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By Jonathan Crouch

In five-door Hatch form, the MINI has grown up. Jonathan Crouch reports on the improved version.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 60

Forget all the niche models that the MINI brand has launched, this 5-door Hatch is serious business, especially in this lightly revised form. With a long wheelbase, class competitive luggage space, room for grown-ups in the back and a range of punchy but economical engines, this one looks to have the sort of strong all-round game to guarantee strong sales.

Backgroundword count: 165

Take a standard MINI, add a dash of length and practicality and you'd have a strong seller. You'd have a car like this, the MINI 5-Door Hatch. The BMW brand talks of this design being 'the first ever 5-door MINI Hatch'. Hang on though. Doesn't the company's Countryman model already fit that description? Apparently not. MINI now markets that car as an SUV segment contender. In any case, the Countryman isn't affordable or efficient enough to properly appeal to MINI's core customer demographic. Or, more pertinently, people who might want to be in MINI's core customer demographic. There are, after all, potentially lots of folk who like the stylish frugality and fun, chuckable, cheeky demeanour of the MINI Hatch 3-Door model but simply can't justify that car's tiny rear seats and restricted boot. Perhaps they've an occasional need to transport up to three kids in the back. And they require a car that won't be daunted by the modest proceeds of a family superstore shop.

Driving Experienceword count: 233

The key update with this most recently revised model is that it's now possible to order it with adaptive damping - an important option given this car's go-kart-like firm ride, especially with larger wheels. Otherwise, it's as you were, all based on a chassis that's BMW's clever UKL1 platform, which also underpins a number of front-wheel drive BMW models. The engine range isn't going to come as any great surprise to seasoned MINI watchers. The line-up now begins with the 136hp 1.5-litre petrol-powered Cooper variant. Alternatively, there's the four cylinder petrol 2.0-litre turbo 178hp Cooper S. You can't now have a six-speed manual gearbox, so the seven-speed Steptronic automatic is mandatory. The Cooper S will cover the sprint to 62mph in just 6.7 seconds, while the standard petrol Cooper isn't a whole lot slower, getting to 62 in 8.3 seconds. Variable Damper Control with adjustable dampers is available as an option, as are MINI driving modes which offers drivers the choice between Sport, Mid and Green modes. Using a rotary switch at the base of the gearstick or selector lever, drivers can swap from the default Mid mode to either Sport or Green. The three choices offer a set-up which is either performance-oriented, balanced or geared towards fuel efficiency. MINI driving modes also influences the ambient lighting, shift characteristics of the automatic transmission and the Variable Damper Control if the option is selected.

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