MINI 5 Door

MINI 5 Door Overview

Little has changed since its introduction and the sportier MINI Cooper S 5 Door is sole variant on offer in Malaysia today with a price tag starting from RM 261,005.83 (SST exempted with the extended warranty and service package). 

It is easily one the most expensive B-segment hatchback on offer in Malaysia today, far exceeding the price of the Renault Clio RS or the Volkswagen Polo GTi. At such a steep price point, it even rivals the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTi and Ford Focus ST which sit in a higher vehicle segment.

MINI 5 Door Design

The MINI 5 Door is essentially a more practical version of the iconic MINI 3 Door hatchback, sporting the same instantly recognizable proportion and design cue such as the circular LED headlamps with integrated DRL, clamshell bonnet, large gaping front radiator grille, black plastic claddings around the wheel arches as well as the relatively short front and rear overhang.

The sportier Cooper S variant brings along a bolder front-end design featuring an air scoop on the bonnet, black honeycomb grille and side scuttle with S badges, aerodynamic air ducts flanking the lower air intake, a more aggressive lower bumper design with integrated air curtains, gloss black accents, Pedal Spoke wheels as well as the go-faster racing stripes. The centrally mounted twin-exhaust end pipes are finished in piano black, complementing the new design of the rear whose geometry has been widened to give it a wider and more athletic stance. 

Blacked out pillars and the black roof option gives the MINI 5 Door that desirable two-tone appearance while the rear lights now feature a split Union Jack lighting signature. While the additional rear doors greatly improve accessibility to the rear, its relatively small size leaves much to be desired. The MINI 5 Door also makes do without the frameless window design seen on the 3 Door variant.

MINI 5 Door Dimension

Despite its name, the MINI has grown quite significantly since the inception of the original Mk I MINI back in 1959, and even more so for the MINI 5 Door. Based on the third generation MINI 3 Door, the 5-door variant is 160 mm longer and 11 mm taller. The 72 mm longer wheelbase offers improved rear occupant and cargo spaces. Tipping the scale at 1,345 kg, it is 50 kg heavier than the 2-door variant.

MINI 5 Door Interior

The highly modernized interior also features a new 5.0-inch digital instrument cluster in a sleek capsule-shaped black panel design, replacing the analog tachometer. The sporty Cooper S variant gets Carbon Black leatherette upholstery with a chrome lined silver checkered inlays, anthracite headliner, and a chunky Nappa leather steering wheel with a Union Jack emblem.

The rear doors are not the biggest by any means, but they do open extra wide to allow better access. The interior is naturally more spacious compared to the three-door variant with 81 mm extra elbow room and 15 mm extra headroom. It also sits three now instead of two, although it can be a rather tight fit largely due to the protruding transmission tunnel running through the floor in the middle. The 278-litre boot space is 67 litre more than the Mini 3 Door and is expandible to an impressive 941-litre with the back seats folded down flat.

MINI 5 Door Features

Standard feature on the inside includes leatherette upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, sports seats, keyless comfort access, ambient lighting, 6.5-inch touch screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and navigation, 5.0-inch digital instrument cluster with multifunction steering wheel, and wireless charging.

Driver assistance system include Dynamic Cruise Control, Parking Assistance with rear-view camera, Attentive Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Approach Control Warning and Light City Braking. Safety wise, it comes equipped with front and side airbags for driver and front passenger, head airbags for all 4 outer seats, ABS with Brake Assist and EBD, cornering brake control with dynamic braking light, DSC with Automatic Stability Control, Dynamic Traction Control with Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC) and run flat tyres.

MINI 5 Door Driving Performance

Engine

The BMW TwinPower Turbo engine features all-aluminium block and head, twin-scroll turbocharger, direct injection variable valve lift (Valvetronic), and variable valve timing (Double VANOS) to achieve linear power delivery, potent mid-range shove and little to no turbo lag.

MINI Driving Mode (Sport, Mid, Green) alters the driving dynamics and the car engine characteristic. Engage Sport mode and the engine becomes livelier, accompanied by pops and crackle from the twin exhaust system when pushed during a more spirited drive.

Transmission

MINI 5 Door Ride Comfort

With a MacPherson Strut up front and a multi-link suspension at the rear, the system strikes a great balance between comfort and performance. The thrill in the drive is well worth the slight compromise in ride comfort.

MINI 5 Door Fuel Consumption

MINI 5 Door Conclusion

It may not have been the ‘go-cart on the road’ that it used to be, but with a lively engine and sporty suspension system, the MINI 5 Door still manages to deliver when it comes to driving thrills. You may argue that a BMW 330i M Sport would be a more sensible choice at this price point, but you simply cannot put a price on the heritage and uniqueness behind the MINI brand.