MINI 5-Door Hatch Review & Prices

The Mini 5-door Hatch is the posh small car for people who not only want to look good, but have plenty of fun while doing it.

You see, while the Mini might have always placed more of an emphasis on outright style appeal than alternatives such as the Volkswagen Polo or Audi A1 (particularly in three-door Hatch guise); it’s always had an exceptionally keen sporting streak too.

So you could think of the Mini 5-door Hatch as being similar to a pair of Balenciaga trainers: they’re obviously sporty in the same way a good set of Nikes are, but they’re so much more high fashion, darling.

Just like those Balenciagas, however, you’ll be expected to pay a bit of a premium for the Mini – particularly next to other fun-to-drive small cars such as the Ford Fiesta. The styling, while immediately recognisable, might not be quite to everyone’s tastes either.

From a looks perspective, the Mini is obviously playing up to its Cool Britannia heritage. The bug-eyed headlights at the front are reminiscent of the original Mini of the 1960s, and there are Union Jacks in the rear lights. The Mini certainly isn’t shy about showing off its British-built credentials as a posh, retro-looking small car.

A facelift has seen a few very subtle styling tweaks introduced to help keep the Mini looking as fresh as possible, too. Up front, the position lights in the lower bumper have been replaced by upright air intakes, while the grille itself is also bigger than before.

Meanwhile, the optional Piano Black Exterior pack (which is standard on Sport models) has been extended, so that in addition to the headlight surrounds, wing mirrors and door handles, things like the fuel filler cap, the exhaust tips and Mini badging are now also finished in black. Turns out that black is, well, the new black. There are a handful of new wheel designs and paint options too, and even a new three-colour ‘Multitone Roof’.

The Mini isn’t just a looker on the outside, its interior is packed with charm, too. Take the 8.8-inch infotainment system, for example. Not only is it standard across the range and a doddle to use, but it sits within a massive mood-lit porthole on the dashboard – a bit like a Sixties jukebox.

Add to this the funky analogue rev-counter (you can now get a digital one as an option) that sticks out from the steering column like a cartoon character’s oversized ears, and you get a much more interesting cabin than in an Audi A1 Sportback. It’s a shame, though, that you don’t get even the option of Android Auto.

You shouldn’t have any trouble getting comfy regardless of how tall or short you are. But wherever you like to position your seat, there’s no getting around the Mini’s rather narrow windscreen. Sure, this letterbox view makes it feel sportier to sit in than a VW Polo, but the result is that the Mini’s cabin can feel a little claustrophobic – especially if you pick a car with lots of black interior trim.

Things are more cramped still in the back than in either a VW Polo or an Audi A1. Tall passengers especially will struggle a bit for headroom and the Mini’s cabin isn’t wide enough to comfortably carry three in the back at once.

The Mini 5-door’s boot is bigger than you get in the three-door car, but at 278 litres it’s still way down on the boot in a Peugeot 208, which looks just as cool.

Thankfully the extra practicality doesn’t make the Mini 5-Door any less fun to drive than the 3-door version – it feels nimble, and the sporty suspension gives you extra confidence when you’re on a twisty road. A Volkswagen Polo is more comfortable though.

The Mini 5-Door comes with a choice of three petrol engines – the best all-rounder is the 136hp 1.5-litre Mini Cooper, which has a good blend of economy and performance. There are no diesel though, so if that’s important to you, a Peugeot 208 might be a better option.

Whichever you pick, you can rest assured knowing you’re covered by Mini’s latest safety systems – meaning that the 5-Door is a good family car, so long as your family takes a minimalist approach to how much stuff they need to take with them.

So with the Mini 5-door you get an appealing blend of retro styling and bang up to date tech, but where practicality is sacrificed a bit for stand-out design. If that sounds as cool as an Oasis reunion, then take a look at the latest new Mini deals, or find a used Mini here.

There’s no getting around it, the Mini 5dr Hatch is pricier than any of its direct alternatives. These include the Peugeot 208 and Ford Fiesta at the lower trims, with top-spec models going up against the sporty Audi A1, Volkswagen Polo GTI and Hyundai i20 N.

It’s not all style over substance though, as the Mini offers plenty of great kit as standard, is tons of fun to drive and has the quality to match its pricing. All five-door Minis now come standard with the Premium Package which adds a number of useful features like Apple CarPlay, keyless entry and heated front seats.

We’d opt for the more powerful 178hp Cooper S in base Classic trim for the best Mini experience.

The Mini hatchback is all about the driving experience. It handles superbly, with sharp responses and a very taut chassis. Predictably, this makes the ride quite firm on even slightly uneven surfaces 

In town

The Mini excels about town, the combination of its small size and responsive controls will have you weaving through traffic as if you were recreating the Italian Job in no time. 

Visibility is slightly hampered by the narrow windscreen and tiny rear window, although rear parking sensors are standard, and the car is so small that you shouldn’t have any trouble where its extremities are during parking manoeuvres. Add the Premium Plus Pack and you also get a rearview camera and park assist.

The only real fly in the Mini ointment is a ride that is rather firm; it bounces around on rough surfaces and the suspension doesn’t take too kindly to potholes and bumps either. If that’s a deal-breaker then the VW Polo may be a better option. Higher trims can also be had with an adaptive suspension setup, this helps smooth out the ride quality a bit.

On the motorway

The Mini is more than capable of keeping up with fast flowing traffic, although cruise control is an optional extra here. There is quite a lot of road noise, compounded by wind noise from around the side mirrors, this can get a bit tiring on longer trips. Passengers crammed in the rear will be wanting out long before the din becomes too much, though.

On a twisty road

If you have regular access to a challenging piece of road, preferably with a lot of tight corners, then there are few better small cars to enjoy it in than a Mini. Grip levels are very high with almost no body lean, and the quick steering is geared perfectly for tight bends. 

The Cooper S delivers strong acceleration out of slow bends, but even the base model will put a big smile on your face. All models now come with three driving modes as standard, namely Green, Midi and Sport. These alter various vehicle parameters like the steering and accelerator feel depending on your mood.

The Mini 5door Hatch is spacious up front but less so in the rear. The extra set of doors helps a bit, but this is far from the ideal family car

Despite the Mini’s compact dimensions, the front seats offer a lot of adjustability, with plenty of headroom for even taller adults. It feels quite snug once you have found your ideal seating position, exaggerated by the thick door pillars and narrow windscreen. The door bins, glovebox and centrally mounted cupholders you would expect to see are present here too, they’re just a bit smaller than usual. 

There’s a small storage tray under the central armrest, and you can place your phone in a slot in the dashboard which comes with wireless charging if you opt for the optional Premium Plus Pack.

Space in the back seats

The 5dr Mini is 13cm longer than the 3dr version, and this translates into slightly more back seat space, but this hardly turns it into a limo. The rear doors do aid ingress and egress compared to the 3dr Mini, although the VW Polo and Peugeot 208 both have wider openings, which comes in handy if you are trying to fit a baby chair into one of the two ISOFIX mountings. 

The two outer seats are best suited for children, as the leg and headroom is a bit too tight for adults. The backrests do offer some adjustability, though. The centre seat is really too narrow to be of any practical use, and the solitary cupholder offered in the rear is situated on the transmission hump which is right where your feet would go. Two door bins are also provided, and they can just about fit a small water bottle.  

Boot space

The 278 litres of luggage space on offer is in the league of superminis like the VW Up and Hyundai i10. That’s not much but it’s still better than the 3dr Mini’s 211-litre effort. You can squeeze in a few squishy bags or some golf clubs, but boot space is not the Mini’s strong suit. The once optional storage pack is standard, though, and this includes a 12-volt socket and four lashing eyes as well as an adjustable boot floor with three settings.

The Peugeot 208 offers a slightly more spacious 311 litres, while the VW Polo has a far more generous 351 litres. Fold the Mini’s rear seats down and the luggage space expands to 941 litres, if you’re travelling two up, that’s more than enough for a road trip. If you need more space, then a set of optional roof rails are available for £150.

The Mini looks and feels like a premium product. The infotainment system is one of the best around, although Android Auto is still missing in action

The Mini Hatch has a stylish interior design that is refreshingly different to any alternative out there. A large circular infotainment system is neatly integrated into the dash, and the circular theme continues throughout the cabin with round air vents and dials (digital on higher trims) placed ahead of the driver. 

The material quality is a cut above most other small cars. The standard heated front seats have a cloth covering, but a variety of cloth/leatherette and leather options are also available. The cool aircraft-style toggle switches on the dash and various buttons around the cabin feel like quality items too. The Classic, Exclusive and Resolute trim levels allow you to further personalise your Mini, the amount of customisation on offer is rather impressive. 

The base Classic trim comes with a neat analogue rev-counter, while higher spec models get an oval-shaped digital driver display. Both work well, with the digital version offering a bit of additional customisability. 

The standard infotainment system is an 8.8-inch touchscreen unit, and has a handy controller between the front seats, but it is situated low and can be obscured by the centre armrest. The system now includes wireless Apple CarPlay as standard, as well as DAB digital radio and Mini Teleservices. Android Auto is still not an option here, although in this case the infotainment system is good enough that you won’t miss it too much. 

The interface offers a similarly intuitive layout to BMW’s iDrive system and is quick to respond to instructions. Neat LED lighting effects are integrated into the infotainment screen’s circular frame, changing colour based on driving mode and function chosen. This is complemented by standard ambient lighting on the doors, in footwells and along the centre console.

The 5dr Mini Hatch is offered with two petrol engines, while an automatic transmission is now standard, and the power is sent to the front wheels. The entry-level option is a 1.5-litre turbocharged unit that produces 136hp and gets from 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds. Fuel economy is an official 50.4mpg with 126g/km of CO2 in mixed driving. This makes it quicker but slightly thirstier than the Peugeot 208 with its 129hp 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine, and faster than any VW Polo aside from the GTI version.

The Cooper S is fitted with a 178hp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, it is slightly less efficient at an official 47.9mpg and 134g/km of CO2, but is quite a bit quicker. The 0-62mph sprint takes just 6.7 seconds, which transforms it into a superb premium hot hatch. 

The VW Polo GTI is admittedly a bit quicker still, with a 6.5-second 0-62mph time, but its 41.5mpg official consumption figure is way poorer. The Ford Fiesta ST (only available in three-door trim) offers similar figures to the Polo GTI, giving the Cooper S the edge when it comes to fuel economy.

If you have the need for speed, then the Mini John Cooper Works 5dr (reviewed separately) is the answer. It cranks up the power to 231hp which drops the 0-62mph figure to 6.1 seconds, and while the 41.5mpg fuel economy is a bit poorer, it is still on par with the slower VW Polo GTI and Ford Fiesta ST.

At the other end of the scale, the Mini Electric (also reviewed separately) is a relatively recent addition to the Mini range, and while it offers all the benefits of all-electric motoring (no road tax, zero BIK rating and no ULEZ charges), it is currently only available in the 3dr bodyshell.

The current generation Mini Cooper was tested by Euro NCAP back in 2014, however, the four-star rating it received has since expired. The Mini Countryman received a five-star rating in 2017, and while it is a small SUV rather than a hatch, it shows that the basic underpinning is a safe one. Although, it is worth bearing in mind that newer alternatives like the VW Polo have scored a full five-stars on the more stringent new testing regime.

All Mini 5dr models come standard with keyless entry and rear parking sensors, although you’ll need to pay extra for cruise control and park assist which includes front sensors and a rearview camera. Mini Teleservices (an automated service and maintenance communication system) and Mini Emergency Call are standard across the range.

The Mini hatchback has proven reasonably reliable over the years, finishing in the middle of the pack in most customer surveys. 

A three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty comes standard, this slightly better than the 60,000-mile limit the VW Polo has, although its way behind Hyundai and Kia, which offer five and seven year warranties respectively. Service packages are available until the car is four years old. 

There have been a handful of recalls over the years, ranging from crank shaft sensor issues to potential airbag issues. All should have been resolved by the dealer network if you are looking to buy a used model.