Mini ONE car insurance quotes and insurance groups

Sir Alec Issigonis would not have been amused, but things change and today's standards in emissions and safety would not have allowed his wondrous Mini to be built. The Mini One is the closest he would have come, one feels, and this is somewhat of a compromise.

The One now has the new 1.4ltr engine, which, combined with a reduced body weight and higher engine power output, promises some performance, but that is not the case. Trying to get anywhere in a hurry requires the right foot pressed into the carpet and this destroys any chance of reaching official consumption figures. The new engine uses BMW's Valvetronic system, which does away with a throttle and uses inlet valve opening distances to control the engine speed and this could be the reason for this slightly asthmatic feel to the drive - maybe some fine tuning of the management system is required.

However, that said, the build is excellent and the interior above average. It is a four seater, but only in a purely technical way as the rear seats are there for children only.

Handling is good with sharp, responsive steering and a firm ride. Safety features include seat belt tensioners, ABS and traction control. Insurance group 5.