Photo: Screenshot from Youtube
For most of the people close to the automotive scene, the 5-door MINI launched just 2 weeks ago is an abomination. It’s the last straw in a series of decisions taken by BMW that just don’t feel right, don’t keep in touch with the brand’s history and legacy.
Sure, that’s the case for those of us that know what MINI used to stand for and what it used to build. After all, that name didn’t come around for nothing, it was meant to tell people that everything about this car is small, from the budget needed to operate and maintain it, to the actual size of the thing.
Now, despite the fact that the 3-door hardtop has grown quite a lot in recent years, the company decided to launch a 5-door version that’s even bigger. Sacrilege to us, but what the actual customers said about it, might surprise you. It sure did surprise us, just like the 2 Series Active Tourer.
You’ll be either happy or upset to learn that a lot of people actually find this model more attractive than the usual hatchback. The added practicality of the extra doors is the number one reason for that. Sure, they are small but they do exist and allow you to use the backseat more easily.
Of course, since the car’s size grew overall, the interior space was increased as well, not by much but plenty for most customers to point it out and list it on the pros side of the list. As for the cons, several complained about the exterior styling and the general direction in which it’s heading, the huge taillights and the long bonnet at the front being amongst the most dreaded choices out there.
The price was yet another thing that worried some of the possible customers but that’s a relative matter, depending on how pretentious you are.
Bottom line, the 5-door MINI might be very well heading for a big success on the market, contrary to what die-hard fans of the brand are hoping. It seems like the added practicality of the extra doors will eventually turn out to be a decisive buying factor.
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