Mini 5D Hatch vs Ford Fiesta
What's the difference?

Mini 5D Hatch

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2020 price

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Ford Fiesta

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2023 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2020 Mini 5D Hatch

2023 Ford Fiesta

By Andrew Chesterton

By Tim Nicholson

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 2.0L

Turbo 3, 1.5L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

6.0L/100km (combined)

6.3L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Potent engine
Tons of grip
Funky cabin ambience

Punchy engine and slick gearbox combo
Light, chuckable dynamics
Excellent value for money

Dislikes

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

Noisy cabin
Huge turning circle
Firm ride

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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2023 Ford Fiesta Summary

The original Ford Fiesta ST from 2013 was a modern classic. The combination of appealing pricing, point-and-shoot driving dynamics and a sweet turbocharged engine ensured it won a legion of fans.

Its follow-up from 2020 continued that formula and brought with it a refinement missing from the original. But it was just as fun to drive.

Ford has launched a mid-life update for the sprightly hot hatch, which despite arriving in Australia halfway through 2022, is still officially an MY22 model. This latest version introduces upgrades to interior tech and exterior styling, as well as a 30Nm bump in torque.

But given it’s facing a ballsy competitor from Hyundai, has Ford done enough to keep its B-segment hot hatch crown?

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Deep dive comparison

2020 Mini 5D Hatch 2023 Ford Fiesta

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 Fiesta ST is an addictive car to drive. It's a modern classic and hard to beat when it comes to engaging performance and smile-inducing dynamics. Add in excellent value for money and you have a certified performance car bargain.

Mini 5D Hatch vs Ford Fiesta What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Mini 5D Hatch vs Ford Fiesta
What's the difference?