The Mini Cooper has always been this iconic cute looking hatchback even though it has grown in size over the years. But now there is a new addition to the Cooper model line up. Say hello to the Mini Cooper 5 door. Till now, the only model in the Mini model range to have 5 doors was the Countryman but now the Cooper has joined the club too. A 5 door hatch with a diesel engine makes a practical proposition. So what is it all about? We drove it extensively over a weekend to find out. Since we have driven the Mini Cooper 3 door diesel earlier, this review will focus only on what is different on the 5 door variant. For easy reference, you can read our Mini Cooper 3 door diesel review here.
Up front there is nothing to distinguish this car from its 3 door sibling. It is only when you see it from the side is when you notice the difference. The 5 door Cooper has larger dimensions with the overall length increasing by 161 mm. The length of the car is now 3,982mm. Additionally the width and height of the car has also increased by 11 mm. Wheelbase has been increased by 72 mm. Look at the car dead from the side and it appears like a small station wagon rather than a hatch. The additional 2 doors are not very large and ingress and egress is not as good as one can expect with a conventional 5 door hatchback but is definitely better than accessing the rear in the 3 door Cooper.
Coming to the interior, the 5 door Cooper comes with same classic retro styled dashboard that is seen in the 3 door version. The switches feel nice to touch and overall quality is top notch. However we have to remind you that the basic car comes with very less standard equipment. Most of the features have to be ticked off on the options list. You have to pay extra for things like multi function steering, parking sensors and the fancy infotainment system. Our test car came with fabric seats so you have to shell out more for leather upholstery as well. Headroom has increased by 155 mm while interior width has also increased by 61 mm. While space at the rear is better than in the 3 door thanks to the longer wheel base, it isn’t generous either. The 5 door gets 278 litres of boot space, 67 litres more than the 3 door. The rear seats also drop down in a 60:40 spilt which increases luggage space. The car does not come with a spare wheel as standard.
The 5 door Mini comes with a 1.5 litre 3 cylinder turbo charged diesel engine which is shared with the 3 door. The engine puts out 114 bhp and 270 Nm torque. The motor is very refined for a 3 cylinder unit and there is no noticeable turbo lag either. Shifts from the six speed automatic gearbox are quick and while there is a tiptronic option, paddle shifters would have been a welcome addition. The best part is that the increased length hasn’t taken away any of the fun factor associated with driving the Mini. It still feels like a go kart when you push it and is pretty agile too. The driving modes do add that extra punch and we recommend ticking this option if you are placing an order for the 5 door. It also feels more planted at higher speeds on the highway than the 3 door. Handling has always been a highlight of the Mini and the 5 door attacks corners with enthusiasm. The steering feels direct and there isn’t any noticeable body roll either. The car comes with 16 inch alloys as standard with choice of two 17 inch designs as an option. Safety wise the 5 door Cooper gets front and side airbags, side curtain airbags, 3 point automatic seat belts for all seats, ABS, brake assist, crash sensor, run flat indicator, Dynamic Stability Control and Cornering Brake Control.
The 5 door Cooper has added a sense of practicality to the Mini brand. But this practicality does not come cheap. The base car is priced at Rs. 35.2 lakh ex showroom. Throw in a few options and you are easily looking at an on road price north of Rs. 40 lakh. However, if the price is not a deterrent, this is one car that will make you smile every time you take to the wheel. It retains all the go kart characteristics of the 3 door and comes with more space as well. Additionally you get a diesel engine that is frugal too. The choice is yours. We would still pick the 3 door because its just more…well, Mini.
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