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FireFlyz | 67
and because you’re seated so close to the upright windscreen, there’s a
real sense of speed as the horizon and slower cars rush up tomeet you.
This Mini features selectable driving modes. Just like DDC on a
BMW, Mini Driving Modes allows you to choose different maps to
suit your drivingmood. For the 5-door there are Green, Mid and Sport
modes to choose from. The default is Mid but Green works well for
daily driving while Sport is what you use when you’re in a hurry.
Charge along a winding road and it’s apparent the eager handling
of the 3-door has survived the transplant to the bigger car. The steering
is sharp and direct and the 5-door corners flatly, resisting body roll
like politicians resist change. Ride comfort is surprisingly refined too.
So if the Mini 5-door Cooper S feels about 95 per cent similar to
its 3-door cousin but is considerably less stylish, the best reason to
opt for it over the smaller car would be space and thankfully there’s
a surprising amount of it.
While the 3-door is a squeeze at the back even for kids, the 5-door
allows both children and adults to enjoy the experience from the rear
seats. I can sit comfortably behind a seat that’s been adjusted to my
driving position and though foot room is still a bit tight, the heavily
scalloped seat backs liberates a lot of extra knee room.
There’s also space for three instead of two passengers, but as the
three and five-door share the same overall width, the middle seat is
best used for short journeys. You also get a bigger boot with 278-litres
of luggage space available behind the rear seats; a 67-litre increase
over the 3-door.
The designers have carried on the interior styling themes used in
its predecessor but the in-car interface has beautiful graphics, is easy
to learn and makes you feel like you’re using a premium product.
With a list price of RM238,888 you’ll have to cough up RM10,000
more to get two extra rear doors on a Mini. By opting for the 5-door
you’ll end up with a considerably less attractive car but one that’s
just as fun to drive and massively more practical than the Mini
Cooper S 3-door.
Factf ile
MINI Cooper S 5-door
Price:
RM238,888
Engine:
2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged petrol
Output:
192hp@4700rpm, 280Nm@ 1250rpm
Transmission:
6-speed automaticw/steering shift paddles
Performance:
0-100km/h in 6.8 seconds, top speed 230km/h
Fuel efficiency:
18.2 km/l (combined cycle)
Wheels/tyres:
17in alloys, 205/45 R17
Safety:
6-airbags, Electronic Stability Control
Warranty:
2-years unlimitedmileage