It seems somewhat incongruous to have a five-door MINI after so many years of the little car only ever having three, or even two on the original version.
But the sensible decision by BMW to launch the larger car last year is now paying off in increased sales, as was almost inevitable.
For while so many people loved their , for practical reasons, they needed rear doors and so had to part with their prized possession.
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Producing a five door means MINI can now retain more of its loyal customers rather than lose them to rival manufacturers.
And not only does this model have extra doors but it also has extra rear seat space, so you can accommodate five adults rather than four.
The new larger car is 161 millimetres longer than the three-door and the bulk of that extra space has gone into creating more legroom for rear seat passengers and more boot space.
In fact back seat travellers get 72 mm more foot space and leg room not to mention 15mm more headroom.
Open the more rounded tailgate and you will see immediately just how much room there is for luggage or the weekly shop. An additional 67-litres means you get 30 per cent more luggage room than in the three-door MINI.
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But just because you want five doors it doesn’t mean you have less choice in the model range, with everything available from the entry level MINI One to the iconic MINI Cooper S and SD.
My choice for a week was the Cooper D, – as signified by the word Cooper – and economy as noted by the D for diesel.
The 1.5-litre engine is a punchy little powerhouse which delivers lively mid range acceleration and impressive torque. It might not be as quick as the top-of-the-range SD but it still offers typical MINI driving enjoyment both in terms of performance and tenacious grip.
The car may be slightly longer but it still feels like a traditional MINI with that go-kart-like steering which means the slightest movement of the steering wheel brings immediate response. It’s a characteristic which adds to MINI driving fun but can catch you out until you get used to it.
During my week with this car I managed to average 60 miles per gallon, which just proves that you can have exciting driving without continually having to fill up. And remember, this diesel is so clean you don’t have to pay any road tax.
The car features a three setting button near the gear shift which allows you to switch between sport for “maximum go-kart feel”, mid mode for “typical MINI driving fun” or green mode for “low consumption driving fun”.
As you change the LED ring around the 8.8 inch central colour display system used for sat nav and numerous other display features change from red to yellow to green respectively
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Opt for sport and the while the ride hardens up for even more responsive driving.
But which ever mode you use you get what MINI has always delivered, driving fun in bucket loads. And that’s why people buy them – both in three-door and now five-door.
Fast Facts
MINI Cooper D
Price: £17,235
Mechanical: 1496cc, 116bhp, 4 cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox.
Max speed: 126 mph
0-62mph: 9.4 secs
Combined mpg: 78.5
CO2 emissions: 95 g/km
Warranty: Three years/unlimited mileage