takes 10.6 seconds, and this engine feels perfectly able to deal with the cut and thrust of urban traffic, while still returning decent fuel economy.
A 134bhp version of the same 1.5-litre engine is found in the MINI Cooper, and the extra power has a marked effect on acceleration. It emits an eager rasp on its way from 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds. That should be fast enough for most people and its revvy character makes it the better choice for enthusiasts. In fact, we think it's the sweet spot in the MINI 5-door range.
But if the Cooper isn’t fast enough, there’s always the MINI Cooper S, with a 176bhp 2.0-litre engine that catapults the five-door from 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds – just a tenth of a second slower than the equivalent three-door. It feels quick thanks to plentiful pulling power but the engine doesn't sound very inspiring, which is a shame considering the original Cooper S was famed for its burbling exhaust and characterful supercharger whine.
The MINI 5-door is the only petrol MINI model not to feature a range-topping John Cooper Works edition, so you’ll need to upgrade to the MINI Clubman JCW or Countryman JCW if you want the best possible performance and need rear doors. The Sport trim still features all the JCW badges, like in the picture above, but without the extra power.
While the regular three-door MINI hatchback is now available with a pure-electric powertrain, there’s no indication that the manufacturer will be building a five-door model. This is a shame, as the electric powertrain really suits the MINI hatchback, with it being as sporty and surefooted to drive as the petrol-powered version. We’ve reviewed the MINI Electric separately here.
The MINI 5-door has the same cheeky charm and premium feel as the three-door car. The interior in the latest-generation MINI has been toned down from previous versions but it’s still very different to the rest of the supermini class. The brand is often criticised for its long and expensive option lists, but the MINI five-door actually comes pretty well equipped as standard – the highlights being air-conditioning and DAB digital radio.
MINI 5-door dashboard
The 8.8-inch screen at the centre of the dashboard is probably the first thing you’ll notice when you climb into a MINI five-door, and it's a decent upgrade to the older 6.5-inch item. The MINI’s dashboard is like no other. It’s curvy, cute and compact, with controls all grouped logically and the sort of build quality you’d expect from a brand owned by BMW.
For the facelift in 2021, the ambient lighting was updated, so instead of the surfaces being backlit there's now a gentle glow around the interior. The ring around the infotainment screen glows a different colour depending on the selected driving mode, while also responding as you interact with the menus. A new steering wheel was fitted, with piano black buttons that look better but are also quite easy to press accidentally while driving.
Equipment
MINI is so keen to advertise option packs that you can forget the MINI five-door is generously equipped in the first place. In addition to the standard kit already highlighted, the MINI comes with electric windows all round – very useful when you have children on board. Other standard items that rivals tend to offer only on high-spec models include automatic headlights, ambient interior lighting, LED exterior lighting and a remote smartphone connection.
For 2022, a MINI 5-door Resolute Edition joined the range. This special edition is instantly recognisable with dark green paint and bronze detailing, with more bronze touches and exclusive upholstery on the inside. Available in Cooper and Cooper S guises, the Resolute gets the sporty JCW body kit as standard.
Options
Log on to the MINI website and you’ll be bombarded with invitations to design your MINI exactly the way you want it. The process was made far simpler in 2018 with the introduction of three trim levels: Classic, Sport and Exclusive. Classic is the default option – effectively the entry-level model. It's far from spartan, though, and includes features that were previously part of the optional Pepper and Chili packs, which have now been discontinued.
You even get little touches like projectors that illuminate the ground with the MINI emblem when you open a door, so Classic trim will suffice for many. For a sportier or more luxurious character, though, you can upgrade to the Sport or Exclusive, both of which are similarly priced. Sport brings an arresting bodykit, 17-inch alloy wheels and a racy interior with sports seats and a dark headlining, while Exclusive brings its own design of alloy wheels, subtle chrome exterior trim and a leather-lined interior.
As ever, there are additional packs that give you extra scope to personalise your MINI. Along with adding bonnet stripes, owners can change the colours of the door mirrors and roof, while also upgrading the alloy wheels. A Comfort Pack adds climate control, heated seats and storage compartments, while a Navigation Plus Pack includes a head-up display, Apple CarPlay, real-time traffic information and wireless smartphone charging.
Technology
Having BMW as a parent company brings with it certain advantages, and the MINI five-door’s infotainment system is one of these. The 8.8-inch screen is easy to navigate, and sat nav and Apple CarPlay can be added as an option.
This latter system is essentially a reworked version of BMW’s excellent iDrive infotainment setup, so inputting sat nav destinations couldn’t be easier, while the spoken directions feel more ‘human’ and less robotic than almost any other system on the market.
Route guidance is clearly displayed, while if you go for the optional HUD (head-up display) option you don’t even need to look away from the road to follow directions. The self-parking system is more of a mixed bag. It works well, but setting it up is a bit of a hassle that involves several steps.
The MINI 5-door is 72mm longer between the front and rear wheels than the three-door. That’s a useful increase and much of it goes towards boosting rear legroom. Climb into the back seat and you’ll really notice the difference between the five-door and its smaller sibling. It can now carry two adults in relative comfort but that would be no use if the boot hadn’t also increased in size. Fortunately, thanks to extra bodywork behind the rear wheels, it has. MINI quotes no towing figures for the five-door – instead, the options list offers a range of lifestyle accessories for the active MINI owner.
MINI 5-door interior space & storage
As its name suggests, a MINI five-door is a compact car, so don’t expect Ford Focus-like interior space. Still, it’s usefully larger than the three-door, without losing much of that car’s essential cuteness and charm. The front of the cabin is as cosy as ever, but the rear seats can now accommodate two adults in relative comfort, once they’ve squeezed through the narrow door openings. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the amount of space on offer – even behind a six-foot driver.
Headroom is good, too, even with the optional panoramic sunroof in place. Don’t expect to carry a middle passenger in the back for long, though, since the car’s narrow width makes things quite cramped here.
Boot space
In addition to the extended wheelbase, there’s an extra 89mm of bodywork at the back of the five-door. This has been put to good use growing luggage capacity 67 litres to 278 litres in total – enough for a folding buggy and most of the week’s shopping. While the rear seats don't fold completely flat, leaning them forwards does increase luggage space to 941 litres.
Towing
MINI doesn’t quote towing figures for the five-door and in truth it’s too small to make a safe and practical tow car. Instead, MINI aims to capitalise on its appeal to young, active buyers by offering a huge range of accessories for surfers, cyclists, campers and skiers.
The MINI hatchback (including the three-door) was ranked 59th out of the top 75 cars in our 2021 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey. That’s above rivals like the Audi A1 and Ford Fiesta. MINI as a brand placed 19th from 29 manufacturers, winning praise for reliability but marked down for disappointing technology.
MINI 5-door reliability
MINI owners told us that their cars were mostly reliable, with only 11% reporting a breakdown or fault in the first year. However, while this above-average reliability ranking is excellent, and one of the lowest recorded in our survey, the brand's relatively lowly placing suggests that owners are less than impressed with other aspects of MINI ownership.
Among its most positive attributes are its engine and gearbox, exterior looks and build quality, while the MINI's handling is highly praised by its owners. However, owners also told us that running costs are higher than expected, and limited practicality was also widely acknowledged – although the latter won't be such an issue for five-door models. Respondents were also unimpressed with the infotainment systems, saying that they’re not as impressive as those used in BMW models.
Safety
While the MINI five-door hasn’t been crash-tested by Euro NCAP, the three-door MINI on which it’s based scored a respectable – rather than exceptional – four stars out of five. Its 79% adult occupant and 73% child occupant ratings were good, but it was let down by the amount of safety assistance technology on offer and only scored 66% for the protection it offered to pedestrians in the event of a crash.
The car certainly has a full range of airbags (six, to be precise), as well as three ISOFIX child-seat mounting points, plus traction control and anti-lock brakes. The optional adaptive cruise control features a collision-mitigation function, too. This attempts to prevent front-end crashes by automatically applying the brakes if it detects an imminent impact. Meanwhile, the model’s new longer and higher nose protects pedestrians more effectively than before.
MINI eCall systems monitor the car's behaviour and can alert the emergency services if the car crashes, while MINI Teleservices keeps an eye on the car's condition and can remotely arrange an inspection or appointment at your local MINI dealer if needed.
Keyword: MINI 5-door hatchback review