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Looking for a stylish small car with a premium image that’s fun to drive? The Mini Hatch could be the car for you. Most versions have low running costs, and there is a wealth of different trim and colour combinations to choose from.
The current Mini Hatch has been on sale since 2014 – it’s the third generation of Mini since the brand was reintroduced by BMW in 2000. This latest Mini has been updated a few times times over the years, with subtle design tweaks and more modern tech and features. There are three-door or five-door hatchback models to choose from, with petrol or diesel engines and manual or automatic gearboxes. There’s also a battery-powered version, which is sold as the Mini Electric.
The ‘core’ Mini Hatch trim levels are called One, Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works. You can find out more about Understanding Mini Cooper trim levels here.
In addition to the standard trim levels, there have been a number of special-edition models, including the Seven, Anniversary Edition and the Resolute Edition. A brand-new, fourth-generation BMW-built Mini will be launched in 2024.
The features you get as standard with a Mini Hatch depends on which trim level you choose and what’s included and not included has changed a number of times since 2014. At a minimum every version of the post-2014 model has cruise control, DAB radio, Bluetooth, electric windows and electric door mirrors included as standard. Many also have sat nav, air con and parking sensors; some have more luxurious features like leather seats and a panoramic glass sunroof.
According to official figures, Mini Hatch models with a petrol engine can give average fuel economy of anywhere between 34mpg and 60mpg, depending on the model. Diesel models can give 68mpg to 76mpg. Car tax costs are low, if not as low as for some similarly compact cars. Other running costs like servicing are fairly low, too. Insurance costs for most models are reasonable but the high-performance Cooper S Works version has comparatively high insurance group ratings.
The Mini Hatch can be compared against many other small hatchbacks such as the Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta, Audi A1 and Peugeot 208. The Mini’s distinctive style and brand are a large part of its appeal and it feels great to drive. It’s not the most practical car of this type, though.
There’s sufficient room in the front of the Mini Hatch for people around six feet tall to be perfectly comfortable. The driving position is low, though, which won’t suit everyone. The back seats have limited legroom but they’re fine for children or shorter adults. You need to be quite athletic to get into the back of three-door models and the back doors of five-door models are small.
The Hatch’s boot is on the small side, too. The three-door has 211 litres of space, the five-door has 278 litres – that’s enough for a few large ‘bags for life’, or a big suitcase. The Hatch isn’t hugely practical, then – if you want a Mini that’s better suited to family life, the Countryman might be a better bet.
The three-door and five-door versions of the Mini Hatch are the smallest Mini models available. There are two bigger ones: the Clubman estate and Countryman SUV. There’s also the Mini Convertible, which is basically an open-top version of the three-door Hatch.
Safety experts Euro NCAP gave the Mini a four-star safety rating – not quite the full five stars, but a very creditable performance for a small car. The age of the car’s design means it lacks some of the more advanced driver safety features like automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assist. However, it does have anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability control to help keep you on the straight and narrow. It has lots of airbags, as well.
There is a pure-electric version of the Mini Hatch, though it’s treated as a separate model called the Mini Electric. That’s a very ‘does what it says on the tin’ kind of name. With an official maximum range of 124 miles, it’s best suited to towns and cities, although it’s still fun to drive out on the open road.