MINI Cooper S 5-door, presentation and test drive in Madrid

The third generation of the MINI since the brand was acquired by BMW is proving to be a real success. Months after the presentation of the hatchback version, the time has come for the launch of the 5-door alternative.

Following its world premiere last week at the Paris Motor Show, at Highmotor we have already had the opportunity to get on board and test it first-hand. If you join us, we’ll tell you about it.

Exterior design

The exterior design of the 5-door MINI does not differ excessively from the traditional variant. It is a “novel” bodystyle within the brand, since it is the first time a MINI has been presented with a “traditional” 5-door bodystyle that is not an SUV. Looking back, the previous generation gave us the MINI Clubman, which increased the MINI’s practicality somewhat by adding a third door opening suicide-style on the passenger side, while the tailgate was split in two and the overall length was somewhat greater than the 3-door’s.

On this occasion, MINI has decided to offer a more traditional bodystyle with a style and design more in line with the MINI hatchback. In this way, the 5-door and 3-door MINI are exactly the same car up to the A-pillar. The wheelbase has increased by 72 mm compared with the 3-door MINI, while the rear overhang has grown by a further 89 millimetres. In addition, the overall height of the 5-door is 15 mm greater.

These changes translate into a more imposing presence, although when looking at the car from the front, it will be hard, if not nearly impossible, to notice that we are looking at the 5-door variant. Although it now has two more doors, the window line has remained practically unchanged, so that, depending on the perspective, the image is similar to that of a traditional MINI.

Interior design and boot

Inside, the front seats and dashboard remain exactly the same as in the 3-door MINI, though with a little more space and headroom. Of course, we still enjoy one of the most personal and original dashboards on the market, with a quality that has improved noticeably over its predecessor. Rear visibility from the driver’s seat is good, although depending on the posture adopted, part of the right-hand exterior mirror may be cut off by the bodywork, worsening visibility.

At the rear, which is what really changes, we find two doors of fairly compact size which, while they ease access to the second row, don’t do so as well as they should. Once seated inside, there is more than enough room for both legs and head. The 5-door MINI is homologated for 5 passengers, although only 4 will travel comfortably, as the centre seat is too small and narrow, something that is true of most vehicles today.

The boot has grown considerably, now offering a total capacity of 278 litres, 67 litres more than the 3-door version. This considerably increases the practicality of the MINI, as the boot has always been one of the model’s biggest drawbacks. It also features a practical false floor, as well as the option to fold down the rear seats.

Driving dynamics

“The 5-door MINI is still just as dynamic as the Hatchback.” With that emphatic statement, the brand’s executives asserted that the driving experience of this new member of the British family still stirs passion and puts smiles on faces. We wanted to check this for ourselves, and the truth is the result did not disappoint us. Our test unit was a 192 hp Cooper S 2.0 Turbo with a 6-speed manual gearbox and optional 18-inch “Cone Spoke” alloy wheels. The MINI’s road manners remain sensational, maintaining that “Go Kart Feeling” that MINI is so proud of. Part of the “blame” lies with the weight increase, which has been kept to a minimum. On average, the 5-door MINI range weighs 55 kg more.

The car holds its line in any circumstance, while allowing some play on both axes, always with a large safety margin. The electrically assisted steering has a sharp, direct feel, as does the gearbox, which shows a commendable feel and precision when engaging gears. Thanks to relatively close-set pedals, heel-and-toe downshifts are possible almost naturally, without thinking about it. Fun is undoubtedly guaranteed.

However, we must admit that comfort suffers considerably in adverse conditions, such as potholed roads or cobbled surfaces. In the rear seats the discomfort is even more evident due to the rebound of the rear axle, although we are confident that with a less aggressive wheel and suspension setup, comfort will be noticeably better.

Equipment, prices and versions

The 5-door MINI has already gone on sale in our country, and dealers are already taking orders. The engine options are the same as those of the 3-door variant, except for the One models, which will not be available with 5 doors. Thus, there will be two petrol options: Cooper (136 hp, from €21,450) and Cooper S (192 hp, from €26,850). In diesel, there will be two others: Cooper D (116 hp, from €23,000) and Cooper SD (170 hp, from €27,650). These prices represent an increase of €900 over the 3-door variant.

The equipment remains just as advanced as in the Hatchback version, and as standard it already includes features such as dual-zone climate control, ambient interior lighting and the Start&Stop system. However, the specification list can be extended to almost unimaginable limits, thanks to very appealing equipment such as Full LED headlights, an 8.8-inch multimedia system or the Head-Up Display, among many other items.

Source | MINI
Photography | Daniel Valdivielso

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackMINI Mini33 versions · from 28,050 €