Mini 5D Hatch vs Audi S3
What's the difference?

Mini 5D Hatch

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2020 price

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Audi S3

$73,980 - $98,888

2025 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2020 Mini 5D Hatch

2025 Audi S3

By Andrew Chesterton

By Emily Agar

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 2.0L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

6.0L/100km (combined)

7.9L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Potent engine
Tons of grip
Funky cabin ambience

Athletic and sporty in all the right places
Improved engine outputs
Gorgeous cabin space

Dislikes

Ride can be harsh
Jittery drive experience
Cabin tech overly user friendly

Tiny back seat
Missing some premium features
Lots of road noise

2020 Mini 5D Hatch Summary

That the 2020 Mini Clubman John Cooper Works is the most powerful Mini to have landed in Australia isn’t all that surprising. After all, parent company BMW has squeezed the thumping four-cylinder engine from the M135i under its bonnet, and that thing creates a snarling beast of any vehicle it finds a home in.

What is a surprise, though, is that having now driven this angry, crackling, snarling hot hatch, what with its burbling exhaust and properly rapid acceleration, is that it took Mini this long to get around to doing it.

So does the engine upgrade now put the Clubman JCW on the same pedestal as the best European hot hatches? There's only one way to find out.

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2025 Audi S3 Summary

In a world where car upgrades often feel like saying, “Can I upsize that?”, it’s refreshing to hop into the updated Audi S3 Sportback.

The flagship RS 3 may still be the holy grail of hot hatch dreams, but with boosted engine outputs and upgraded tech, the S3 is stepping up.

Is the S3 Sportback the smarter pick over pricier rivals? It delivers serious performance and polish without stretching into RS 3 territory. With fierce competition in the segment, let’s see what this contender brings to the table.

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Deep dive comparison

2020 Mini 5D Hatch 2025 Audi S3

Verdict

The Mini Clubman JCW is quirky in a lot of the right ways, and now has a hard-charging engine to up the adrenalin factor. If you were already sold on the idea of joining the Clubman club, this one will steal your heart more than any other.

Verdict

The updated Audi S3 Sportback is a fun-sized dynamo with impressive outputs and athletic road manners. It’s missing a few premium features, but its compact size paired with a gutsy engine makes it a compelling option for drivers who don’t want to compromise on performance (just space).

Mini 5D Hatch vs Audi S3 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Mini 5D Hatch vs Audi S3
What's the difference?