Verdict
At RM279,888, the MINI 3 Door is RM11,124 cheaper and its 1,295 kg, 3,876 mm body will be less cumbersome in tight Malaysian parking. Its 201 hp/300 Nm and 6.6-second sprint are still brisk, but the Arteon’s 276 hp, 350 Nm, all-wheel drive and 5.6-second 0-100 km/h time give it a clear performance lead. The Volkswagen is the practical choice too: five doors, five seats and a 563-litre boot against three, four and 210 litres. Its five-year warranty also beats the MINI’s two years.
Pick the MINI 3 Door if you want the smaller, lighter car with a head-up display, 360-degree camera and lower purchase price.
Pick the Volkswagen Arteon if you need five-seat practicality, a 563-litre boot, all-wheel drive and stronger acceleration.
Key differences
- Price: MINI 3 Door RM279,888; Volkswagen Arteon RM291,012.
- Power and torque: MINI 3 Door 201 hp and 300 Nm; Volkswagen Arteon 276 hp and 350 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h and driveline: MINI 3 Door 6.6 seconds and front-wheel drive; Volkswagen Arteon 5.6 seconds and all-wheel drive.
- Length and wheelbase: MINI 3 Door 3,876 mm and 2,495 mm; Volkswagen Arteon 4,862 mm and 2,837 mm.
- Doors, seats and boot space: MINI 3 Door has 3 doors, 4 seats and 210 litres; Volkswagen Arteon has 5 doors, 5 seats and 563 litres.
- Warranty: MINI 3 Door has 2 years with an extendable 2-year Repair Inclusive package; Volkswagen Arteon has 5 years and 3-year/45,000 km free service.
3 Door
- Smaller 3,876 mm body and 1,295 kg kerb weight.
- Head-up display and 360-degree view monitor.
- Six front and six rear parking sensors.
- 210-litre boot is 353 litres smaller than the Arteon’s.
- Four seats and three doors, against the Arteon’s five seats and five doors.
- 201 hp, 300 Nm and front-wheel drive trail the Arteon’s 276 hp, 350 Nm and all-wheel drive.
Arteon
- 276 hp, 350 Nm and 5.6-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 563-litre boot, five doors and five seats.
- Five-year warranty, adaptive dampers and powered contactless boot operation.
- Costs RM11,124 more than the MINI 3 Door.
- At 4,862 mm long and 1,600 kg, it is substantially larger and heavier.
- No head-up display; the MINI has one.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM279,888✓ | RM291,012 |
| Body type | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Segment | B-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM379 | RM372✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, turbocharger, variable valve timing | 16-Valve DOHC with Twin-Scroll Turbocharger, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 1,984 cc |
| Horsepower | 201 hp at 5,000 rpm | 276 hp at 5,100 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 300 Nm at 1,500 rpm | 350 Nm at 1,700 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 82 mm × 94.6 mm | 82.5 mm × 92.8 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 9.6 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | — | 7-speed DSG |
| Gears | 7 | 7 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Volkswagen AG |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6.6 seconds | 5.6 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | — | 7.4 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 242 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | — | 164 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 3,876 mm | 4,862 mm |
| Width | 1,727 mm | 1,871 mm |
| Height | 1,414 mm | 1,450 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,495 mm | 2,837 mm |
| Weight | 1,295 kg | 1,600 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 44 litres | 66 litres |
| Doors | 3 | 5 |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 210 litres | 563 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 215/45R18 | 245/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 215/45R18 | 245/40R19 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Full-Size 19" Alloy |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli Cinturato P7 | Pirelli P Zero |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link |
| Front Wheels | 18" Slide Spoke Alloys | 19" Montevideo Two-tone Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Slide Spoke Alloys | 19" Montevideo Two-tone Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Adaptive Dampers |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars — With 7 Airbags, Stability Control and Autonomous Emergency Braking |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Curtain) | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point belts | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats, Front Passenger Seat | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Rear Cross Traffic Alert |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED Projector with High Beam Assist | LED Projectors with Cornering Lights and Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED with Sequential Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | 14-Way Power-adjustable with Driver's Side Memory |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB C, 1 Wireless Charger | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 2 Front USB-C, 1 Front Qi Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (3 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 9.4" OLED Display with MINI OS, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Harman Kardon Sound System | Discover Pro 9.2" Touchscreen Infotainment System with Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 12-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Flip Switch | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Manual Operation | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | — | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 2 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | Repair Inclusive extendable up to 5 years | 3-year/45,000 km Free Service |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used 3 Door & Arteon for sale
3 Door vs Arteon FAQ
Is the MINI 3 Door or Volkswagen Arteon better?
The Volkswagen Arteon is better for performance and daily usability, with 276 hp, all-wheel drive, five seats and a 563-litre boot. Choose the MINI 3 Door for its smaller 3,876 mm footprint, lower price, head-up display and 360-degree camera.
What is the price difference?
The Volkswagen Arteon costs RM11,124 more than the MINI 3 Door. The gap brings 75 hp more, 50 Nm more torque, all-wheel drive, five doors, an extra seat and 353 litres more boot space.
Which car is easier to park?
The MINI 3 Door is easier to place in confined spaces. It is 986 mm shorter and 144 mm narrower than the Volkswagen Arteon, while also having six front and six rear parking sensors plus a 360-degree view monitor.
