2022 MINI Hardtop 4 Door Review

The 2022 Mini Hardtop 4 Door kicks off a new look for an aging model. Now eight years removed from its debut, the Hardtop 4 Door still makes sense as a slightly more family-friendly version of the two-door thanks to a bit more legroom and, well, two more doors. "Slightly" is the key word here, though, as the Mini is a tight fit, especially in back.

Updates for 2022 include restyled front and rear ends, with LED headlights now a standard feature. A new body-colored panel also cuts across the black grille area, toning down the visual span of the last model's prodigiously wide mouth. In the back, a single-piece diffuser runs along the lower half of the bumper, replacing the last generation's air ducts and making for a cleaner look overall. A few new hardtop colors also join the list, as does a new Multitone roof, which features a color gradient that blends from blue to black.

The Hardtop's interior also gets a once-over, adding a digital instrument panel, a larger 8.8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio and lane departure warning. Apple CarPlay remains an option but there's still no support for Android Auto, and the Mini's changes are largely cosmetic. There are no power or performance upgrades.

Compounding matters are supply chain shortages that have forced Mini to halt production of standard manual transmissions. For now, the Hardtop 4 Door will only offer an automatic. The base trim level, Classic, is also being suspended, making the Signature trim the new base level. Mini says these changes are temporary but offers no timeline for their return.

Mini missed a chance to put some distance on hatchback rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Honda Civic, cars that blend sporty with practical, and include now-common tech as standard features. The Mini's ace card has always been its swagger, largely because it can be personalized in myriad ways, from the color of the roof and side mirrors to dozens of stripe, wheel and color combinations. It's easy to build a Mini that stands out in a crowded parking lot.