Review - 2023 Mini Hatch

Fast forward to 2023, and the Mini Hatch lineup is bigger than ever, with a heap of choice for buyers looking for a three or five door hatchback powered by a range of different engines, including some fire-breathing John Cooper Works performance range-toppers.

Just how well does the Mini Hatch hold up in the modern landscape, then, and which is the best variant of the bunch? Let’s take a closer look at the Mini Hatch range to find out.

Mini Hatch Competition

Starting Price: $40,725

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How Much Does It Cost?

The Mini Hatch range is priced from $40,725 for the entry-level three-door Cooper Classic hatch, while the equivalent five-door Cooper Classic hatch is priced at $42,300.

Stepping up to the Mini Cooper Classic Plus brings the price to $43,050 and $44,700 for the three- and five-door variants, respectively, while the Cooper Resolute is priced at $46,500.

The three-door Mini Cooper ‘Mini Yours’ is priced at $48,050, while the three-door Cooper S Classic is priced at $49,300, with prices rising to $49,600 for the five-door ‘Mini Yours’ and up to $50,850 for the Cooper S Classic five-door.

Prices for the Cooper S John Cooper Works kick off from $55,400 for the three-door variant, while the five-door Cooper S JCW Sport is priced at $57,325, with the range-topping John Cooper Works Mini Yours priced at $65,750.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Mini 5D Hatch (COOPER CLASSIC PLUS) Specifications

What Features Does the Mini Cooper Hatch Have?

The entry-level Mini Cooper Hatch comes riding on a set of 16-inch alloys and receives LED head & tail lights, adaptive cruise control, a rear-view camera with parking sensors, cloth and leatherette upholstery with a leather steering wheel, a parking assistant, a 5.5-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8.8-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.

Stepping up to the Cooper Classic Plus ranges adds a set of 17-inch alloys, leatherette upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, keyless entry and an upgraded Harman Kardon sound system, while the Cooper Mini Yours picks up leather upholstery, ambient lighting and a Nappa leather steering wheel.

The Cooper S Classic picks up a set of sports seats, drive modes, keyless entry and a Nappa leather steering wheel, while the Cooper S receives a panoramic sunroof, head-up display, leather upholstery, ambient lighting and a Harman Kardon sound system.

Range-topping members of the Cooper lineup like the John Cooper Works Classic pick up adaptive suspension, leather upholstery and a head-up display while the flagship John Cooper Works Mini Yours receives adaptive LED headlights, a sunroof and leather upholstery.

Range Features:

• 16-inch alloys 

• LED head & tail lights 

• Adaptive cruise control 

• Rear-view camera with parking sensors 

• Cloth and leatherette upholstery with leather-wrapped steering wheel 

• 8.8-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• 17-inch alloys (Classic Plus) 

• Panoramic sunroof (Classic Plus) 

• Leather upholstery (Mini Yours) 

• Sports seats (S Classic) 

• Head-up display (Cooper S) 

• Harman Kardon sound system (Cooper S) 

• Adaptive suspension (John Cooper Works Classic) 

• Adaptive LED headlights (John Cooper Works Mini Yours)

Is the Mini Hatch Fun to Drive?

Mini’s latest batch of hatchbacks really embrace the adage that good things come in small packages, because they’re exceptionally well-credentialled city cars for those living in the urban jungle.

In terms of engines, Mini has three up its sleeve, including the 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder in the base model that kicks out 100kW of power and 220Nm of torque that powers the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

That’s not a lot on paper, though the pint-sized base model eagerly gets up to speed in a decent fashion, proving itself as a worthy entry-point.

For buyers looking for more pace, the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder powering the Cooper S range produces 141kW of power and 280Nm of torque, while the range-topping John Cooper Works lineup pushes out 170kW of power and 320Nm, giving it some rapid acceleration figures.

For those curious, the base Mini hatch sprints to 100km/h in 8.2 seconds, while the Cooper S achieves the same feat in 6.7 seconds, and the John Cooper Works hits 100km/h in 6.1 seconds.

The Mini hatch feels completely at home in the confines of the city, where it is happy to dart around on a dime, change directions and squeeze into some tight car parks without an issue.

It’s remarkably easy to drive, too, thanks to the short wheelbase platform and lightweight steering rack, with a decent amount of feedback as you pick up speed and begin to dart around corners - something the Mini hatch absolutely eats up with its low-slung package.

The suspension errs on the firmer side of things, which isn’t much of an issue when you’re cruising around town, though becomes more noticeable as you leave smooth city streets and fall victim to Australian road conditions.

All up, though, the Mini Hatch is an excellent little city car that helps to make even the most mundane trips a little bit more exciting thanks to its eager nature, zippy handling and charming personality.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Mini’s range of three engines for the Cooper hatch lineup returns combined cycle fuel economy figures between 5.6 and 6.5L/100km, making it impressively fuel efficient thanks to its pint-sized footprint.

The entry-level three-door Cooper hatch is rated at 5.6L/100km, rising to 5.7L/100km in the five-door Cooper hatch, rising up to 5.8L/100km in the three-door Cooper S and up to 5.8L/100km in the five-door Cooper S.

Performance comes at the cost of fuel use, with the John Cooper Works rated at 6.5L/100km on a combined cycle, which is impressive considering its impressive power outputs.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

As you might expect, a car from a brand called ‘Mini’ famous for its tiny little city cars isn’t going to be a game-changer when it comes to interior space, though it has come a long way when it comes to passenger comfort.

In the front of the cabin, the Mini hatch offers the driver and front passenger a decent amount of headroom, with the option to lower your seat further toward the floor for taller drivers.

The dashboard houses a circular infotainment display and some climate control dials topping a half dozen switches, with a pair of cupholders and a small storage tray for smartphones hiding at the base.

Practicality is a mixed bag in the front of the Mini hatch, which offers a cramped pair of door bins on either side of the cabin, and a decent sized glovebox, though it could use more in the way of storage options up front.

In terms of legroom in the rear of the cabin, things get pretty cramped in the back of the three-door variant, while the five-door hatch measures 200mm longer, making it by far the better option for passengers.

Having said that, access into the rear of the cabin is tight from the narrow doors and headroom is limited for tall adults, though there is a decent amount of legroom for kids.

The rear seats pick up a pair of ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts, while the Mini hatch’s boot measures in at 211L in three-door form, expanding to 278L in the five-door hatch.

Is it Safe?

The latest Mini Hatch range has picked up a four-star ANCAP safety rating, with every member of the range picking up autonomous emergency braking with vehicle and pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alerts, a rear-view camera with parking sensors and traffic sign recognition.

Unfortunately for buyers looking for key safety features like blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assistance and rear cross-traffic alerts, the Mini Hatch range in Australia misses out.

Our Verdict: Is the Mini Hatch Worth it?

With its charming personality and zippy handling, it’s hard to ignore just how much fun the little Mini Hatch makes even the most boring of daily commutes.

Having said that, prices are steep, especially for the fruitier variants here in Australia, there’s some key safety equipment left out and limited practicality inside, though if you don’t need a tonne of space and looking for a charming little partner in crime, the Mini Hatch range is undeniably infectious.

If you’re tossing up your best options in the world of fun-loving city cars, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find you the best possible price.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty 

2. Four-star ANCAP safety rating 

3. Five-door variant measures 200mm longer

4. 5.6 - 6.5L/100km combined cycle fuel economy figures 

5. Boot space increases from 211 to 278L in five-door Mini Hatch