2015 Mini Cooper Diesel 5-Door Hatchback Review

The Mini Cooper Diesel 5-Door is the most ironic car made in recent history. Where the original Mini was a masterpiece in packaging with the first transversely mounted front wheel drive layout, the new Mini Cooper Diesel 5-door follows a similar concept but with a radical new approach. For the first time, the standard Mini hatchback has an extra pair of doors. And although loyalists cried foul when they first laid eyes on this, we think Mini has a winner here.

Exterior Styling rating_4.0_rating

This is the first time Mini has had a proper 5-door hatchback. Before this, Mini did make the rather weird Clubman which had two doors on the passenger side, a single larger door on the driver’s side and a barn-style slit tailgate. This new 2015 version though has the standard 5-door hatchback layout with four doors and a standard hatch that opens upward.

The new Mini 5-door is of course based on the new generation car. For starters the new Mini isn't as cute as it used to be and some might even find it a little less palatable, the front in particular. That's down to its head lamp design. These continue to be round but now house semi-circular LEDs. But it's the way these are positioned and angled that look a bit odd.

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That said, the minimal overhangs, floating roof and overall proportions are quite pleasing to most. But it does look a lot larger and bulbous than it should, something that we personally are not too happy with. The new Mini still has the large grille, rounded mirrors and big LED tail lamps as before but if you compare this one with the previous generation, the car is nowhere near as cute and charming as it was. The extra doors too mean a longer car and as we mentioned right in the beginning of this story, a larger Mini is quite the irony. We also particularly dislike the black plastic cladding that makes it look slightly tacky and of course, the wheels, which could have been much better.

Interior & Space rating_3.5_rating

Everything changes when you step inside the new 2015 Mini Cooper Diesel 5-door though. Everything is still true to the original Mini but with an uber modern touch added to it. The large speedometer that used to dominate the original Mini and the last generation though has now been changed to exclusively an infotainment display with an LED ring around to aid with interior mood lighting. The cluster also encapsulates the audio controls which are of course made of the highest quality plastics.

The Mini Cooper Diesel 5-door is also surprisingly spacious at the back. Going in and out of the rear is of course extremely easy die to the large doors and the well sculpted seats. Although getting five people in the car would be slightly uncomfortable, the Mini will comfortably take four people with enough leg space and shoulder space for even the larger individual. We also like the way Mini has used a dash of retro materials like the seat cloth design for their seats. Of course, one can individualise the Mini in a million ways with different interior colors and materials for an added cost.

Features & Equipment rating_3.0_rating

The Mini Cooper Diesel 5-door is priced at a little over Rs 30 lakh. But, it gets very little as standard equipment. Our test car though, is fully equipped and costs significantly more over the standard car. For the extra money you get a multi functional steering wheel, dual zone climate control, driving modes, head-up display and a high-end and nice sounding multimedia system complete with navigation and Bluetooth. On the safety front, ABS and ESP come as standard. And the new Mini also gets cornering braking function and front two airbags. But, given the car's price and positioning, we feel the Mini is at least four airbags short of what is expected at this price.

Engines & Performance rating_4.0_rating

Just like the 3-door, the Mini 5-door does not get a petrol engine at all. It only comes with one diesel engine. And the engine itself isn't a fire breather. It is a 3-cylinder unit that displaces less than 1.5-litre in capacity. The power rating at 114PS isn't headline grabbing either. It is mated to a conventional 6-speed auto. On the road, this translates into a 0-100kmph time of 9.2 seconds; it isn't what we would term as fast, but a sub-10 second time can't be termed as slow either.

That said, it doesn’t really feels that slow on the road in midst of traffic. In the city, getting off the line too is quite easy with the front-wheel-drive setup never struggling for grip due to the ESP that the Mini Cooper Diesel 5-door comes with. On the flipside, the engine is a bit noisy, especially in the upper reaches of the rpm band. And since this is a 3 cylinder unit, there's just no getting away from the hum and vibrations at idle.

Ride and Ease of Driving rating_3.5_rating

The Mini for all its unconventional style and positioning is also a relatively easy car to drive and live with in the city. Yes, we know it's not a priority for such a car, but it helps. The visibility is good and the controls aren't heavy. The throttle is light and predictable, the power is linear and accessible and the ergonomics, well thought out. The ride however still needs sorting. It's an improvement over the older car for sure; it's less jumpy, rude and noisy. But it is still pretty stiff and at times crashy. So comfort clearly isn't the Mini's strong point, the supportive and well padded seats notwithstanding. Finally, there's the wind noise which gets intrusive even at 100kmph almost leaving you wondering if you have left a window open somewhere.

Handling & Braking rating_4.5_rating

This is when things get really interesting. The Mini Cooper Diesel is by far one of the best front wheel drive car we have driven in a long long time. A good driving position combined with a quick and precise steering box and non-existing body roll feels alive and perfectly connected. In fact, we had the chance to drive the Mini Cooper Diesel 5-door both on the lovely Madras Motor Sport Club racetrack in Chennai and on the road in Mumbai and the Mini did not fail to amaze us every single second we were behind the wheel.

Although front wheel drive, there is hardly any understeer and getting out of the corner, front end bite is incredible. The Mini Cooper Diesel is the kind of car that loves to be caught by the scruff of its neck and thrown around. The Mini also comes with two driving modes, ‘Sport’ and ‘Green’ both of which do the job they are meant to do with perfection. To top it all, the brakes are great; both powerful and progressive.

Price and Fuel Efficiency rating_3.0_rating

The 2015 Mini Cooper Diesel 5-door priced at Rs 32.5 lakh might not be great considering how much standard equipment comes with the car. Considering how one would need to spec the car up to make it acceptable, you are realistically looking at about Rs 40 lakh or so. That said, the Mini now gets a new age diesel engine, the fuel efficiency is surprisingly good. The ARAI figure for the new Mini Cooper Diesel 5-Door is 21.15kmpl! Now that's one aspect where the Mini can compete against our sea of affordable, fuel efficient hatchbacks.

Verdict rating_4.0_rating

The Mini Cooper Diesel 5-door is a confusing proposition for most. Where on one side you have positives like the way the Mini looks both on the inside and on the outside, the way it handles and of course the practicality the extra pair of doors gets, there are negatives like the underpowered engine and of course, the price. Mini also needs to remember that we in India need to deal with rougher roads in India which means that the new Mini needs to be much more comfortable than it is now.

That said, as a package, the new Mini might be more expensive than the likes of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and the BMW 1 Series but we are still unsure about whether the extra Rs 10 lakhs makes sense. All in all, the Mini Cooper Diesel might be a brilliant everyday car for someone who has a bunch of exotic cars in their garage or for the kind of person who is looking for something different from the regular German contenders.