Driving review: Mini Cooper S Hatch 5-door
Just a few months after the market launch of the new Mini, the British premium brand expanded its model range with the addition of the Mini 5-door. A Mini with two extra doors! It seemed that not everyone was overly excited about it as it was yet another Mini being launched – this would be the 7th variant that Mini made available.
According to Mini, it’s the first time in the history of the brand that the hatch has been offered with two rear doors, making it a ‘refined version’ of the its three-door sibling. But is it really? Or is it an unnecessary addition to the now quite large Mini family?
I must get something out of the way before I really get in to this review; I have never been a Mini fan. I don’t like the look, I hate the ride and I feel claustrophobic driving one. I have always thought of it as an ‘image’ car and I think most people could describe the exact driver of a Mini…generally speaking of course. It became the must have accessory for every young, ‘trendy’ girl in Sandton or Camps Bay. But things have and are changing somewhat. Mini started to go after an older clientele and this 5-door will certainly appeal to that ‘older’ crowd (which includes me!).
If your reason for not getting a Mini was a space issue, well, it can no longer be your reason. The five-door now has plenty of room thanks to an extended wheelbase. It now has 72mm extra legroom in the rear with 15mm more headroom and the boot adds an extra 67 litres making it 278 litres in total.
This flagship Cooper S with its six-speed manual gearbox sports a 2,0 four-cylinder turbocharged engine under the bonnet, which makes it a fantastically fun car to drive. It produces 141 kW of power and 280 N.m of torque which gives it enough grunt to really get you zipping around town. It can take you to 100 km in 6,9 seconds and has a claimed top speed of 232 km. Fuel consumption comes in at a low 6L/100km. It still drives like a go-kart however, this is one of its many appeals but one of my gripes. I don’t want to have to wear a sportsbra every time I step in to a car.
This Cooper S will cost you R381 000, the Automatic version comes in at R397 900. It isn’t cheap by any means and if you add any of the optional equipment that was on this test unit, you will end up at R482 462. If you are looking at just taking what comes standard on this model, you can expect runflat tyres, alarm with radio remote control, warning triangle with first aid kit, ISOFIX, sport seat for driver and front passenger, rain sensor and automatic headlight control, and automatic air conditioner.
The extras that hike up the price tag include sport suspension, multifunction steering wheel, electric folding and heated mirrors, rear view camera, Panorama glass sliding/tilting sunroof, sun protection glazing, armrest, heated seat for driver and passenger, park distance control, cruise control, park assist, navigation system and Mini head-up display to name but a few.
Mini is known to be a fun and funky car, now add practicality to that and you have a winning recipe. So if you can stand the firm ride day in and day out then you may have found your perfect match. But don’t say I didn’t warn…make a stop at Sportsman’s Warehouse first.