The MINI Cooper and Cooper S might have stolen the limelight, but can the entry-level One deliver similar driving fun for under £12,000. We find out...
Price: £11,625 (without options)
On sale: Now
0-62mph: 10.9 seconds; top speed 111mph
Average fuel: 49.6 mpg
Standard equipment : Remote central locking, electrically adjustable door mirrors, electric windows, Alarm, CD player with aux socket.
Tiscali verdict: Likeable entry into MINI ownership. But, it's expensive. Optional extras are costly and the 1.4-litre engine feels underpowered. 8/10
The first-generation MINI One, launched in the UK in 2001, earned a reputation for being fun to drive. But the One was always seen to be in a different league to the Cooper and Cooper S despite them all sharing the same 1.6 engine. Second time round, things should be different, the One now has its own 1.4-litre engine with 94bhp and should appeal to customers who want a great looking supermini that's fun to drive but without the performance of the 1.6 Cooper or the Cooper S. MINI Mk2 might look similar to the original, but the new model is more accomplished and robust. How does it compare against rivals? We find out.
£11,625 is a lot for a supermini, but then again the MINI is not your average supermini. The standard kit is a bit miserly too. Our One included essential extras such as air-conditioning and alloy wheels which pushed the price to over £13,000. You're probably best off going for the optional £1,300 Pepper Pack, which has all these items and more. On the plus side, the One feels its money, there's a real air of quality to the interior and exterior finishes when compared to rivals. What the One looses in equipment it more than makes up for by its low running costs. The MINI will hold its money better than rivals, and if you opt for the £150 TLC package, you'll not pay for servicing for five-years or 50,000 miles. Space in the back and the boot are improved, but MINIs sell on the style of the retro design and not interior space. Look elsewhere if this is a priority, or wait till the new Clubman arrives in November.
The MINI One is powered by a new 1.4-litre 16V, four-cylinder engine, producing 94bhp, mated with a six-speed manual transmission. There's nothing remarkable about the power of the engine; 62mph comes up in 10.9 seconds, but the engine is smooth and willing. The engine needs plenty of revs and more than the odd gearchange to maintain the pace, feeling slightly underpowered.
With a combined fuel economy figure of 49.6 mpg, the One is designed to be cheap to run, but you might struggle to match this figure if you're a keener driver with a heavy right foot. If you're after increased economy figures, the 110bhp 1.6 litre Cooper diesel is probably the model for you, with a combined figure of 64.2 mpg.
The MINI One might not be quickest model in the range, but there's still the full compliment of safety kit, with driver, passenger and side airbags fitted as standard. The latest MINI has been crash tested, it received a full five-star Euro NCAP crash test result.
Check out the video Take a look at our video road test of the MINI One.
So what's it like to drive then? Good fun. It's as much of a driver's car as the rest of the range. The steering gives plenty of feedback, the six-speed manual gearbox is precise and a pleasure to use and the suspension although on the hard side, is not uncomfortable, but the engine gets slightly boomy at high revs.
To sum up: The MINI One might not be the cheapest or best equipped car in its class, but it is attractive and more fun to drive than most rivals.
Fancy a closer look? Check out our MINI One gallery
