Mini 5D Hatch vs Toyota Yaris
What's the difference?

Mini 5D Hatch

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2020 price

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Toyota Yaris

$26,090 - $44,888

2025 price

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Summary

2020 Mini 5D Hatch

2025 Toyota Yaris

By Andrew Chesterton

By Chris Thompson

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 2.0L

Inline 3, 1.5L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol/Electric

Fuel Efficiency

6.0L/100km (combined)

3.3L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Potent engine
Tons of grip
Funky cabin ambience

Space- and fuel-efficient
Capable platform
Borderline sporty styling

Dislikes

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

Conservative interior
Lacks some features
Price

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 Toyota Yaris Summary

Long the domain of first-car buyers and suburbanites winding down on their driving years, the Toyota Yaris is now hybrid-only, and is a far cry from the $15,000-or-so cheap and cheerful staple it once was.

But with its fourth generation a few years into its lifespan, the Yaris is trying to be more than just a basic A-to-B runabout. In fact, the ZR we have on test is more expensive than an entry-grade Volkswagen Polo.

Does more than $30,000 of light hatch really feel worth it once you’re behind the wheel, or are you better off pocketing almost $10,000 to save on one of the thinning pack of rivals?

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Deep dive comparison

2020 Mini 5D Hatch 2025 Toyota Yaris

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 Toyota Yaris is as much car as many people should really need, and it's a refreshing antidote to the largely unnecessary shift towards SUVs as the ‘default vehicle’.

In the case of the ZR grade, the pricing could understandably be a reason you might consider an SUV instead. There are plenty of options for a similar price.

The problem with an SUV though is it will likely be less efficient and, due to physics, less agile and fun to drive.

Given the price and the fact that a couple of features are missing, the ZR probably isn't the variant to go for, but the Yaris is an overall solid foundation for a very convincing hatchback.

Mini 5D Hatch vs Toyota Yaris What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Mini 5D Hatch vs Toyota Yaris
What's the difference?