Mini Five-door: Give Me Five

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 05:39

Mini has equipped its basic model with five doors for the first time. The practical use in everyday life robs the speedster a little of its lifestyle charm until the machine is started.

By Thomas Flehmer

It cannot be avoided that everyone becomes a little more sedate with age and makes use of everyday life. With one it is faster, with the other it takes a little longer. Strictly speaking, it took Mini 55 years. During this time - unlike humans - the originally just over three meters short Mini has grown continuously over the past 13 years under the rigidity of BMW and is now at its greatest length with the five-door, which, depending on the variant, is just below or just above is four meters and is therefore at least 16 centimeters longer than the three-door.

Easier entry and exit in the mini five-door

No question about it, the two rear doors, for which the Mini charges an extra 900 euros, make getting in and out of the car a lot easier, not just for the little family members. The increase in the wheelbase by 7.2 centimeters to 2.66 meters means that adults can also sit comfortably in the back. In addition, the trunk with a load volume of 278 liters - and thus 67 liters more than the three-door model - now also deserves the name trunk.

The two other doors also mean that serious changes have been made to the rear. An additional window has now been installed behind the C-pillar. The five-door model is now reminiscent of the Clubman or other five-door models in the VW Polo segment and has lost a bit of its sporty and individual charm.

Mini five-door traditionally on the road

But the five-door makes up for this shortcoming as long as the engines are started, especially if the three diesels and three petrol are each the top models. Because the Mini Cooper S then draws on 141 kW / 192 PS, the Mini Cooper SD on 125 kW / 170 PS - more than enough to succumb to the charm again.

Because despite its elongated length, the five-door model also has that typical mini-driving experience that those responsible like to describe as a go-kart feeling. The two-liter four-cylinder drive the petrol engine over 100 km / h in 6.9 seconds, the diesel follows half a second later. But that is not the most important thing about the Mini: because the curve chases are just as fun as with the three-door - a difference is not noticeable.

Mini five-door up to the B-pillar congruent with three-door

It is of course not feasible that the vehicles are satisfied with the specified 4.3 liters for diesel and 6.0 liters for gasoline. Even at an advanced age, the joy of driving still wins over the mind.

Nothing at all changes in the interior for the driver and front passenger, because the five-door model is identical to the three-door model up to the B-pillar and, like the smaller version, can be equipped with all available driver assistants and infotainment and connectivity systems.

Mini five-door from 18,350 euros

At Mini, despite the new offer, they continue to assume that the three-door will be sold more than the five-door, which will be available from October 25th. Because despite the offer that is now suitable for everyday use with an additional entry for at least 18,350 euros, the BMW subsidiary is betting that the lifestyle concept of the customers will prevail.

Anyone who accesses the top variants would have to invest at least 24,700 euros for the Cooper S or 26,250 euros for the Cooper SD. Those prices are then more likely to be paid by the more established, who are then also happy to have two more doors for a more convenient entry.