Mini has admitted that its all-new five-door model will not outsell the three-door hatch, going against the tide of the supermini segment, where the five-door body style is predominant.
According to a research cited by Mini, most owners of five-door hatchbacks don’t actually have children, with the automaker saying that the appeal of the extra doors is driven by the “what if” factor.
“Three-quarters of five-door hatchback owners don’t have children. It’s the idea of having extra flexibility that appeals to them. We now have something to offer,” Mini product manager Roderick von Ostrowski told CAR magazine.
Mini’s forecast, made during the UK press launch of the new Mini five-door, is contrary to the trend in the volume B-segment, where many models don’t even have a three-door body style. Mini says two-thirds of the volume supermini sector is made up of five-door models, but in its case, the ratios are reversed, with the three-door Hatch expected to make two-thirds of sales. This confirms the fact that the brand’s core model remains the Hatch, which is the modern successor of the original Mini.
The Mini five-door is the brand’s second five-door model after the Countryman. It is 162mm longer overall than the Hatch, offering more space for rear passengers and is homologated for five seats. The five-door model also has a bigger boot – 278 liters versus 211 liters.
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