The most basic Mini is the One to have

By: Jason Woosey

If the original 1959 Mini’s creator Sir Alec Issigonis was still around today, do you think he’d be mischievously hopping over kerbs in a portly Mini Countryman? Or would he be racing from light to light in a Mini JCW? Don’t bet on it. Assuming that the acclaimed designer would want a modern Mini, as opposed to, say, a Bentley, and that it had to be closest to the original in spirit, surely it would have to be this One?

The new Mini One seems to honour its heritage without even trying. Besides being a successful early pioneer of efficient front-wheel-drive packaging, the Mark I Mini also proved, with its kart-like agility and perky performance in the Cooper versions which followed, that tiny cars could be tons of fun too.

The point of that history lesson is that the early Minis manufactured smiles without superlative power outputs and gigantic wheels with wafer-thin tyres and this is where I feel the latest high-performance Minis are losing the plot to some degree.

Yes, the Cooper S and JCW have a rightful place among those that live life a quarter-mile at a time, but now that the entire range is turbocharged, they’re no longer the only options for those seeking a Mini that’s fun to drive.

A big upgrade beneath the bonnet

That wasn’t always the case. The previous Mini One was rather sluggish, given that it was powered by a detuned 72kW version of the regular Cooper’s normally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engine, but the new one makes up for past sins with a 1.2-litre version of the high-tech 1.5 tri-cylinder direct-injection turbo motor fitted to the latest Cooper and various lower-end BMW cars.

It’s rated at 75kW and 180Nm, and good for a 9.9-second 0-100km/h sprint, according to BMW. In the real world it feels gleefully brisk, so much so that unless you’re the aforementioned quarter-mile junkie, this is quite possibly all the Mini you’ll ever want or need. Yet much of the pleasure is in the abundance of low-down urge - there’s zero lag, just effortless and linear zest right from the get-go.

Given that it’s fitted with 15-inch alloys with medium-profile rubber, the One also rides more comfortably than other modern Minis, yet its footprint is still sufficient to provide that grin-inducing agility that is a hallmark of the brand. The One ticks all those old-school-fun boxes with its meaty steering and solid, thunky gearshift-action, although the standard six-speed shifter does feel a touch notchy.

Cabin smart but skimpy

The interior design still pays tribute to the 1959 original, yet the latest-generation Mini has taken a decisive step upmarket and your view ahead is appropriately smothered in plush, touchy-feely surfaces. That said, you’ll probably to want to replace that skimpy looking two-spoke steering wheel with the optional (R2950) leather-clad three-spoker that our test car came with and while we’re on the topic, it’s probably gloomy as a British sky in there without the R1 750 Chrome Line interior pack and one of the R1500 Colour Line options.

Sadly, buying the cheapest Mini means you can’t go on an exterior personalisation shopping spree as there are no contrasting roof colour configurations, or racy stripes and wheel options, as you find on the Cooper models. In fact there are just four exterior colours on offer and your wardrobe is just going to have to match one of them.

As for standard creature comforts, you can count on the essentials such as air conditioning, a radio and electric windows, but you’ll have to turn to the equator-long options list if you want anything fancy, with BMW charging R6 600 for climate control, R1 650 for cruise control and R6500 to R28 000 for satnav, to name just some of the many extras available. Even a fuel consumption readout adds to the bill.

Another thing you don’t get as standard in the 3-door that we tested is any realistic space for the rear passengers’ legs, although shorter journeys should be a doable squeeze for most. That is an easy solve if you’re feeling any love for the 5-door Mini One, which costs just R10 000 more.

VERDICT

Which brings us to the rands and sense debate. The Mini One 3-door starts at R279 000, and that’s before we factor in the options list from which we doubt any buyers are going to emerge unscathed.

As a premium brand, it’s fair to accept that millennial Minis have always commanded a premium and within the latest line-up, the One is undoubtedly the best value, undercutting the Cooper by a cool R57 000. The cheapest Mini might not be as flashy, but it’s the most Mini of them all. Smart hey Alec?

ROAD TESTS:

FACTS

Mini One 3-door

Engine: 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder turbopetrol

Gearbox: 6-speed manual

Power: 75kW @ 4000rpm

Torque: 180Nm @ 1400rpm

0-100km/h (claimed): 9.9 seconds

Top speed (claimed): 195km/h

Price: R279 000

Warranty: 2-year / unlimited km

Maintenance plan: 3-year / 75 000km