2014 MINI F55 Hatch Cooper SD 2.0L 6AT FWD (170 HP)

Vehicle Overview

BMW’s modern-era MINI turned out to be a much more sophisticated thing. Despite having grown a bit in dimensions, the 2014 MINI Hatch carries forward its predecessor’s aspiration to remain the leading original of the premium small car segment, providing significant advancements in all areas, including driving fun, quality, and individual flair.

Considering that the Countryman was the first MINI to have five doors, with the introduction of the F55-series model in 2014, the BMW brand talked of this design as being ‘the first ever 5-door MINI Hatch,’ and that actually brought to this MINI a lot of enjoyability and a serious competitor to its rivals.

For fans, the worst mistake any MINI can make is lose its ‘MINI-ness.’The new MINI is now 98 mm longer, 44 mm wider, and 7 mm higher than its predecessor. The wheelbase has been extended by 28 mm, all allowing for improved cornering and ride comfort and increased interior room.

The extra rear doors are pretty small, so squeezing in and out can be tricky. The boot, instead, has plenty of space for its class and for a car of its size. The opening degree gives good practicality when you want to put something in the back.

There is not too much to say about the interior. It is quitesimilar to other MINI models of the same production year, and also not very different from the previous generation. This is quite a bit unpleasant because, from one generation to another, you would expect some significant upgrades and modifications.

It has aggressive-styled seats covered in Dinamica/fabric, badged door sills, perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminum pedals, and paddle shifters. Performance upgrades include a new suspension and electromechanical power steering, DSC, DTC, electronically lockable differential, and damper adjustment.

What do we get under the bonnet? It’s a front-wheel drive front-engined with 134 BHP; the turbocharged 1.5-liter 12v inline 3 petrol engine (BMW B38A15) accelerates this Cooper 5-Door to 62 mph in 8.2 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 129 mph (208 kph).

With a curb weight of 1,220 kg (2,690 pounds), it achieves 60.1 mpg (4 liters per 100 km) on average and can travel 528 miles (850 km) before requiring a refill of its 40-liter (11-gallon) fuel tank. It comes with a choice of either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed automatic gearbox. For Europe, it is also available in a 2.0-liter diesel engine, which has a better fuel economy.

Overall, the F55 Mini is British build quality, and this third-generation Hatch design’s classy and playful. Best of all, perhaps, the extra length of this variant has done nothing to dilute its fun factor. We consider it a great choice for a town car that fits well for a young person or a mother taking her child to school.