I'm interested to see any pictures of the R56 rear seat in use (adults or kids). I'm 6', so I suspect the kneeroom will be minimal in back, but I won't buy the car if the kids can't fit comfortably.

I'll get back to the dealer for a full family test, but on my initial visit to the showroom (Otto's), it was so mobbed that I didn't get near a car before I lost patience.

What's your view - ok for kids, ok for adults, or just decorative?

 

From my visits to my local dealer, I would say - ok for small kids/decorative. Sorry, no pics.

 

I've spent some time in the back seat. I would call this a comfortable 3 seater! (One adult in the back) Should be fine for the kiddies, but consider how big they'll get while you're still driving this!

Definitely take the test drive, it will be worth the effort! Good luck!

 

I have an R 53 and I don't think there is much difference but I've had 2 of my daughter friends back there and they fit ok there is not much room for an adult or if you had 4 adults the driver would be sitting on top of the wheel

 

Depends on how tall the driver is. For me, I have the driver's seat too far back for anybody to be behind me. Fine for 3. We have had 4 in there for short drives where its no problem to sit too close to the wheel for a short pickup/dropoff of kids. But I can't carry 4 as a daily drive. I'm 6ft.

 

There's a backseat? WOAH!

 

No, it is just a padded luggage carrier.

 

I'm a plus size woman that just drove in the back seat of a convertible from Denver to Las Vegas & I was more comfortable than the people in the friont seat!!
As for kids.....? Don't have any but I've seen MANY go out on test drives here at work & it depends on how long their little legs are.
G O O D L U C K !!

 

More specifically it depends on how long the drivers LEGS are. I'm about 5'11", but with longer torso and somewhat shorter legs. So my kids are comfortable in the back seat (ages 8 and 10). I took the family test drive and they were grinning in the back seat even more than me. I sat in the back seat after adjusting it for myself, and it was not a problem.

It's definitely functional, but you have to test for yourself based on your size (and that of your family).

 

Ohhhhh, that. Hehe, do they really call it a back seat? LOL!

I am about 6' 4" tall. My measure was to make sure the "back luggage upright separators" would fold down with my seat in its driver position.

 

Christopher Reeves did not fall off a horse.

He sat on a rear seat of a Mini.

 

I am 6-1 and the back of my seat is touching the rear seats. This car is realy a 3 seater if you you are tall. Take a test drive with you kids to find out. Good luck.

 

For fun my 6'5" brother and me 5'11" rode back seat with the wives in front. Neither very tall, but didn't have their knees hitting the dash. We were "snug" but it really wasn't that bad. I though better than some of the smaller 4 seat vehicles I'd been in.

 

I've spent a good amount of time in the backseat of a 2003 MINI.

The front passenger was willing and able to move foreward a bit without sacrificing too much of her own legroom, so I had pleanty of leg/knee room.

Where I noticed it lacking was in the footwells. The seat rails were too close together for my flipper sized gunboats to fit between them comfortably. The new car's seat rails are wider and this isn't an issue on the new car.

I'd say 3-seater - 1 adult behind the passenger, or two kids (unless the driver has some pretty short legs and can pull forward some, too).

 

FRONT

 

 

 

My advice to you is buy it and enjoy it while your kids are small. Rear seat room is nil especially with a 6 footer in the front. I'm 6'5" and am sure my backseat will never have any wear on it.

 

My brother has ridden in the rear seat before and he's 5'11" and he has no problem. There's a lot more room in the rear seat of a MINI than most people think!

 

Nice pictures - thank you

 

Hubby sat in the rear seat the other day, albeit with his legs on the seat. He's 6'2" and the front seat was comfortably back to accommodate my obese passenger.

 

Excellent input and pics! Thanks very much. I'm 6', but short legged, so I'm going to drag the clan down to the showroom for the 4-up test. I'll report any surprises.

The good news is that my oldest kid (a 10-year old total gearhead & BMW devotee) is totally into the Mini, so he'll happily suffer if it's remotely do-able as the 2nd vehicle, if only so it can be the car he learns to drive on.

 

as a photographer, I can only chuckle at this thread. depending on lens choice, I could make rear seat room look like a maybach or nearly non-existant (closer to truth eh?).

*-*


www.jimlynchphotography.com

 

AGREED!
NOBODY beyond someone the size of an average third grader is riding very far in the back seat of a Mini. Not comfortably, anyway. Going far? Let the fidgeting and complaining begin. Me, I'm part of a DINK team (double income, no kids) so it's fine with me. I think my vintage 71 VW superbeetle has as much or more space between the trunk and the backseat as my 07 MCS. That's why it's still around... it's my "camping car".