HERE in South Africa, we like to think of the Mini range as a premium product. Minis are not meant for the penny pinchers among us, but rather for those who place individuality and prestige above all else.

Prestige

In the UK it’s a different story. Over there you can have your very own bargain-bin Mini for as little as R130 000. Not really an exclusive sort of price and because of that many motoring publications in the UK complain about Mini overkill.
When the entry-level Mini One was launched in South Africa in August 2011, we were quite surprised. Not much fuss was made about it; in fact, we had to phone a dealer to find out if the rumours were true. Perhaps they didn’t want everyone to know that you could buy a Mini for under R200 000. Can you imagine what it would do to the brand if every second person suddenly traded their Fiesta in for one?

It’s been a few months now and I’m glad to see it hasn’t happened. The Mini is still just as prestigious as ever – yuppies rejoice!

Luxuries

I just spent a week with the One and it’s difficult to fathom why it’s so inexpensive. When I first slid behind the steering wheel, I expected to be greeted by all the empty slots that normally house the air-conditioner, CD player and rev counter. I was, however, pleasantly surprised to see all the equipment exactly where you’d expect it to be. You really have to dig to spot any cutbacks inside the Mini One.

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