New Mini Cooper five-door review, test drive

 

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.

 

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.