RACHEL Cox loves her Mini. She has always loved the Mini. She used to own one in its original incarnation at the turn of the century, when she bought one second-hand as her first car after passing her driving test.

And that love never died. Even though she was perfectly happy with the two Citroen C2 cars she subsequently bought, she still found herself craving a Mini.

Trouble was, the price tag was just out of her reach, and husband Mike needed some convincing that they should make the switch.

Then BMW did the trick. It brought out the Mini First, with the specific intention of “giving customers the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a unique small premium car at an unbeatable price”.

Rachel was quick to see the opportunity.

“It was my birthday, I had a day off work and I persuaded Mike to have a look at one,” recalled Rachel, 32.

“The way the financial climate is at the moment, you have to box clever, but we found that we didn’t have to pay much more to get the Mini on a loan deal. The York dealership was absolutely amazing. They go the extra mile, they want to make sure you are happy with the car and really look after you.”

The Mini First is still by no means a cheap small car, with a price tag of about £11,000.

Available only in hatch form, it features the 1.4-litre petrol engine found in the Mini One, but with a power output reduced from 95bhp to 75bhp. The frugal engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, and great go-kart handling is ensured by the trademark sophisticated chassis of all Minis.

Multi-link rear suspension is an advanced feature that is rare in cars of the Mini’s size, but it gives BMW’s baby a definite edge. Matched to independent front suspension and a Dynamic Stability Control system, it provides the Mini with the basic tools to entertain.

Technical stuff is wasted on Rachel. “It’s just so cute. I like its eyes at the front. The Mini has a fun image and it totally suits my personality. I don’t know much about cars, but I love to drive the Mini,” she said.

The most affordable new Mini ever appeals to the head as well as the heart. According to independent experts, it is expected to retain 50 per cent of its value after three years or 30,000 miles, representing the best residual value figures compared with any of its competitors.

Aligned with Mini’s ground-breaking so-called TLC package that covers service and maintenance needs for five years for only £185, premium compact motoring has never been so attainable.

This was the only option that Rachel and Mike went for when signing on the dotted line, apart from adding air-conditioning. This is unusual because 88 per cent of Mini buyers go for option packs. Popular choices are the Design Package, which adds chrome trim and a sports steering wheel, the Tech Package, which yields an upgraded stereo and Bluetooth connectivity, and the Salt Package, which includes a trip computer, front fog lights and more storage options.

The Mini First is no ball of fire – 0 to 62mph takes 13.2 seconds – but it’s still very good fun, and fab on twisty country lanes, despite its shortage of power. The ride is firm and sometimes bouncy, but not uncomfortable or jolting.

The second generation of the BMW Mini has much the same stance as the original but features a subtle loosening of the belt. The front grille is tidier and the indicators are housed in the headlight pod. If you’re able to put a Mark 2 Mini up alongside a Mark I version, you should notice that the shoulder line is higher (18mm more), giving the today’s version a more hunched, powerful appearance.

Inside, there are more obvious improvements. The centrally mounted speedometer now houses entertainment functions, while the key has been replaced by a round signal sensor that slots next to the steering wheel. A start/stop button is also fitted as standard.

The retro design of the Mini’s controls mean they aren’t always as easy to use as those in a more modern vehicle, but retro is the whole point of this car’s existence.

The interior certainly looks good and feels special, which is what the designers were aiming for. Rear seat space is more limited than in rival superminis, although a couple of adults will just about fit. Getting in and out of the back seats is more problematic and requires a certain degree of flexibility. The size of the boot will also present problems to buyers who regularly go wild in the supermarket, although the folding rear seats make this an easy problem to overcome if there are no rear seat passengers.

The Mini isn’t only a desirable little trinket that appeals on an emotional level: it’s actually a highly affordable car to own as well. Even this basic First model includes automatic Stop-Start technology which kills the engine when the vehicle is stationary, brake energy regeneration and a gear-shift indicator light to help get the best economy from the 1.4-litre engine. The combined fuel consumption is 53mpg and emissions are pegged at 128g/km.

Buyers at this level are forced to take some hits on the specification, and the all-important look and feel of the car isn’t as impressive as on plusher models, but the Mini essentials are intact.

Rachel, who calls her car “Princess” and refers to it in the feminine, admits she is “very girlie”. But she has resisted any temptation to add decoration to the interior. However, she is already planning what her next Mini will look like. “I might go for a Cooper in off-white again, but I have seen one with black and grey Union flags on the door mirrors and reflectors and it looks great.”

Rachel is well and truly on the Mini ladder, and it will take a lot to pull her off.


Fact file: Mini First

Price: £11,270.

Engine: 1.4-litre petrol, producing 75bhp.

Transmission: Six-speed manual, driving front wheels.

Performance: 0-62mph in 13.2 seconds; top speed 109mph.

Economy: 53.3mpg combined.

CO2 Rating: 128g/km.