mini-cooper-gains-new-entry-level-mini-one-variant-priced-at-less-than-pound25k

Hatchback

Seat

Ibiza

Volkswagen

Polo

Audi

Sports

Mini

Convertible

Electric

Talk about taking an idea and running with it. The big-selling Mini hatchback is still at the core of the firm’s range, but its cute styling and relatively compact dimensions have been spun off into an estate (the Clubman) and an SUV (the Countryman), as well as a convertible.

Despite its small size, the Mini is a firmly premium product, and the three-door hatchback counts the Audi A1 and Volkswagen Polo among its key rivals.

The fact that Mini is owned by BMW brings some big advantages –&nbsp;not least the fact that its infotainment system is based on BMW’s industry-leading iDrive.

MINI

COOPER

On sale Autumn Price from £24,735The classic <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/cooper/hatchback/review/n17350">Mini Cooper</a> 3-door and Cooper 5-door hatchbacks have received a new version, called the Mini One, to act as an entry point into the range.Aimed at new drivers, the One will be available exclusively with petrol-powered Cooper models, and will use a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a more modest output of 119bhp. With that juice, it’ll manage 0-62mph in 9.3sec – quicker than an equivalent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a>.

The new engine will be available exclusively in Classic trim, which comes with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/headlight-bulbs-what-types-are-there-and-which-is-best/n19332">LED headlights</a>, 16in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-cruise-control-and-should-you-have-it-on-your-next-car/n26822">cruise control</a>, a heated steering wheel, a rear-view camera and a built-in <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-sat-nav-apps/n24915">sat-nav</a>.Inside, it’ll likely get the same kit as other variants, with a circular 9.4in infotainment touchscreen and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> smartphone mirroring.

The new Mini One will arrive in UK showrooms in autumn. Prices start at £24,735 for the 3-door model – £750 cheaper than the next-cheapest model, the Cooper C. That brings it in line with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a1/hatchback/review/n5">Audi A1</a>.

The Mini One name was previously given to the entry-level Mini Hatch when the brand was revived by BMW back in 2001.Mini has also introduced new Paul Smith editions of the petrol-powered 3-door and 5-door hatchbacks, as well as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/cooper/sports/review/n17156">Cooper Convertible</a>, in collaboration with the classic British fashion brand. The collaboration edition was originally exclusively available with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/cooper/hatchback/review/n26581">Cooper Electric</a>, but it has now expanded to the combustion-engined variants. These will be available with some funky exterior paint options, as well as a specially-styled interior. They will also arrive in autumn, with prices starting from £31,285.<hr />For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2>Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">Best small cars</a> &gt;&gt;</h2>

On sale Autumn Price from £24,735The classic <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/cooper/hatchback/review/n17350">Mini Cooper</a> 3-door and Cooper 5-door hatchbacks have received a new version, called the Mini One, to act as an entry point into the range.

Aimed at new drivers, the One will be available exclusively with petrol-powered Cooper models, and will use a 1.6-litre petrol engine with a more modest output of 119bhp. With that juice, it’ll manage 0-62mph in 9.3sec – quicker than an equivalent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a>.The new engine will be available exclusively in Classic trim, which comes with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/headlight-bulbs-what-types-are-there-and-which-is-best/n19332">LED headlights</a>, 16in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-cruise-control-and-should-you-have-it-on-your-next-car/n26822">cruise control</a>, a heated steering wheel, a rear-view camera and a built-in <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-sat-nav-apps/n24915">sat-nav</a>.Inside, it’ll likely get the same kit as other variants, with a circular 9.4in infotainment touchscreen and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> smartphone mirroring.

The new Mini One will arrive in UK showrooms in autumn. Prices start at £24,735 for the 3-door model – £750 cheaper than the next-cheapest model, the Cooper C. That brings it in line with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a1/hatchback/review/n5">Audi A1</a>.The Mini One name was previously given to the entry-level Mini Hatch when the brand was revived by BMW back in 2001.

Mini has also introduced new Paul Smith editions of the petrol-powered 3-door and 5-door hatchbacks, as well as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/cooper/sports/review/n17156">Cooper Convertible</a>, in collaboration with the classic British fashion brand. The collaboration edition was originally exclusively available with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/cooper/hatchback/review/n26581">Cooper Electric</a>, but it has now expanded to the combustion-engined variants. These will be available with some funky exterior paint options, as well as a specially-styled interior. They will also arrive in autumn, with prices starting from £31,285.<hr />For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2>Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">Best small cars</a> &gt;&gt;</h2>

Mini Cooper gains new entry-level Mini One variant priced at less than £25k

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Spacious enough for four adults to sit comfortably</li> <li>Logically laid-out interior that doesn’t</li> <li>feel too cheap</li> <li>Mature driving manners </li> <li>Decent-sized boot</li> <li>Competitive buying and running costs</li></ul>

Small cars, or superminis as they’re also known, used to be bought almost exclusively as first cars or by people with no children – but the likes of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a> have grown to the point where they can be considered all-round family transport, albeit with the odd compromise.

Small

Mini’s iconic hatchback will revive the Mini One name as a new entry-level engine option

Mini Cooper gains new entry-level Mini One variant priced at less than £25k        

Hatchback (2023 - )

Hatchback (2024 - )

Alpine (pronounced 'Al-peen') heralded its rebirth with the A110 sports car, which was in the mould of all great drivers’ cars: small and light. And it delivered a character all its own.

Since then, Alpine has evolved into a multi-model brand. The A290 is a high-performance reimagining of the Renault 5 electric small car, and the A390 is the firm’s first standalone electric car.

Alpine shares many of its components with its sister brand, Renault, but its products have a very different look and feel.

Alpine

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV are all common - yet upmarket - sights on UK roads.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from small coupés to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the X7 luxury SUV, which can easily cost more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has more than ten in its range, covering petrol, diesel, electric and plug-in hybrid power options.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz. 
&nbsp;

BYD is one of the biggest names in electric cars globally, but only launched in the UK recently.

Even so, it has a fast-growing dealer network, and its models – most notably the Seal, which rivals the Tesla Model 3 – are gaining attention for impressive tech and good driving ranges.

Other BYDs include the MG4-sized Dolphin and the plug-in hybrid Seal U, which rivals the Kia Sportage.

Citroën is probably most famous for its quirky design, and the latest cars from the brand live up to this tradition. In fact, it&nbsp;tends to keep away from sportiness altogether and instead tries to put comfort first.

Value (but not cheapness) is also key to the appeal of most Citroëns. And the company’s range includes everything from a tiny EV (the Ami) through to the C3 small hatchback and&nbsp;the large van-based&nbsp;Spacetourer MPV.

Its range of SUVs are all badged Aircross, and like the rest of its range place emphasis on comfort, not speed.

Citroen

The sportiest Seats have long used the Cupra name, but it's now been turned into a standalone sub-brand, in much the same way as Fiat's sportiest models are badged as Abarths.

Like Abarth, some of Cupra's models including the Ateca and Leon, are extensively reworked Seats, but its newer models, including the Born, Formentor and Terramar are exclusive to Cupra.

Whilst Cupras are closely related to equivalent models from Seat and Volkswagen, they are generally tuned to provide a more engaging driving experience.

CUPRA

If you want a new car but would rather not spend much, Dacia is a great place to start your search.

This budget brand builds some of Britain’s cheapest new cars, including the Sandero hatchback. And don’t think cheap automatically means corners have been cut, because the Sandero has been commended at the annual What Car? Car of the Year awards on numerous occasions.

Other Dacia models include the&nbsp;higher-riding Sandero Stepway, seven-seat Jogger, and rugged Duster SUV. And while these cost slightly more than the Sandero, they’re still priced aggressively enough that they’re really only competing directly with used cars.

Dacia manages this by borrowing mechanicals and technology from its owner, Renault, to minimise development costs.

Dacia

DS has only existed as a standalone manufacturer since 2015&nbsp;(prior to that the badge was used on upmarket&nbsp;Citroëns), but it is now the premium brand in the Stellantis group, which also includes&nbsp;Citroën, Peugeot and Vauxhall.

The first DS models were essentially rebadged Citroëns, but more recently its cars are now standalone models in their own right. Yet under the skin, they're still very closely related.

Its models are&nbsp;influenced by the French fashion industry and are designed&nbsp;to take on the ubiquitous offerings of Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

DS AUTOMOBILES

Modern Fiats lean into their forebears, with familiar nameplates resurrected and retro design themes reimagined.

The mainstay of the range is the Fiat 500 Electric which is an electric small car available with a fixed roof or one with a fabric roof that rolls back.

There’s the Fiat 600, which is a small SUV which is powered by either a petrol engine or an electric motor. The Fiat Grande Panda is a more conventional small SUV, and is also available with petrol or electric power.

Fiat can trace its roots back to the 19th century but is now part of the Stellantis empire, along with Alfa Romeo, Citroën, Maserati and Peugeot.

Fiat

Ford is among the most familiar household names in motoring, with models such as the Fiesta and Focus under its belt.

However, it is adapting to changing tastes, and is, with the exception of the Mustang sports car, primarily a purveyor of SUVs. The Ford Puma tops the list of the UK’s best-selling cars; the Kuga shifts in significant numbers, too.

More recently it has revived names from its past, including the Capri and Explorer, which are both family electric SUVs. Its van range – including the most famous van of them all, the Transit – remains hugely popular.

Ford

GWM is a Chinese car maker whose model range is growing in the UK. It originally launched with the Funky Cat – a small electric car which was renamed Ora 03 – which stood out with its quirky retro styling.

It has since been joined by the Haval Jolion Pro, a family SUV with hybrid power, and the Poer300 double-cab pick-up.

GWM – originally known as Great Wall Motor – is one of the biggest car makers in China, and works with BMW to build Minis for its home market.

Honda is a company that doesn’t like to follow the crowd. So, while it competes in most of the traditional sectors of the car market, in each case it does something a little bit different.

The Jazz, for example, might look like just another small family car, but it’s actually much more practical than its rivals, with a flexible boot and Tardis-like interior.

The bigger Civic is also a practical choice, but it’s mainly distinguished by impressive fuel economy and an excellent driving experience.

And while it may not seem so radical now, Honda’s large SUV, the CR-V, was one of the first to forego any pretence of being an off-roader and instead focus on on-road driving dynamics.

Honda

For such a common sight on UK roads, Hyundai is a relative newcomer. It launched here in the 1980s, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that it really began to get noticed.

Today it has a huge range of models, ranging from the i10 and Inster small cars, through a range of small and family SUVs to the large Santa Fe.

Its model line-up spans petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, plus it has a wide range of electric models, including the eye-catching Ioniq 5, 6 and 9 models.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas many of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

Hyundai

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

Leapmotor is a Chinese car maker, but what sets it apart from its contemporaries is that it’s led by Stellantis – the giant operation which owns Citroën, Fiat, Peugeot and Vauxhall, among others.

It arrived in the UK with the T03 small electric car and C10 electric SUV. Like other Chinese brands, it majors on price, but gets a useful foot in the door by leveraging dealerships already established by Stellantis.

Leapmotor

Mazda can be summed up in a single word: bold. Not only do its cars generally look like nothing else on the market, but it’s also invested heavily in innovative engine technology.

So, while many car makers have moved to smaller turbocharged engines, Mazda instead offers larger motors that are still efficient. For example, the entry-level petrol option in the Mazda 3 is a 2.0-litre unit – far larger than what you’ll find in most rivals – but it remains very clean.

Highlights of Mazda’s line-up include the MX-5 sports car and the CX-5 which is a very good family SUV to drive.

Mazda

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Tesla and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is the most comfortable for a long motorway journey. 
&nbsp;

Mercedes-Benz

One of the most famous names on British roads, MG is a Chinese owned firm these days, and has built a reputation for offering great value SUVs and electric cars.

The HS PHEV family SUV is a particularly strong option, having been named Plug-in Hybrid of the Year at the 2025 and 2026 What Car? Car of the Year Awards. Meanwhile, the MG4 electric hatchback is another car that's very easy to recommend, and the Cyberster electric sports car&nbsp;adds some sparkle at the top of the range.

More&nbsp;recently, MG has introduced the&nbsp;IM5 and IM6 electric cars, which are convincing alternatives to&nbsp;the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y respectively.

Talk about taking an idea and running with it. The big-selling Mini hatchback is still at the core of the firm’s range, but its cute styling and relatively compact dimensions have been spun off into SUVs (the Aceman and Countryman), as well as a convertible. There are electric models, too.

Despite its small size, the Mini is a firmly premium product, and the three-door hatchback counts the Audi A1 and Volkswagen Polo among its key rivals.

The fact that Mini is owned by BMW brings some big advantages – not least the fact that its infotainment system is based on BMW’s excellent iDrive.

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, joined by its fellow British-built relatives in the Juke small SUV and Leaf electric car.

Indeed, the original Leaf was the world’s best-selling EV, so Nissan knows a thing or two about electric cars.

The trio is joined by two more SUVs: the all-electric Ariya and the seven-seat X-Trail. But it’s not all about SUVs, though, because there’s also the Micra – a small electric car based on the brilliant Renault 5.

Nissan

Peugeot has a large line-up, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Models range from the 208 small family car, through the 2008 small SUV to the 308 and 3008 — a&nbsp;family car and family SUV respectively. There’s also the sleek 408 fastback and 5008 seven-seat SUV, plus the van-derived Rifter and Traveller MPVs.

Peugeot even offers an electric version of each of these, denoted by an ‘E’ ahead of the model number. Other highlights include a warranty that extends by 12 months/15,000 each time the car is serviced by Peugeot, up to eight years/100,000 miles.

Peugeot

Polestar is a relative newcomer to the new car market, having been born as a motorsport team later bought by Volvo. Today it produces a range of upmarket, fully-electric vehicles and as a brand now sits independently of Volvo.

Its models are given numerical names, and unusually these don’t denote the size of the model, rather they indicate the order in which they’re launched. The now-discontinued Polestar 1 was the firm’s first model and the Polestar 2 is an executive hatchback which is a direct rival for the Tesla Model 3. The Polestar 3 is an electric SUV, Polestar 4 a coupé and Polestar 5 a performance car.

Polestar has a focus on sustainability: in 2020 was the first car maker to release a study to show the carbon footprint of its cars, and in 2021 it started a project to ensure rare-Earth materials such as cobalt – used in many electric car batteries – are sourced responsibly.

Polestar

Porsche is best known as the quintessential sports car maker, but its line-up is increasingly diverse, interesting and successful, from its classic 911 sports car, through to a family of SUVs and high-performance electric cars to the Panamera hatchback and a number of electric cars, most notably the Taycan and Macan Electric.

Whatever your choice, What Car?’s testers rate the cars highly; Porsche has an unusually high percentage of five and four-star cars.

Without exception, its sports cars are class leaders or among the class leaders, standing out for combining driving thrills with surprising luxury and comfort. Likewise, its SUVs are among the sharpest handling, as well as offering high levels of practicality and quality.

Porsche

Hatchbacks, SUVs, hybrids, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, meaning it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

With the What Car? Award-winning Renault 5 and its Renault 4 sibling, the firm is looking to its past for inspiration for its small electric models, and has executed them to great effect. Its Clio remains a popular petrol-powered small car, and the related Captur is a small SUV.

Both the Megane and Scenic have been reborn for the electric age, too, with E-Tech versions slotting into the family car and family SUV markets, while less familiar names including Austral, Symbioz and Rafale fill out an expansive family SUV range.

Renault

Seat — pronounced Say-at — has an aging portfolio of models, with a focus put on its sportier sister brand, Cupra, by parent company Volkswagen.

Nevertheless, its models remain popular, with the Ibiza and Leon small and family-sized cars offering more traditional approaches over more ubiquitous SUVs. Still, that particular box is ticked by the Arona small SUV and the Ateca family-sized model.

Seats share their underpinnings and technology with sister brands including Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen, and generally deliver more distinctive styling and a sportier presence, fitting with its brief to be a little more youthful.

SEAT

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a small family car to a large executive model, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, plus plug-in hybrid and electric models, all of which are competitive for the class.

Skoda

Once best known for its flame-spitting, rally-bred Imprezas, Subaru’s focus now is on cars that will appeal to a far wider audience, and especially one that values go-anywhere ability and no-nonsense values above all others.

The result is a mixed bag of offerings, none of which rise beyond being average in their class but most of which have facets that make them stand out from their rivals. Core to its range are the Forester and Outback SUVs, while the Crosstrek is a more conventional family SUV. The Solterra is the firm’s first electric SUV, and it is closely related to the Toyota bZ4X.

However, Subaru continues to ensure its models are four-wheel drive, and all are far more&nbsp;competent off-road than you might expect.

Subaru

Suzuki is well known as a motorcycle manufacturer, but the car brand has enjoyed success thanks to a line-up of neat, well-equipped and keenly priced models.

It’s probably best known for the Swift small car and the Vitara family SUV, but it also has the S-Cross small SUV in its line-up, along with the Across SUV, which is essentially a rebadged Toyota RAV4.

Indeed like Toyota, Suzuki has forged a reputation as a builder of very reliable cars. And also like Toyota, Suzuki’s warranty stretches to ten years/100,000 miles as long as the car is serviced at a main dealer.

Suzuki

Tesla is a US brand that revolutionised the car industry, putting electric cars in the limelight for the first time – helped by the personality and profile of boss Elon Musk.

Today, Tesla has slimmed down its range, with the larger Model S and Model X being discontinued. However, the remaining electric models – the Model 3 executive car and Model Y SUV – both stand out for range, performance and Tesla’s brilliant Supercharger charging network.

&nbsp;

Tesla

Toyota has a rather Jekyll and Hyde approach to its very best cars. On the one hand, the superb Corolla family car and estate are eminently sensible, combining plenty of practicality with rock-bottom running costs. On the other hand, its GR Yaris is among the finest – and most fun – hot hatchbacks money can buy.

The rest of its range errs towards the rational side, with a wide range of small, family-sized and large SUVs – many of which are hybrid-powered, and some are fully-electric.&nbsp;

The Yaris Cross stands out for exceptional fuel economy – we achieved more than 100mpg around town – and the Prius remains the world’s most famous hybrid car.

Toyota’s enviable reputation for reliability is backed by a warranty which can stretch to 10 years/100,000 miles as long as the car is serviced by a Toyota dealer.

Toyota

Now part of the vast Stellantis empire, Vauxhall is now the sister brand to Alfa Romeo, Citroën, Fiat, Jeep and Peugeot. This means their models are all very similar under the skin.

Vauxhall has historically offered larger discounts than many other car makers, and this continues today. And that gives it an advantage over its stablemates – a good thing, because while its models are decent all-rounders, few stand out in any particular regard.

It produces electric versions of every model, and the Frontera small SUV was its first model to achieve price parity between petrol and electric models.

Vauxhall

Volkswagen is, as its name implies, at the very heart of the Volkswagen Group – an entity which also includes Audi, Cupra, Seat and Skoda. And that means it faces fierce competition from within its own family as well as from a raft of unrelated rivals.

It counters this with a very wide range of petrol, diesel, electric and hybrid models which cover pretty much every part of the market. And most of these we regard to be either good, or very good indeed.

It blends familiar nameplates such as the Polo, Golf and Passat (in ascending order of size) with newcomers in the shape of its electric car range, which are prefaced by ID. The rest of its range focuses around SUVs and MPVs, with highlights including the brilliant T-Roc small SUV, seven-seat Tayron SUV, plus the Caddy and Multivan MPVs and the California family of campervans.

Volvo is now a true rival to the likes of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, offering an alternative take on premium executive cars to a rapidly growing fanbase. Its cars typically feature beautifully finished interiors, laden with technology.

It was long famed for its estate cars, but like many of its rivals, it is now looking to SUVs. But that’s no problem, because it is very good at building them – the XC40, XC60, XC90 and electric EX40 have won a raft of What Car? Awards over the years.

Volvo retains its relentless focus on safety as it moves into the electric age – indeed it envisions that no one will be killed or seriously injured in one of its cars.

Volvo

Cooper

Electric Cooper

This one’s pretty self explanatory, because the Mini Cooper 5-Door’s name says it all. It’s a Cooper with five doors instead of three, so it promises to be just as stylish a small car but with a bit more practicality.

This is the second time the modern Mini has received the five-door treatment and the recipe is pretty much identical: take a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/cooper/hatchback/review/n17350">three-door Mini</a> then stretch it and add two rear doors. In terms of size, this new five-door Cooper is a few centimetres longer than its predecessor.

Still, it uses the same mechanical basis as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/hatchback/hatchback/used-review/n906">Mini Hatch</a> it replaces, and a couple of engines have been carried over too. You might not have guessed that the two were so strongly related because the latest car looks noticeably different, especially inside. The Cooper's interior is much more minimalistic and colourful than the Hatch's.

Are the changes all for the better and is the new Mini Cooper 5-Door a truly family-friendly <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small car</a>? Or would you be better off with, say, an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a1/hatchback/review/n5">Audi A1</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">VW Polo</a>? Read on to find out..

<hr />
What’s new?

- June 2024: Mini reveals details of new petrol-powered Cooper 5dr model, which has two engine options, a 201bhp four-cylinder unit in the Cooper S, and a 154bhp three-cylinder engine in the C. There are also three trim levels, called Classic, Exclusive and Sport. All feature a large 24cv circular OLED touchscreen

The five-door version of the Mini Cooper has strong performance and a stylish interior

Mini Cooper gains new entry-level Mini One variant priced at less than £25k

Mini’s iconic hatchback will revive the Mini One name as a new entry-level engine option...

Read more: Best small cars >>

New Mini Cooper five-door: small car gets petrol power and extra practicality

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