We use cookies to make your experience better. To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent to set the cookies. Learn more.
Used MINI Hatch Review
15 Mar 2023
The MINI Hatch is a fun-filled family car, but is it the right choice for you? It certainly looks the part, with the fashionable MINI combining retro styling with an upmarket appeal, but is this British classic all style and no substance? We don’t think so.
The not-so-mini MINI Hatch provides a great driving experience and is the bread-and-butter of MINI’s ever-growing range. Whether you prefer the three-door or five-door MINI Hatch, you’ll find loads of models for sale at a sensible price and with plenty of great engines that keep running at a low cost. All that helps to make the MINI one of the best used hatchbacks you can buy.
Looking for a used MINI Hatch for sale? We’re going to explore the Mk2 (2007-2014) and Mk3 (2014-present) models to help you find the best engine and trim level for your budget.
Pros and Cons
|
What is a MINI Hatch?
The MINI Hatch is the original hatchback version of the BMW-built MINI. The MINI was originally only available as a three-door hatchback and convertible, with subsequent body shapes such as the MINI Clubman (estate) and the MINI Countryman being added later on. In 2014, a longer five-door MINI Hatch was also introduced.
How does it look?
The reinvented-by-BMW MINI has been around since 2001. In the more than 20 years since, MINI has produced convertibles, coupes, Clubman estates and Countryman SUVs, but the original MINI Hatch has been everpresent in its range. And in that time, the aesthetics of the MINI Hatch have barely changed.
Both the Mk2 and the Mk3 retain the 60s retro styling, with their exposed oversized chrome fuel fillers, big round lights and statement dashboard dials. The MINI has grown though and is now wider, taller and longer than the original. But despite the increase in size, those distinctive looks have helped it to retain that cute, puppy dog charm.
What’s it like to drive?
Whether you’re nipping through town or dashing down twisting B-roads, the MINI Hatch has been engineered for fun. It really is fantastic to drive on short journeys, with its squat, square stance providing a proper go-karting experience, while the engines deliver the power and performance you’d expect from what is a BMW at heart.
On longer journeys, there could come a time when you grow tired of the MINI Hatch’s lively and spritely driving experience. Motorway miles are still pleasurable on the whole, although there is some wind and road noise at speed, and you might find yourself craving the twists and turns that really bring out the best in this irrepressible little car.
Which is the best used MINI Hatch to buy?
If you’re looking for a used MINI Hatch for sale then you’re not going to be short of choice. The popularity of the MINI over the years means there are all sorts of models out there and most of them represent reasonable value for money. Every MINI Hatch of this generation was a three door, so it’s just the engine and trim level that you need to nail down.
If it’s a low-cost Mk2 you’re looking for, the frugal and insurance-friendly MINI One, with either a 1.4 (94bhp) or 1.6-litre engine (98bhp), is probably the best choice. If fuel economy is a priority, there’s also a 108bhp 1.6-litre diesel available from Cooper spec and above.
If you want something a bit nippier, the 1.6-litre MINI Cooper and Cooper S produce 118bhp and 175bhp respectively, giving them plenty of zip. And if your budget will stretch to it, the 208bhp John Cooper S Works version is all sorts of fun.
If you want a Mk3 used MINI Hatch, you have the longer five-door option to choose from, which adds some much-need practicality if you’re carrying passengers, as well as a new selection of engines. Initially, there was an underpowered 101bhp 1.2-litre petrol MINI One and a One D with a 94 bhp 1.5-litre diesel. The Cooper had a 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engine producing 136bhp and 115bhp respectively. The Cooper S had a 2.0-litre 197bhp engine, while the John Cooper S Works delivered a whiplash-worthy 231bhp.
The later Mk3s simplified all that with two 1.5-litre petrol engines, two 2.0-litre petrol engines and an all-new 135kW all-electric version. Of these, we like the 1.5 petrol engine because it smoothes away the surges of power delivery you can get with the three-cylinder engines while also producing plenty of pull. The 136bhp 1.5 Cooper is probably the best value as it provides plenty of power without the added expense of the Cooper S.
When it comes to the spec, it’s worth looking to find a used MINI Hatch equipped with the Chili Pack as the standard equipment, particularly as the MINI One is quite basic.
How much is a used Mini Hatch?
You could find an early Mk2 1.6-litre Cooper with average mileage on independent forecourts for as little as £1,800, while a high mileage Cooper S starts at around £3,000. A good budget-friendly MINI One could be yours for just £2,300. Post-facelift versions from 2011 onwards start at around £4,000 and go up to £6,000, which is also the cost of the most basic Mk3.
£8,000 will buy you a good three or five-door MINI Hatch from 2016, while £12,000 to £15,000 will get you a post-facelift 2019 model. Expect to pay between £16,000 and £22,000 for a 2020 MINI or from £18,000 upwards for a 2021 model.