MINI Classic Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

In the summer of 2024, MINI unveiled the five-door version of the Cooper S's fourth generation, a hatchback that was suitable for five adults inside.

Those who needed more usable seats than on the three-door version of the MINI had to wait and see what the five-door version would get them. Unlike other cars made by BMW, which owned the British brand, the automaker extended the wheelbase of the three-door version when it made the version with doors for those seated in the back as well. As a result, the 2025 MINI Cooper S 5-door provided more legroom for the passengers who were not in the first row of seats. To power the new model, MINI also installed inline-three and inline-four powerplants under the vehicle's hood.

Design-wise, the fourth generation of this nameplate came with similar styling for both versions of the car. It featured round headlights, which were brand-specific, encircled by LED daytime running lights that doubled as turn signals as well. The octagonal grille that covered most of the front fascia filled the area between them and was extended downwards into the lower bumper. It was interrupted in the middle by a thick horizontal slat for the license plate and adorned by a 3D pattern.

From its profile, the car unveiled a sporty-looking design with flared wheel arches sporting matte black trims and side sills. To create a floating-roof styling, the automaker made all the pillars in gloss black and left the door open for contrasting roofs in black or white, which were offered as options. In addition, the black caps on the door mirrors and handles contributed to the hatchback's appealing overall look. Since the passengers didn't have to squeeze through the front doors to get to the rear seats, the automaker shortened them compared to the Cooper S's three-door sibling, but still, they were slightly longer than those assigned to the rear passengers. At the back, the slightly tilted forward tailgate sported a roof spoiler on its upper area, above the rear window. New for the model's lineup was a black trim spread across the tailgate, left to right, between the LED taillights that showed the Union Jack flag theme.

Inside, the automaker kept the original design theme of the MINI with a big round dial placed on the center stack. Instead of placing analog dials, there was a 240 mm (9.4-inch) OLED touchscreen for the infotainment system that used the MINI Operating System 9. Its functions could be intuitively accessed via touch or voice commands. Fronting the driver was a new three-spoke steering wheel with physical buttons. For the front occupants, MINI installed high-bolstered seats with an option for sports seats featuring integrated headrests. At the same time, a split-folding (60/40) bench seat could accommodate up to three passengers in the back.

Under the hood, the automaker installed a choice of two gasoline engines, 156 PS (154 hp) and 204 PS (201 hp), that sent their power to the front wheels. Like the previous generations, it relied on independent suspension in all corners, which made the car unique in its market segment. In addition, to add the sensation of a go-kart feeling, the automaker installed a wide choice of wheel sizes, ranging between 16 and 18 inches.

While a three-door S version was already natural for the MINI, the 5-door version meant that someone could take the same car for its personal pleasure and to use it as a family car as well.

MINI introduced the fourth generation of the Cooper S in 2021. The carmaker didn't offer a 5-door version for the sporty model since the brand's revival in 2000, but soon the customers started to ask for a more punchy version with a set of doors for the rear passengers. Thus, they could claim that they bought a family car.

While some purists claimed that a 5-door version was blasphemy for the MINI, others just nodded their heads and paid for it. It was a truly practical sports hatchback vehicle in the mini segment. The fourth generation of the MINI Cooper S four-door featured a striking front fascia with a grille surrounded by a piano-black trim. A set of additional air-intakes made their way in the front apron to feed the turbocharged engine. The Cooper S was available with an 18" Pulse Spoke two-tone set of wheels apart from the standard 17" ones from its sides. In the rear, the dual exhaust took center stage under the bumper.

Inside, MINI received a 5" instrument cluster fitted as standard. An 8.8" touch-screen dominated the top of the center stack. The dashboard's front panel sported a carbon-fiber trim. Its front sport-bucket seats featured high-bolstering. Its five-doors configuration allowed a better ingress and egress from the car, while the rear bench seatback was split-folding.

Under the hood, MINI installed a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with TwinPower technology that reduced the lag and rocketed the car to 100 kph (62 mph) in a mere 6.9 seconds (6.7s for the automatic transmission).

By 1997, Mini was already an ancient vehicle, and still, the British customers loved it, but the sales were stalling, leading the carmaker to create a refreshed version for the old vehicle.

The Mini is one of those iconic vehicles that made history on the rally stages, beating much more powerful competitors. Its underdog status, funny appearance, and excellent fuel efficiency kept it on the assembly lines far more than it was intended to when it was introduced to the UK's market in 1959.

Even after four decades since it was introduced, the Mini kept its original look and size. But it went through some changes that improved its appearance. For starters, it featured new headlights with chromed surroundings and better light bulbs inside. Then, the A-shaped grille was chromed, and so was the bumper, even though most carmakers had already ditched that trend in the early '80s. On the sides, the automaker added some extensions on the wheel arches to prevent wheels from splashing the bodywork. Nevertheless, they were needed for the enlarged tracks.

Inside, at first sight, it was the same old Mini fitted with tiny front bucket seats and a bench for two in the back. And yet, there were some differences, such as the three-spoke steering wheel fitted with an airbag and the wood veneers on the dashboard. Yet, the power windows were nonexistent, and the sound system was there just for fun.

Under the hood, Rover installed an improved, fuel-injected, 1.3-liter engine for the 1997 Mini. It wasn't very powerful, but its 62 hp (63 PS) power was more than enough to easily move around the car inside a city. Unfortunately, the carmaker couldn't fit a five-speed gearbox on this vehicle.