Category: Superminis 
Price Range: £12,220 to £12,385
Fine handling and visual flair now matched by a peppy engine.
Even this basic model doesn't come cheap.
Entry-level Mini no longer lags way behind the Coopers.
One of the main reasons for the Mini's redesign was the imminent arrival of tough new pedestrian protection legislation that requires space between the bonnet and engine to allow some give if head meets bonnet. While rejigging the car's structure to meet this, BMW has also further strengthened the car for better crash performance.
The hard work has paid off. The new Mini has achieved a fine five-star rating for adult occupant safety in the Euro NCAP crash tests, with three stars for child protection and two (out of four) for pedestrian protection.
Isofix child seat fitting and six airbags - front, side and curtain - feature as standard, as do ABS brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution plus corner braking control to keep the Mini on line under hard braking.
Remote central locking, alarm and immobiliser are all standard fit.
Latest Readers' Drives About the MINI One
wrote on 24 03 2007
wrote on 28 08 2006