MINI Hardtop 4 Door 2021 Review

The four-door Mini Hardtop is a slightly longer Mini than the standard model, with a rear seat that can easily fit your kids or squeeze in a couple of adults. There's more room for rear passengers and cargo, plus you still get all the same fun driving qualities and retro-inspired styling you'd expect from the Mini brand.

But the Mini Hardtop 4 Door faces some tough competition, as the larger Honda Civic, Mazda 3 and Volkswagen GTI all offer much more practicality for the price. The Mini Cooper 4 Door is downright expensive for its class, especially in top trim levels. And while the four-door Mini is a bit more comfortable on the highway than its two-door counterpart, it can feel rough over broken roads, especially with the larger optional wheels.

Despite those drawbacks, there's still much to like about the Cooper 4 Door. It's fun to drive, and it has remarkable styling and a premium-feeling interior. In a competitive class of small, peppy hatchbacks, it's a strong pick.

Which Hardtop 4 Door does MatoCar recommend?

We recommend spending a little extra for the Cooper S. This trim adds the more powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that we think best suits the personality of the vehicle and the Mini brand. And while the sky's the limit when it comes to options, we would definitely choose the midlevel Signature trim since it adds a good mix of features we like (panoramic sunroof, keyless entry, automatic emergency braking and LED lighting) without racking up a much higher price.

You have a number of choices to make when choosing which 2021 Mini Cooper Hardtop 4 Door to buy. First you choose the main trim, which includes the Cooper or Cooper S. From there, you can pick subtrims such as Classic, Oxford Edition, Signature and Iconic. You can consider them packages that essentially add features.

Cooper Hardtop 4 Door You get the Classic trim at no extra cost. It includes:

• Turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine (134 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque)
• Six-speed manual transmission or optional seven-speed automatic
• 15-inch alloy wheels
• Heated sideview mirrors
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Simulated leather seats
• 6.5-inch touchscreen
• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)

Cooper S Hardtop 4 Door Higher performance from:

• Turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (189 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque)
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Additional driving modes
• Sport seats

From here, you can add more features through packages and stand-alone options. The exact packaged features differ slightly depending on which main trim you pick, but broadly these packages include:

Oxford Edition The Oxford Edition is a value-oriented trim. Based on the Cooper Classic, it adds a number of features that would cost extra on other trims including:

• 17-inch wheels
• Heated seats

Signature

• LED headlights
• Heated front seats
• Keyless ignition and entry
• Panoramic sunroof

Iconic Includes the above, plus:

• Premium leather upholstery
• 8.8-inch touchscreen with navigation
• Head-up display
• Apple CarPlay smartphone integration
• Premium package
• Auto-dimming mirrors
• Harman Kardon sound system
• Satellite radio

Some of the packaged features are also available as stand-alone options. A Driver Assistance package (adaptive cruise control, parking sensors and automated parking system) is available on all three subtrims. Mini also offers multiple ways to customize your Hardtop with special wheel designs, unique exterior and interior trim, and special hood or roof graphics.