Size doesn't matter

What we like:

Impressive handling

huge low-end torque at your disposal

What we dislike:

It really is a hassle to get into the rear

Beneath the hood of this really mini car (pun intended) lies a brand new 1.2 litre turbocharged 3-cylinder plant. While technical figures may make you wonder how powerful this 102 bhp engine really is, you’d be taken by surprise once you floor the accelerator to bring this from zero to the hundred mark in just 10.2 seconds! The impressive low-end torque range also made it a breeze for the One to take off from the lights, and even overtake the average sedan on the roads.

We were initially quite skeptical on the handling of the One, given that its predecessor didn’t impress us much in this department. However, we were reasonably surprised by the amount of grip the car had on the road, and coupled with the tight and extremely responsive steering (just like how a go-kart should be like), the One proved most playful and adventurous especially on tight corners at high speed.

The One also gave us the entertainment of three different driving modes - Eco, Mid, and SPORT mode. Eco is kinda self-explanatory, and unless you’re travelling down to the last drop of petrol, I don’t see why one would use Eco on such a bubbly car. Mid mode gives you the option of a normal drive, and SPORT, in MINI’s words, gives you “maximum go-kart feel”, something which MINI proudly brands its cars as.

So is this premium go-kart really worth its while?

After a couple of days with this adventure-wheeler, we reckon the MINI One, decently priced within the Category A COE range, might just be a good car if you have the cash to spare, and are looking for a different kind of ride from the ordinary luxury sedan for a weekend spin down the roads.

However, if you’re looking at getting one for day-to-day driving, perhaps the increase of $20,000 in price tag of the Cooper range might just be a better option for you, taking into consideration the additional features, power, and experience (and kick) it might just give you.

Credits: Story and Photos by Irwin Tan