So here is the short version of my story: I've been lost in a MINI-less world after needing to sell my R56 S hardtop for a sedan to accommodate our newborn.

Say what you will, I never warmed up to the countryman so the F56 4DR has been on my waiting list for a while. Something practical is the only way to sell this idea to the appropriations committee (aka my wife).

Made it over to the dealer to check in out over lunch and just from the showroom floor, I was surprised how big it seemed. Lots of rear seat room there, which I wasn't expecting. Ingress/egress wasn't half bad and the best part was with the taller hatchback roofline, no smacking of my head against a sloping C-pillar took place. The kardashian-esque hatchback butt actually gives a welcome amount of room for stuff (which means stroller to the those that don't understand where I'm coming from). But man is this thing another step up in size from the R56 clubman.

Getting a relatively bare-bones S out on the road brought back quite a few smiles, and a bit of sadness that the direction MINI has taken with design means that my quirky love-affair with the R53/56 is coming to an end, yet the F56 has its own nuances to love and hate. The interior looks great, but still isn't the most well thought out. What's with this tiny tach and why does the armrest seem to fight with me every time I want to shift? I loved the extra power and honestly really liked how the extra rear weight makes this car very tail-happy and playful. You can feel the additional mass when braking hard, so I think upgraded wheels, tires and brakes will be a must (mostly due to my driving). The new steering wheel is such an improvement, but one area that I was surprised to see was such a small pedal box and little room between the footrest and clutch. Felt like it was just squeezed in. The best aspect however, came from looking in the mirrors and realizing that this significantly larger MINI still drives very small. It didn't feel like I was towing an extra 200+ lbs of metal behind me compared to the two door F56 or even my old R56. When cornering hard you notice it but otherwise it's just welcome space to enable me to take the whole family out, which is exciting since I can finally get back into a MINI.

Now the downside...

Those better brakes I mentioned and options I feel are must-haves, really probably mean I should sit tight and wait for the JCW version. I'm thinking that if this is potentially my last shot at buying a new car with a manual transmission, then it had better be exactly what I want and I kicked myself last time for not going the JCW route.

I'm ranting and rambling but thanks for letting me share my thoughts and I'm interested to hear the impressions others have had with this 4DR hardtop.

 

The Clubman was an R55.

 

I sat in one at the dealer recently; I found ingress very difficult.

 

I'd wait for the F54 Clubman if you were after space, personally I think the F56 4 door looks hideous

 

NOT a fan of all the MINI variants. Actually, I wish they would come out with a MINI Pick Up Truck. Throw back to where Mini started with their cars and trucks. A four door MINI is really an oxymoron. Just does not fit. Sorry....

 

I don't know guys, if it's still fun and sporty who really cares if it's not tiny? There will always be the die-hard loyalists, and that's what makes a brand truly great, but in order for the brand to succeed they need to appeal to the masses.

I have an F56s while the girlfriend's R60S is in the shop and I'm having a ton of fun with it, but I don't think I can daily a two door car. If I drive the sedan and it's almost as fun as the hardtop I think I'll be picking one up.

 

The armrest is adjustable to several angles, as well as "up" FYI.

 

Great write up!

A little bit more of a downside (if you are looking to do something soon) is that the John Cooper Works F55 (Hardtop 4-door) has not yet been approved as an additional model to the F56 Hardtop 2-door. AND MINI has made it clear that all initial John Cooper Works models will be equipped with the Sport Automatic transmission. A manual 6-speed will be added at a later date.

 

Are they even gonna make a 4 door factory JCW? If so when, 2016 model year? I agree with a manual in the F56/55. I really like the AT in my 2014 JCW R58, but my friend's F56 was in 5TH FREAKING GEAR going 43 MPH in Sport mode when I was driving it. In my MT 2007 MCS I would have been in 3rd, and in my 2014 AT car it's in 4th. That sorta bugged me that it wants to be at less than 2000 RMP all the time.

 

Oversight on my part. Thanks for clarifying though.

 

It wasn't ideal, but in comparison to other cars close in size, it didn't feel terrible. The golf and the focus aren't much better and I just like MINIs better, so this feels like a good compromise.

 

I kept trying to move it but couldn't find a decent position. It was just a test drive and eventually I did just fold it up and away, as you suggested. It just seems dumb to have the armrest and not be able to use it as intended.

 

To clarify, front or rear seats?...
If the front seats are all the way back, there really isn't much leg/foot room for a rear passenger...
I checked one out again while picking up my touch-up paint last night at my local dealer. I do like the dark green in the 4 door body though....

 

Luckily I'm not in a rush at all. I'd actually welcome some more time since I'll likely need to replace my sedan with a small SUV first and then get the MINI.

Gotta love the idea of sport auto and JCW..:(

Anyway, here's to MINI at least having an option to work for me. While I understand some complaining that it isn't a purist MINI (I hear you since I was one of them) but with kids in tow and wanting to be able to drive a fun car while having them come along, the options are limited. To add to that living in a area with limited space and wanting a car that can handle a road course once a season or so, I need a jack of all trades. This would accomplish that while still keeping me in a MINI, not need to be in a countryman and I'd have a smile on my face when I look at it. I've been through enough cars and life to stop worrying too much about everything else and just get something that works for me and will make me happy. Hopefully a JCW variant is in the cards but we shall see what the future holds.

 

Agreed...If I was having my family now, I would have the 4 door! It allows me to have my cake and eat it to, and that's what MINI wants. They have expanded their buyer base and it's about MONEY. The JCW with a manual tranny would be just perfect...Good when the family is in the car....Asphalt eater when alone..

 

My thoughts exactly. We will hopefully have a 2nd little monster on the way soon in the future and the space would be welcome without having to sacrifice all fun.

 

Regarding my observation of difficult ingress, I was referring to the front. My interest in the 4-door is sparked by the much narrower front doors compared to those on my R53 which can be hard to get into as parking places and my garage seem to get narrower over time.

 

I've had my F55 for ~2wks now, and in/egress in front seems fine to me, though frameless doors would have helped. Rear ingress isn't so bad, but egress is poor; the combination of the tiny door and the seat set back. Luckily that's not where I sit. The armrest is less than ideal. Why does it let you set it so low you can't use the e-brake? I have it set just high enough to clear the e-brake, and it's only a tad too high, though I have the seat set pretty high too, and it's only marginally annoying when reaching down to the controller.

 

Seems like they ran out of good ideas when it comes to the armrest and where to place the iDrive controller. I'm fine with it too at this point, but when you sit in a BMW, you see how much nicer it is when it's front-and-center, just where your hand naturally falls. Maybe the really should have gone with an e-brake, given that they were at such a loss on how to battle for real estate?

 

I agree, an electronic e-brake would have been a good solution - would have allowed for a raised center section, a much shorter shifter (seems like it is a foot and a half) and the controller would fall at hand better when resting on the armrest. I came from a BMW Z4. It really is amazing how well an interior can fit you like a glove ... and others miss the mark. I will take quirky any day, but poor ergonomics will have more long-term effects.

 

Yes!!!! The Z4 interior fits like a glove, the armrest literally falls right under your arm! It's amazing how such a small interior feels so perfect! They should have taken the Z4 centre portion, made it less wide and put it in the F56.

 

Is that ring around the entertainment/Nav area configurable? Can the ring be turned off completely?

 

It is BOTH configurable and can be completely turned off. I currently have it set to respond to all of the options available and, oddly enough, do not find it distracting at all.

 

The "ring" doesn't bother me. But my wife says she thinks it would be annoying. Is it configurable by key? Meaning it be set to be active or off depending who gets in the car.

 

I believe it's configured to the car, not the key.