Mini 5-Door Review

If you are a traditionalist, you might not take readily to the Mini 5-Door’s look. The added length over the ‘conventional’ 3-Door makes the 5-Door look unusual. Sadly, the added length doesn’t bring with it a corresponding increase in practicality. There is more rear seat space, but it’s not roomy, and while the rear doors are a boon, their small openings don’t make ingress-egress the most convenient of affairs. Up front, it’s typical Mini fare. You’ll like what you see but you’ll also need to spend big bucks to bring the neo-retro cabin up to spec.
The Mini 5-Door’s 114hp, 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-diesel is refined, free of any low-speed hesitation and even has somewhat of a mid-range. Performance is satisfactory but more power would have helped make the most of the 5-Door’s eager handling. The 5-Door is almost as sharp as the 3-Door and is really rewarding to drive on a twisty road. It’s sure-footed at high speeds and, though firm, the ride is liveable.