The new Mini now gets five doors instead of three. Is it still a Mini, asks Shapur Kotwal.
Interiors
The front seats are comfortable, and finding the right driving position is also dead easy. The steering feels a bit large and that’s strange, considering how sporty this car is – but you get used to it soon. The dash is what takes your breath away. Material quality is sound, soft -feel plastics are scattered all over, and the clever design poses as a strong contender for the best hatchback cabin around.
The quality and neo retro design of the Mini cabin never lets you forget that you are driving somthing special.
As on the regular three-door Mini, the speedometer is now above the steering wheel, and the big clock-like dial on the centre console still dominates the cabin. A big screen in the centre runs Mini's version of i-Drive, and a Mini Connected App that runs almost all your phone operations. Then there's a ‘driving excitement analyses’ that tells you just how well you are using the steering, brakes and accelerator.
The rear doors are tiny, but the legroom is just about enough.