MINI ONE quick Test

After 5 and a half years of driving MINI Coopers (with the stiffest Sports Suspension Plus), I finally got a shot of a basic MINI ONE.

Compared to my MINI Cooper, the ONE has an electronically "detuned" version of the same engine, longer gearing and much softer suspension with no anti-roll bars and the smaller 15" wheels with normal (not run-flat) tyres.

The model I drove was in Hyper Blue with the optional Pepper Pack.  This meant I didn't have to do without too many of my usual luxuries!  It still had all the nice wee lights (4 map lights, foot lights, door lights etc), a decent MP3 CD player, power windows & mirrors etc.

Performance

Quick!  But in a completely different way to my Cooper.  If you only half push the accelerator, it feels MORE lively, certainly around town it feels very quick.  Somebody who wasn't particularly interested in cars and driving "enthusiastically" may think this is quicker than a Cooper.  When you press on, revving and flooring the accelerator, there's really not much there.  When you push the Cooper you get a new lease of life and high revs are rewarded.  The gearing suits the car, and the engine.

Ride, Comfort, Cruising

SO much more comfortable than my Cooper over bumps - dramatically so.  Also much quieter at a motorway cruise.

Steering, Handling, Fun

This is where the difference hits home.  The steering feels completely dead compared to my cooper.  In the Coop, you can zig-zag just by flicking your wrist, and the car dives about on the road.  in this, nothing much happens.  No fun.  No original Mini feel.  The over-big 2 spoke steering wheel (as fitted to my old MINI Cooper) doesn't help.

The roll is dramatically increased over my Cooper.  This thing LEANS in corners.  It made me laugh the first time.  I hadn't realised how little roll my Cooper has.

Overall much less fun than the Cooper, but possibly, when combined with the ride (above), a better compromise for some people.

Equipment

I didn't have my Harman Kardon Stereo and didn't really miss it that much.  Although when I got back in my Cooper the WOW factor hit home!

I didn't have power folding mirrors and this made my very tight parking in my lane more tricky (I've developed a way of parking that requires folding the mirrors half way through!)

I didn't have sports seats and I missed them... the standard seats are flat and firm by comparison... they do seem to make the interior more roomy though.

It didn't have the "brilliant silver" interior, and I missed this too.  The inside felt more like a normal car than mine does.

In Summary

I liked it but it has a completely different personality to the Cooper.  If you want comfort but not fun, and aren't interested in it feeling like a classic Mini, then go for it. 
If, however, you want fun and that Mini-feeling, then either save a bit more for the Cooper, buy a used Cooper or specify the optional Sports Suspension! 
Note however that I've never driven a car with the ordinary sports suspension, but it has to be more fun than this!