Minis were historically only available in the sporty three-door bodystyle. That all changed in 2014, with the addition of five-door hatch versions.
10 years, and two facelifts later, in a year where the whole Mini range was relaunched, along with the all-new Aceman EV, we also had an all-new five-door. We say all-new, but like the ICE-powered Cooper hatch, this is effectively a heavy refresh of the outgoing F55 version.
Design and interior
Outside, the only panel changes are at the front and the back. Changes at the front include the octagonal front grille, new bumper, and headlight design. The side profile is a lot cleaner, with the removal of the scuttles and repeaters at the front, and there are also chunkier, squarer mirrors.
The back is probably the biggest change over the old car, as it gets new, customisable triangular LED light clusters, plus a new boot design and rear bumper. Like the rest of the Cooper range, the new five-door could only be a Mini, but apart from the badging, and more aggressive John Cooper Works body kit on ‘Sport’ versions, there are no distinguishing features between the Cooper and faster Cooper S, which disappoints.
Like the rest of the range, the five-door gets the simplified and Classic Mini-influenced interior. The result is an all-new, woollen-trimmed dashboard, with a circular OLED display running Android-based Mini Operating System 9 in the centre. Elsewhere in the cabin, there are woollen-trimmed door cards, and new one-piece front seats.
Talking about the OLED display, all the functions of the Mini can be operated by touch or voice control. In use, we think there’s almost too much going on in a circular screen with a diameter of 240mm. However, it is quite logical to use, and impressively fast in its operation. A word of warning however, as if you want speed, and other key information in front of the driver, a head-up display is part of the Level 1 option pack (£2,000).
Below the screen, there’s the Classic Mini-influenced toggle bar, which is home to the key driving functions, such as the parking brake, gear selector, and the start/stop key – which you twist, in a novel touch harking back to the original.
In the front, the driving position is the same as the three-door, so think comfortable and spacious. In the back there’s more legroom, and a third seat, unlike the three-door, but if you’re carry rear passengers more often, the Mini Aceman, the five-door’s electric SUV sister, is the more practical option (just!). The Aceman is longer at 4,079mm, versus the Cooper five-door’s 4,036mm, wider at 1,754mm (1,744 Cooper five-door), and taller at 1,514mm (1,464mm Cooper five-door). Still, this Mini’s interior feels special, although the commonality with BMW items, such as the switchgear, is more obvious than ever before.
Performance and drive
The Cooper five-door range starts with the C, which is expected to have the most fleet interest, and is powered by a 156hp version of the 1.5-litre, three-cylinder, Twin Power turbo petrol engine. It is capable of a 0-62mph acceleration time of 8.0 seconds, has a top speed of 140 mph and a BIK tax liability of 33%. The Cooper S tested here is powered by the 2.0-litre Twin Power turbo petrol engine, produces 204hp, with 0-62 acceleration in 6.8 seconds, and has a tax liability of 34%. All Cooper five-door models are only available with seven-speed automatic transmission.
The Cooper S five-door, like the rest of the ICE-powered Cooper range, is great fun to drive. There is the expected light, but direct and precise feel to the steering. This works well with the tidy, sharp handling. Our test car was on optional 18in wheels and rode firmly – smaller wheels would be more comfortable.
Performance-wise, the S always feels fast but it is at its most dynamic in ‘Go Kart’, which is one of eight drive modes.
A Skoda Fabia, or as we’ve said Mini’s other mid-size five-door, the Aceman, offer more rear space. Still, the five-door as much fun to drive, and feels as special inside as the three-door Cooper hatch – but the ‘C’ version makes more sense to fleet in our opinion.
Positive: Simplified but attractive exterior styling, interior infotainment, stylish and quality interior, rear access, fun to drive.
Negative: Firm ride might not suit all, rear and boot space still tight, head up display not standard, not a cheap choice, lack of visual differentiation between Cooper and Cooper S models.
Standard equipment: LED head and taillights, 16in alloy wheels, Mini OLED display, DAB radio, Mini Driving Modes, two-zone automatic climate control, dynamic cruise control, parking assistant and rear camera, Apple Carplay and Android Auto integration.
Engines: Petrol: 156hp 1.5, 204hp 2.0
Equipment grades: C, S
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
| Model | Mini Cooper S Exclusive five-door |
| P11D | £30,870 |
| Residual value | 39.4% |
| Depreciation | £19,284 |
| Fuel | £7,180 |
| Service, maintenance and repair | £2,577 |
| Cost per mile | 48.40p |
| Fuel consumption | 31.4mpg |
| CO2 (BIK%) | 142g/km (34%) |
| BIK 20/40% a month | £175/£350 |
| Luggage capacity | 275 litres |
| Engine size/power | 1,998cc/204hp |
| Score | 7/10 |
