Which of these five-door hatchbacks has the best combination of looks, punchiness and practicality?
MINI COOPER 5-DOOR 1.5 versus OPEL ASTRA 1.4 versus VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R-LINE 1.4
BUYERS shopping for a fivedoor European hatchback are spoilt for choice, because apart from the usual French and German models, there is a British one, too.
The MINI 5-Door finally gives the British marque a contender in this segment.
Apart from having more space and a roomier boot compared to the 3-Door variant, MINI says that the 5-Door offers just as much driving excitement as its 3-Door sibling.
Looking more exciting than its lesser siblings is the 150bhp Volkswagen Golf, which comes standard with the R-Line package. Said package not only includes trim-specific body components, but much larger wheels, too.
The newest competitor in this segment is the Opel Astra, which has improved build quality, better performance and more room than its predecessor.
Which of these spirited hatchbacks will prove to be the most compelling to buyers? Keep reading to find out!
MINI COOPER 5-DOOR 1.5
“MOST RESPONSIVE POWERTRAIN”
ENGINE
MINI’s turbocharged 1.5-litre inline-3 with 136bhp and 220Nm is the most responsive and delivers the fastest century sprint times.
8.1 seconds (0-100KM/H)
COCKPIT
Most stylish cockpit is also the most driver-focussed, as the gearbox’s manual override points are “correctly” located and the seats are the only ones with extendable thigh-rests.
BACKSEAT
Ideal for two rather than three occupantsas the centre console extends all the way to the bench, but surprisingly, headroom in here is relatively generous.
METERS
Sportiest of the three clusters, but its small digits are the hardest to read.
OPEL ASTRA 1.4
“MOST SEAMLESS GEARBOX”
ENGINE
Opel’s turbocharged 1.4-litre 4-pot with 150bhp and 245Nm has the most linear power delivery.
9.0 seconds (0-100KM/H)
COCKPIT
Best for road trips as it has the most supportive seats and widest footrest. Astra lacks the Drive Mode selector found in its rivals, but its helm is the most accurate of the group.
BACKSEAT
Most spacious backseat easily accommodates three adults, as the floor protrusion is the lowest. The bench is also the cushiest of the three.
METERS
Cool white backlighting and the sharpest graphics makes this Opel set the prettiest, especially when seen at night.
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R-LINE 1.4
“HIGHEST POWER-TOWEIGHT RATIO”
ENGINE
Golf’s turbocharged 1.4-litre inline-4 has 150bhp and 250Nm, which translates to 123.5bhp and 205.8Nm per tonne.
8.2 seconds (0-100KM/H)
COCKPIT
Most practical and driver-friendly space offers the roomiest storage points, most intuitive infotainment system and the clearest all-round visibility. It’s also the sole contender with a sunroof as standard.
BACKSEAT
Most comfortable bench is the only one with rear air-con vents. It’s the most practical place, too, with the brightest map lights and the biggest doorbins.
METERS
Most functional layout makes all pertinent driving information the easiest to read at a glance.
“THE MINI FEELS THE NIMBLEST, THE ASTRA IS THE THE MINI FEELS THE NIMBLEST, THE ASTRA IS THE MOST REFINED, WHILE THE GOLF IS THE MOST PRACTICAL.”
BOOT
MINI’s 278-litre volume is surprisingly useful, as it has the lowest loading height and nearly as many tethering points as the Golf’s boot.
BOOT
Astra’s 370-litre boot is ideal for bulky items, but it’s the least flexible as it has the fewest anchoring points and lacks underfloor storage.
BOOT
Golf’s 385-litre boot is the most convenient as it is designed to hold its own parcel shelf, has side compartments for loose items, and offers the most underfloor storage.
Last Word
When it comes to pleasing the driver, neither the Astra nor the Golf can hold a candle to the MINI 5-Door. Although it has the fewest ponies, the MINI’s responsive powertrain and well-tuned suspension give it the zippiest performance and greatest agility.
We also love the car’s cockpit, which has cool toggle switches and funky lights. But as fun as the 5-Door is, it’s hard to look past its smaller backseat and lower boot capacity. Had the 5-Door’s space and practicality been closer to those of its rivals’, it would have outshone them in this story.
The Volkswagen Golf has no issues with regard to roominess and boot volume. It is also the most driver-friendly of the bunch, with intuitive controls and the best all-round visibility, too.
But although its performance figures are on a par with the MINI 5-Door’s, they don’t reflect the Golf’s sluggishness off the line, which we suspect is caused by its oversized 19-inch wheels.
Running neck and neck with the Golf is the Opel Astra. Its cabin is the most spacious one here, and its performance, while slightly behind its rivals’, remains respectable.
It’s the Astra’s pricing, though, which could ultimately sway buyers. At press time, it is $12.5k and $16.4k cheaper than the VW Golf and MINI 5-Door. Now, that sounds reasonable for a spirited five-door hatchback.
MINI COOPER 5-DOOR 1.5 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
TYPE Inline-3, 12-valves, turbocharged; CAPACITY 1499cc; BORE X STROKE 82mm x 94.6mm
COMPRESSION RATIO 11:1; MAX POWER 136bhp at 4500-6000rpm; MAX TORQUE 220Nm at 1250-4000rpm
POWER TO WEIGHT 115.7bhp per tonne; GEARBOX 6-speed automatic with manual select D; RIVEN WHEELS Front
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 8.1 seconds; TOP SPEED 207km/h (governed)
CONSUMPTION 20km/L (combined); CO2 EMISSION 116g/km
SUSPENSION
FRONT MacPherson struts, coil springs; REAR Multi-link, coil springs
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Discs
TYRES
TYPE Pirelli Cinturato P1 SIZE 195/65 R16
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 6 TRACTION AIDS ABS, DSC
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 3982mm; WIDTH 1727mm; HEIGHT 1425mm; WHEELBASE 2567mm; KERB WEIGHT 1175kg; TURNING CIRCLE 11m
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $141,300 (after $10k CEVS rebate); WARRANTY 3 years/200,000km
+ MOST FUN TO DRIVE, QUICKEST PERFORMANCE, SNAZZY DESIGN
– PRICIEST, SMALLEST BOOT, MOST COMPACT BACKSEAT
BEST IN: DRIVING THRILLS
OPEL ASTRA 1.4 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves, turbocharged; CAPACITY 1399cc; BORE X STROKE 74mm x 81.3mm
COMPRESSION RATIO 10:1; MAX POWER 150bhp at 5000-5600rpm; MAX TORQUE 245Nm at 2000-4000rpm
POWER TO WEIGHT 121.7bhp per tonne; GEARBOX 6-speed automatic with manual select; DRIVEN WHEELS Front
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 9 seconds;TOP SPEED 210km/h CONSUMPTION 18.2km/L (combined);
CO2 EMISSION 127g/km; SUSPENSION FRONT MacPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
REAR Multi-link, coil springs, anti-roll bar
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Discs
TYRES
TYPE Michelin Primacy 3; SIZE 225/45 R17
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 6 TRACTION AIDS ABS, ESC
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 4370mm; WIDTH 1809mm; HEIGHT 1485mm; WHEELBASE 2662mm
KERB WEIGHT 1233kg; TURNING CIRCLE 11.4m
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $124,888 (after $5k CEVS surcharge); WARRANTY 5 years/100,000km
+ LOWEST ASKING PRICE, COMFIEST CABIN, SMOOTHEST GEARBOX
– LEAST PRACTICAL BACKSEAT, LEAST FLEXIBLE BOOT, SLOWEST PERFORMANCE
BEST IN: REFINEMENT
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R-LINE 1.4 (A)
DRIVETRAIN
TYPE Inline-4, 16-valves, turbocharged; CAPACITY 1395cc; BORE X STROKE 74.5mm x 80mm
COMPRESSION RATIO 10.5:1; MAX POWER 150bhp at 5000-6000rpm; MAX TORQUE 250Nm at 1500-3500rpm
POWER TO WEIGHT 123.5bhp per tonne; GEARBOX 7-speed dual-clutch with manual select; DRIVEN WHEELS Front
PERFORMANCE
0-100KM/H 8.2 seconds; TOP SPEED 216km/h; CONSUMPTION 19.6km/L (combined)
CO2 EMISSION 118g/km; SUSPENSION FRONT MacPherson struts, coil springs anti-roll bar
REAR Multi-link, coil springs, anti-roll bar
BRAKES
FRONT / REAR Ventilated discs / Discs
TYRES
TYPE Bridgestone Potenza S001; SIZE 225/35 R19
SAFETY
AIRBAGS 7 TRACTION AIDS ABS, ESP
MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH 4255mm; WIDTH 1799mm; HEIGHT 1452mm
WHEELBASE 2637mm; KERB WEIGHT 1215kg; TURNING CIRCLE 10.9m
BUYING IT
PRICE INCL. COE $137,400 (after $10k CEVS rebate); WARRANTY 3 years/100,000km
+ MOST DRIVERFRIENDLY, MOST PRACTICAL INTERIOR, MOST EFFICIENT POWERTRAIN
– BACKSEAT HAS THE LEAST FOOT SPACE, FEELS SLOWEST OFF THE LINE, RELATIVELY STEEP PRICING
BEST IN: PRACTICALITY
