Mini 5D Hatch vs Mazda 3
What's the difference?

Mini 5D Hatch

—

2020 price

View pricing & specs

Mazda 3

$19,950 - $42,998

2024 price

View pricing & specs

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2020 Mini 5D Hatch

2024 Mazda 3

By Andrew Chesterton

By Byron Mathioudakis

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 2.0L

Inline 4, 2.5L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

6.0L/100km (combined)

6.6L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Potent engine
Tons of grip
Funky cabin ambience

Stunning design
Superb cabin presentation
Athletic handling and control

Dislikes

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

Small boot
Gloomy rear seat
No more manual

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.

View full pricing & specs

2024 Mazda 3 Summary

Half a decade on, the current-generation Mazda 3 has weathered a world of change.

Cheap cars have vanished. Electric vehicles are commonplace and the small car class it belongs to has been decimated by SUVs. Big names like the Ford Focus, Holden Astra and Mitsubishi Lancer are history.

But while it looks identical to the car unveiled at the 2018 LA Auto Show, today’s Mazda 3 has also evolved, albeit gently.

Let’s see how competitive the latest and improved (as well as more expensive) version is.

View full pricing & specs

Deep dive comparison

2020 Mini 5D Hatch 2024 Mazda 3

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

Given how effortlessly it traverses the mainstream and premium small car classes, the Mazda 3 might be the best value small car on the planet.

With racy styling, sports car handling, classy interior presentation and impressive, intelligent efficiency, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into here.

Poor rear vision, a dark back-seat area and smallish boot aside, it doesn’t have any glaring faults.

In a world overrun with SUVs, props to Mazda for evolving the small car so brilliantly to mask a half-decade of existence. Continuous improvements have made the 2024 G25 Evolve SP Vision an essential small car shortlist proposition, regardless of price.

Mini 5D Hatch vs Mazda 3 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Mini 5D Hatch vs Mazda 3
What's the difference?