Practical Meets Fun
Over three generations, BMW’s reinvention of the classic MINI Cooper has delivered unique style, sporty character, and impressive economy to lots of happy drivers. But going small comes with some sacrifices. No one ever accused the original two-door MINI Cooper Hardtop of being especially practical, particularly if you have more than one passenger.
To help address that problem, MINI introduced the Hardtop 4 Door for the 2015 model year, adding a model to its lineup that seems like an obvious choice in retrospect. It’s a standard MINI hatchback stretched to accommodate another pair of doors and a rear bench seat, meaning you can take more people (or stuff) along for the ride. The Hardtop 4 Door returns for 2016, continuing to offer MINI buyers a more practical option.
Performance
The Hardtop 4 Door offers the same powertrain options as the standard two-door MINI Cooper Hardtop, meaning buyers get to choose between Cooper and Cooper S models.
The Cooper comes with a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, which produces 134 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. That power is sent to the front wheels through six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. The Cooper will do 0 to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds with the automatic transmission (7.7 seconds with the manual), and reach a top speed of 129 mph.
For a little more power, there’s also the Cooper S, which packs a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The larger engine produces 189 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque and, like the smaller Cooper engine, is paired with six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. Not surprisingly, the Cooper S is a bit quicker than the Cooper, getting to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds with the automatic transmission (6.6 seconds with the manual). Automatic-equipped cars can also reach a top speed of 144 mph, while manual cars can reach 145 mph.
With its pint-sized body and tiny engines, the MINI Cooper Hardtop 4 Door is a paradigm of thrifty performance. EPA-rated fuel economy for the base Cooper model is 33 mpg combined (29 mpg city, 39 mpg highway) with the manual transmission,* and 31 mpg combined (27 mpg city, 37 mpg highway).* The Cooper S gets 27 mpg combined (23 mpg city, 33 mpg highway) with the manual,* and 29 mpg combined (26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway) with the automatic.*
Features
The 2016 MINI Cooper Hardtop 4 Door is actually a five-door hatchback, but MINI decided to adopt some non-standard nomenclature, as it likes to be quirky and different sometimes. It’s mechanically identical to the MINI Cooper Hardtop, but with two extra doors. Available trim levels include the aforementioned Cooper and Cooper S, with prices starting at $21,700,** which is unchanged from 2015.
Standard equipment on the 2016 Cooper Hardtop 4 Door includes a three-spoke steering wheel with cruise and audio controls, a climate-controlled glove box, 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat, performance suspension, 15-inch alloy wheels, and HD Radio® compatibility. The Cooper S includes all of the standard features of the Cooper, and adds the bigger, four-cylinder engine; sport seats; a hood scoop; LED fog lights; run-flat tires; and other features.
In addition, optional features include a Cold Weather Package (heated front seats, auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors), Sport Package (upgraded wheels, LED headlights, Dynamic Damper Control suspension), Premium Package (dual-pane panoramic sunroof, harman/kardon® audio system, Comfort Access System, storage package), Media Package and Wired Package for enhanced connectivity, and other options.
This being a MINI, there are also plenty of customization options. They include multiple wheel designs, chrome trim, different interior trim options, and different graphics like racing stripes. MINI claims there are over 10 million possible combinations of body style, equipment, and styling elements available on its models.
Design
The 2016 MINI Cooper Hardtop 4 Door maintains the distinctive styling of the third-generation MINI family, which also includes the two-door Hardtop, the Clubman, and will soon be augmented with a new convertible model as well.
Like those other models, the Hardtop 4 Door features styling inspired by the classic 1960s BMC Mini, but updated and upsized for modern consumers. All current MINI models are much larger than the original Mini that inspired them, but they’re still very small by modern standards. The big, round headlights, grille design, and what designers call “Wide Bulldog Stance” make it impossible to mistake the 4 Door for anything other than a MINI.
As the name states, the 4 Door boasts two more doors than the standard MINI hatchback, with a 2.9-inch wheelbase stretch and a 6.3-inch elongation in overall length. This allows for a three-passenger rear bench and a slightly larger cargo area, making the Hardtop 4 Door a bit more practical than its two-door sibling.
On the inside, the Hardtop 4 Door is essentially the same as the two-door, but with some extra space in back. It takes advantage of the interior improvements made to other recent MINI models, including a more upscale look and a more ergonomic layout, such as moving the gauges from the giant disk that tops the center console to a more conventional gauge cluster in front of the steering wheel. That leaves the round central display with space to house the infotainment system.
Safety
Standard safety equipment on the 2016 MINI Cooper Hardtop 4 Door includes anti-lock brakes, stability and traction controls, and front, side, driver and front-passenger knee, and side-curtain airbags. Optional features include a rearview camera, rear park-distance control, and a park-assist package.
Bottom Line
The 2016 MINI Cooper Hardtop 4 Door is as fun and stylish as the original two-door Hardtop, but with an extra dose of practicality courtesy of two extra doors.
Be sure to contact us online or visit 3Birds Template at 505 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC 27516 to schedule a test drive.
*MPG values are based on preliminary EPA estimates for model year 2016. Actual mileage will vary with options, driving conditions, driving habits and vehicle operation.
**Model year 2016 MSRP does not include destination and handling charge of $850 and excludes license, registration, taxes and options and labor to install. Certain features may be optional. Actual price determined by your authorized MINI dealer.
Image: MINI (European model shown)
