The incoming five-door Cooper has a special place in this lineage.

PRICING for the five-door version of the last car Mini will offer exclusively with petrol powertrains has been settled.

Effectively a stretched version of the the three-door Cooper that comes out of the United Kingdom - as opposed to a fully electric three-door Mini that is arriving from China - the five-door car will represent here from the last part of the year.

Drivetrain provisions are as per the three-door, so seven speed automatics married to either a three-cylinder 115kW/230Nm 1.5-litre in the Cooper C and a four-cylinder 150kW/300Nm 2.0-litre in the Cooper S.

These each respectively start at $48,990 and $58,990. Those prices buy the cars in their base trims, called Core in C form and Classic in S provision.

The next step up on equipment level for the Cooper C is Classic then it tops with Favoured, with $3000 difference in each level.

The base 1.5-litre car comes with cruise control, parking assist, sports seats and a sports steering wheel, plus a six-speaker stereo with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto projection. 

The Classic adds adaptive function to the cruise, a surround view of the park assist and also implements auto speed limit, steering and lane control assistants, an interior camera, augmented reality nav, heated front seats and a sunroof. 

Buy the Cooper C in full-out Favoured and that adds in Harmon Kardon premium sound, John Cooper Works front chairs with electric adjust and bespoke trims.

In starting with Classic trim, the S thereafter delivers in Favoured as the mid-level spec with John Cooper Works being the highest priced five-door for now. That is a $64,990 car. The Favoured comes in $2000 below.

The Classic and Favoured fitouts for the S mirror those for the C; the JCE package delivers direct shift paddles, sports brakes and a bespoke suspension tune. Otherwise it’s all down to it having a JCW styling package.

Mini here is presenting the five-door as being a versatile take on the classic hatch, but with increased passenger and cargo room and no sacrificing the brand’s famed go-kart handling. 

“Whether it’s navigating the concrete jungle or a spirited weekend adventure, the new Cooper 5-Door offers a blend of the beloved character and everyday usability,” said Alexander Brockhoff, General Manager of Mini Australia and New Zealand, in a media share.

“It’s the ideal option for drivers seeking the fun and engaging drive of the Mini Cooper 3-Door in a more flexible and spacious silhouette.”

The five door’s wheelbase is 72mm larger and its body 172mm longer compared with its three-door sibling to accommodate for five occupants. With the use of the 60-40 folding rear seats, the luggage capacity can be increased from 275 litres to 925 litres.

The BMW-owned British brand is well into a major overhaul of its line-up as it begins to move towards becoming an electric brand. The new five-door hatch is expected to be the last of its genre, as its role will likely be taken up in electric equivalence by the new Aceman, also out of China and also set for NZ release.

The EV and combustion versions of the new Minis sit on separate platforms dedicated to each powertrain.