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.
Power
You only realise it’s a budget Mini once you set off. The One has a 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder engine delivering 72kW and 153Nm. Most of this power is only available higher in the rev range, so you have to step on it if you want to get anywhere. The upside is a fuel consumption of only 5.4 litres/100km on the combined cycle. So not only is it relatively cheap to buy, but it’s cheap to run as well.
One thing I enjoyed above all else was the handling. It may not be equipped with a turbo-charged engine, but you can still have fun with it. Everything, from the steering to the suspension, is set up so well that you forgive it for only having 72kW.
I’m stumped as to why there aren’t more of these on the road. I’ve been looking for a few days now and I’ve yet to see another one; all the Minis I come across are either Coopers or supercharged. Either people aren’t aware of this car, or they think it must be some clever marketing trick to lure you into a Mini dealership. I can confirm that it’s not. The Mini One is cheaper to buy than a Toyota Yaris 1.3 XR.
If it’s performance you’re looking for, then it’s probably best to save up for a Cooper S, but if you want a Mini just to make the neighbours think you’ve arrived, this is the One to get.
