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The MINI range - Auto Express
01.08.2001 |
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Supreme honour
It's the car that has taken for ever to arrive; the machine the world has been yearning to drive for four long years. But the wait has been worth every minute. The MINI is a brilliant small car that threatens to overturn its sleepy market sector, just as the original did 42 years ago.
From the distinctive letterbox view through the windscreen to the dinner-plate central speedo, the DNA is unmistakable. And, like its predecessor, the MINI refuses to be pigeon-holed. Although its dimensions suggest it should be a supermini rival, the driving experience bears comparison with the very best the sporting car market has to offer.
In true MINI tradition, this car is a born rule breaker. Take, for example, the assumption that small cars need to feel cheaper than executive models. Climb aboard this one and you'll notice that the plastics are BMW 5-Series standard, while the fit and finish are equally executive class.
Underneath, the back end is underpinned by one of the most sophisticated rear suspension systems in the world, namely BMW's famous Z axle.
Then there's the notion that superminis aren't as safe as bigger machines. Take a close look at the spec sheet and you'll see that all-round airbags and ABS are standard, while stability control is also available. But it isn't until you hit the road that the sheer brilliance of the MINI comes to light.
Designed and engineered from a blank sheet of paper and uncompromised by platform-sharing constraints, the MINI has been created with just one thing in mind - fun. From the way the steeply geared steering flicks the car from side to side to the brakes that scrub away speed like a supercar, here is a driver's car par excellence.
Then there's the price, which has already ruffled quite a few feathers in the industry. At a little over £10,000 for the entry-level One and £11,600 for the more sporty Cooper variant, the MINI provides astonishing value for money. And when BMW's amazing five years' servicing package - which costs only £100 - is taken into account, the case for the new car is even stronger than before.
Great to drive, easy to own and a guaranteed crowd-puller, the MINI is a car which reminds you why you fell in love with driving in the first place. And, as in 1959, the rest of the industry has suddenly found itself seriously lagging behind.