Used MINI 5-door review and buying guide (2014 to present): which one to buy and what to check

Which used MINI 5-door should you buy?

No year or version of the MINI 5-door stands out as one to avoid, so buy it for the extra rear headroom and legroom. There aren't any known faults listed against it, but that's thin evidence rather than a clean bill of health, so don't treat a newer plate as a safer one on that basis alone.

What does split one car from another is the engine. The maker put out a bulletin to renew the crankshaft bearings on the 1.5 litre three-cylinder, the Cooper D's engine, and it didn't cover the 1.2 MINI One. On a 1.5, a car with that work in its history is the better buy, so find out which engine it's got before you go.

Which MINI 5-door engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 1.5 litre three-cylinder is the engine with paperwork to chase: the maker's bulletin called for new crankshaft bearings, and it's a three day job. That doesn't rule out a 1.5, but ask the seller whether their car was covered and whether the work's been done, and favour one that can show it.

The 1.2 MINI One wasn't named in that bulletin, but that's no proof its bearings are fine, so ask the same question on one. There's nothing else on it either way, though, so it isn't the proven pick by default. Every 5-door came with a six-speed manual as standard, and there's no gearbox problem on the books to steer you away from it.

What should you check when viewing a used MINI 5-door?

On a 1.5 three-cylinder, look for an invoice or service entry showing the crankshaft bearings were renewed under the maker's bulletin. If there's nothing, ask a MINI dealer whether the car was included and whether the job's outstanding before you hand over any money.

Press the horn several times and check it sounds cleanly and stops when you let go. One owner's 2014 car had a faulty horn button: the dealer cleaned the contacts twice, then the horn started going off by itself and the dealer quoted £1,200 for a whole new steering wheel. After the owner challenged it, MINI agreed they'd only pay £200.

Read the job sheets, not just the stamps. One owner's 10,000 mile Cooper S had a low washer fluid warning noted on the job sheet at a service and nothing was done about it, so if the seller says a niggle was fixed, ask to see the invoice that shows the work.

Bring whoever'll sit in the back and get them in and out a couple of times. Adults find the rear door openings a bit of a squeeze, even though the extra space behind them is the reason to buy the 5-door, so make sure your passengers can live with it.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used MINI 5-door cost to run?

What do MINI 5-door owners like about them?

The cabin's the big draw: it's well built and has enough character that the car feels special every time you get in. The extra rear headroom and legroom are what turn it from a fun hatchback into one that works as a family car, and there's plenty of scope to make yours look the way you want.

It still drives like a MINI, and the extra doors haven't taken the edge off how sharply it steers and corners. The longer wheelbase helps the ride as well, so it's comfortable enough even on 17 inch wheels, which made the previous MINI's ride harsh. It's fun on a back road and easy to live with every day.

• The 72mm longer wheelbase of the MINI 5-door improves ride quality, even with 17-inch tyres.
• The high quality and distinctive interior design makes the MINI feel like a premium vehicle.
• Adding an extra pair of doors has not diminished the car's responsive handling characteristics.
• The five-door model offers improved practicality, making it more suitable for family use.
• Owners benefit from a wide array of customisation choices, allowing for personalised vehicle configurations.