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In basic form, it does away with the chrome bumper trim and 16-inch alloys of the Cooper. Its plain interior also lacks a steering wheel-mounted rev counter and CD player, but the cars share the same high quality build.

However, our test car, supplied by BMW, was unfortunately kitted out with a host of options. As part of the £250 'Salt' package, the exterior gains spotlamps while the cabin is enhanced with silver trim, extra lights and a rev counter. Our vehicle also boasted air-con, 16-inch alloys and chrome bumper inserts - costing £600, £680 and £80 respectively. The result is a car that looks racier than the Cooper and costs more too! But there's no disguising the fact that the newcomer gives away 25bhp to its big brother.

Head for the open road, and you'll find the MINI One needs a fairly stern foot to be coaxed into overtaking at motorway speeds. The engine is at its best when between 2,500rpm and 4,000rpm - any less and the four-cylinder unit lacks urge, any more and it begins to feel a little short of breath.

It's not really down to the well spaced ratios of the slick five-speed gearbox, but more to do with a lack of muscle at high revs. Of course, all this is much less of an issue as you head towards the heart of town. Because the MINI One offers a healthy 140Nm of torque - compared to 149Nm from the Cooper - it performs well in heavy traffic. The direct steering also helps here, as does its impressive grip. But even though it's a great city car, you need a demanding country road to make the most of its chassis.

Pushed hard, it proves incredibly responsive. Gather speed carefully through a tight corner, and rather than spinning power away through the front wheels, the car drifts gracefully. A brutal combination of brakes and steering can force the One to oversteer, but even then it barely steps off line. The anchors are confidence inspiring - proving powerful enough to stop the car quickly, but sensitive enough to offer hot hatch-rivalling control.

In all, it's hard to see how rivals can mount an effective challenge to the entry-level MINI One. The packaging and refinement really are first rate, while the chassis will satisfy even the most enthusiastic of drivers.

Our test car may have come with a long list of extras, but there's no denying the £10,300 MINI One gives great value for money. No rival offers its luxury and refinement, and few can match its driveability. Overall, the One is a stunning package.

At a glance

* MINI One on sale this week, priced £10,300

* Powered by 90bhp 1.6-litre engine, insurance group 5E

This article is copyright and courtesy of AutoExpress.

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Article Date: Jul 10, 2001
Car Accociations: NEW_MINI,
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