Mini’s U.S. lineup is rife with choice, from the basic two-door and four-door Cooper Hardtops to the Clubman wagonette to the crossover-y Countryman to the Cooper convertibles. Factor in three engines and two transmissions, and Cooper derivatives number in the dozens. Now consider that Mini’s home market of Great Britain gets everything we get, plus four additional powerplants. Should we be jealous? In some cases, no—specifically, the pair of gas- and diesel-powered Mini One models, whose engines are so weak they aren’t worthy of the Cooper name. The two more powerful diesels found in the base D and sportier SD models, though, are somewhat more interesting. We had the opportunity to experience both, in the form of a Cooper D Clubman and a Cooper Hardtop SD 4-Door hatchback (which Mini calls 5-Door in its home market), while in the U.K. for the unveiling of the Mini Vision Next 100 concept. The test drives were brief—less than an hour in each—on roads ranging from eight-lane motorways to narrow, serpentine paths originally mapped by the Romans.
Each of these diesel Coopers generally look and feel just like their gasoline-powered counterparts, with the same perky handling, chatty steering, and optional drive modes that have more or less the same effect on their dynamics. Feature-wise, they square up with their gas-powered counterparts, too. But at the end of the day, there was only one that we wanted to stick in our carry-on and bring home. And no, it wasn’t the quicker one. It turns out the plus-size (for a Mini) Cooper Clubman and Mini’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel are a great match. Lively and surprisingly quick, the diesel feels much like the gas-powered three-cylinder turbo Clubman, only with a big helping of additional midrange punch. The diesel’s output tops the base gas-powered Clubman’s 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder in both horsepower and torque, with its 148 horsepower at 4000 rpm besting the gas engine by 12 ponies and its 243 lb-ft of torque at 1750 rpm representing a significant 81 lb-ft jump.
The extra output is more than sufficient to handle the diesel model’s nominal added weight (44 to 88 pounds depending on transmission, according to Mini). Throttle response in the meat of the tachometer is immediate and robust, accompanied by a pleasant growl through 4000 rpm. Above that, however, the sound changes to a gravely fracas and response falls off a cliff, so it’s best to keep revs lower. Mini’s claim that the Cooper D Clubman shaves more than half a second from the gasoline version’s zero-to-62-mph time (8.5 seconds versus 9.1) is entirely believable. Those numbers may be somewhat conservative—we coaxed a U.S.-spec Clubman to 60 mph in 8.0 seconds in a recent test of an automatic-equipped model—so we’d love to properly test a diesel ourselves. Factor in the D Clubman’s considerable 20 to 25 percent improvement in fuel economy on the European test cycle (a hypothetical U.S. model should be rated at better than 40 mpg on the highway cycle) and the £2380 (about $3150) higher price, though steep, seems worthwhile.
We were underwhelmed by the Mini Cooper Hardtop SD 4-Door despite its smaller size and sportier mission. Like the Cooper D, the Cooper SD is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder, only this one has been goosed to the tune of 168 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. Whereas the Cooper D is quicker than the standard Cooper, the SD Hardtop 4-Door is slower than its Cooper S counterpart (which produces 189 horsepower and 207 lb-ft). The SD’s factory-estimated zero-to-62-mph time lags that of the Cooper S by half a second, at 7.4 seconds for both the manual and the eight-speed automatic. Fortunately, Mini says the weight will increase by only 33 to 55 pounds, leaving the S model’s zippy handling more or less intact. At least it doesn’t cost as much to upgrade, only £795 more than the gas model, or about $1050 at current exchange rates. Why would anyone want to spend the extra coin for the SD? A massive 39 to 44 percent boost in fuel economy over the Cooper S and a large drop in CO2 emissions—neither of which may be big motivators for customers in the States, we suspect, but with sky-high fuel prices across the pond, the calculus is different for Brits.
While Mini was happy to indulge us with this diesel duo in England, we’re told there are no plans in the foreseeable future to expand the U.S. choices to include diesel-powered Minis. The brand is in the process of consolidating its product range while simultaneously applying electrification to some of its models. Factor in the deleterious effect on diesels from recent emissions-related scandals, and the business case for Mini diesels is nearly impossible to make. It’s too bad, since the D Clubman, in particular, is a driver’s delight. Our favourite version: Cooper, list price £16,225 Latest deals: Check Mini lease prices If you want all the style, quality and quirkiness of a Mini, but with more space, this five-door model promises a lot. It’s longer and thus roomier than a basic Mini, and carries a price premium of just £600. But is that enough to turn the Mini from a cheeky runabout into something that a family could use? Bigger, but still not a proper family car
As with the three-door Mini, there’s plenty of leg and headroom in the front. And the whole car has been lengthened by 16cm, which results in 7cm of extra legroom in the back - enough to let adults sit there without feeling cramped. Mini has also added a third rear seatbelt, turning this into a five-seater. However, the person in the middle has to straddle a very high lump in the floor. Other drawbacks are that putting in a rear-facing car seat means there’s little legroom for whoever sits in front of it, plus anybody with big feet will find getting in and out of the small rear door openings awkward. The bigger boot is now almost identical in size to a VW Polo’s, and even slightly bigger than an Audi A1’s. What it is not, however, is a match for a VW Golf's, so a baby buggy is still a tight fit. As with the three-door, the rear seats fold down to let you extend the load space, and there’s a decent amount of in-car storage. Cooper and Cooper D models are best
It’s easy enough to find a comfortable driving position in the Mini 5-Door, plus the front seats hold you tightly in place in corners and are mounted close to the floor to make the Mini feel sporty. The ride comfort is identical to the three-door Mini, meaning that the Cooper S and SD models feel a little too sporty around town, thumping over speed bumps and potholes. Fortunately, they are more comfortable on faster roads, even when fitted with relatively large, 17-inch wheels, plus Mini offers an optional adaptive suspension system that lets you soften things off whenever you want. This system isn’t necessary in the regular Cooper models, which generally feels more supple and forgiving than the S. All of the engines are smooth, although the upright windscreen means there’s noticeable wind noise at motorway speeds. Book a free Mini 5-Door home test drive Looks good and most of the controls are easy to use The previous Mini’s dashboard had plenty of retro charm, but it was a pain to live with because the controls were fiddly and they seemed to have been positioned at random.
Fortunately, the latest version has a much simpler design, while retaining most of the appealing design features we’ve come to expect from Minis, including circular air vents and old-school toggle switches. The quality of the materials also impresses, although an Audi A1 feels even classier inside. Easy to drive 9/10 Good visibility takes the stress out of everyday driving Large windows give you an excellent all-round view, and while the Mini 5-Door is bigger than the three-door car (itself bigger than its predecessor), it’s still small enough to be easy to park. You won’t have any trouble keeping up with traffic if you go for one of the Cooper models, either. Most versions of the Mini 5-Door are available with the option of an automatic gearbox; only the Mini One diesel misses out on this. Fun to drive 9/10 Sharp steering and strong engines The range-topping Cooper S and SD models are properly fast, letting you overtake slow-moving traffic with ease.
However, it’s the regular Cooper and Cooper D models that are the most fun, feeling that bit more nimble and eager to change direction. Whichever version you go for, the Mini grips well in corners, and its steering really encourages you to attack bends because it's sharp and precise. Limited data, but warranty could be better The Mini 5-Door is too new to have been included in the JD Power customer satisfaction survey, but Mini itself has a reasonable record; it finished 9th out of 26 brands in 2014. Like the rival Audi A1, the Mini comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, although a KiaRio is better here, giving you seven years and 100,000 miles worth of cover. Most versions are very efficient There are two diesel engines that average more than 80mpg in official Government tests, while the One and Cooper petrol models both manage more than 60mpg. As with all cars, you’ll struggle to match these figures in the real world, but the Mini should be at least as efficient as its competition.
Upgrading to five doors is very reasonable When you consider that upgrading from a three-door Mini not only gets you the two extra doors, but a bigger car with a more useful boot, the £600 premium seems entirely reasonable. It also means that the Mini 5-Door is priced in line with plenty of other small hatchbacks, whether you’re buying it outright or on finance. Just bear in mind that the numerous personalisation options available can push the price up significantly. One option that you definitely should add is Mini’s tlc package; it covers all servicing for five years or 50,000 miles, as well as the cost of any replacement parts that are needed to get your car through an MoT during that period. Strong demand on the used market means you’ll get a large chunk of your initial investment back if you decide to sell your Mini on. Lease a Mini with Telegraph Cars All you’d expect from a modern hatchback The latest Mini hatchback is still to be crash tested by independent safety body Euro NCAP, but we’d expect it to perform well because the previous Mini earned the maximum five-star rating.
Like the rival Audi A1, the Mini 5-Door comes with front, side and window airbags and a stability control system that helps you stay on the road in slippery conditions. Options include a head-up display that projects your speed on to a transparent panel at the base of the windscreen so you don’t have to look down at the instruments, and a camera-based collision avoidance system that can automatically apply the brakes if it looks like you’re going to run into the vehicle in front. Decent spec, but you can still add lots of options Every version of the Mini 5-Door comes with alloy wheels, air-conditioning, a Bluetooth hands-free phone connection, a digital radio and a USB socket so that you can play your iPod through the stereo. Mini also offers numerous accessories that let you personalise your car, including bonnet stripes, contrasting roof colours and a Chili Pack, which brings sports seats, front foglights, larger alloys, ambient interior lighting and part-leather upholstery.