Mini 5dr review

Modern car makers love unusual and dramatic-sounding names that have next to no relevance to the model in question. But thankfully the Mini 5dr is an easy one to work out. Yep, you guessed it – it’s a regular Mini with five doors.

Clearly, having an extra couple of doors makes the five-door Mini more practical than the popular three-door hatchback we all know and love, simply because anyone sitting in the back won't have to squeeze through a tiny gap behind the front seat to get out. The five-door model is more spacious for back-seat passengers and has a bigger boot too.

It's a bit pricier than the three-door car, mind, and you might think the additional doors and higher roofline make the Mini 5dr look a little less sporty. Nevertheless, it's still spot-on in terms of other classic Mini strengths, which include a smart interior and a myriad of personalisation options.

Unsurprisingly, the engine line-up is much the same as the Mini 3dr, with a couple of 1.5-litre engines and an even punchier 2.0-litre. What you won’t find is a potent John Cooper Works version. That’s only available in the 3dr or Convertible (the Mini Electric is three-door-only as well). If you're looking for even more boot space in a Mini, there's also the Mini Clubman estate or Countryman SUV to consider.

So, is the Mini 5dr a convincing alternative to other posh small cars with five doors, including the Audi A1 Sportback, and should you pay the extra over less luxurious rivals like the Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 208 and VW Polo? Read on over the next few pages of this review and we'll tell you everything you need to know. We’ll also look at which engines and trims make the most sense.

If you decide a Mini 5dr is for you, we can help you find the very best deal – simply search the free What Car? New Car Buying service, which has the latest prices on vehicles of most makes and models, including some very attractive new Mini deals.