S STILL GROOVY AT 60

The anniversary edition of the Mini maintains its mojo

ixty years ago, when the world was a much happier, less angst-ridden, safer place — apart from the collective fear of dying under a hard rain of Russian nukes — a genius car engineer by the name of Alec Issigonis invented the Mini.

It was just three and a smidgen metres long, could seat four, had an 850cc engine with a mighty (cough …) 25kW of power and, when we started building it in Australia in 1961, as the Morris 850, would set you back about $1500.

Fast forward to 1994. BMW is looking for an opportunity to tap young car shoppers and get into low cost, front-wheel drive engineering with a stylish, affordable fun-mobile.

It buys the UK’s Rover Group, then owner of the Mini brand, and by 2000 has a resurrected, reimagined Mini ready to roll.

Nostalgia acts don’t usually pull much of a crowd in the car business but the Millennial Mini has been a global hit from day one. The 20th century classic sold about 5.3 million; the 21st century remake is closing in on five million.

Mini trades on heritage, design and the same feel-good vibe that still sells stacks of Beatles albums each year, so every second Thursday there’s a “Special Edition,” with a bespoke colour and trim palette. Today we’re in the “60 Years Edition”. And a groovy little thing it is, too.

VALUE

A Mini is as much a fashion accessory as a real car so, as with any designer label, you pay well over the odds compared with your humble Kmart equivalent.

The 60 Years Edition Mini kicks off at $33,900 for the Cooper three-door, with 100kW 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo and six-speed manual. That’s about double Mazda2 or VW Polo start money.

The three-door Cooper S, with a 141kW 2.0-litre turbo four, is $43,900; our test car’s seven-speed dual clutch transmission, with paddle-shifters and launch control, adds $2800. Five door variants add $1250.

British Racing Green metallic paint is standard, with a contrasting white roof and side mirror caps. Inside is beautiful chocolatecoloured leather upholstery with green piping. Other retro touches include bonnet stripes, elegant 17-inch alloys in the Modernist style and 60th badges and logos all over the place.

The 60th Edition also adds LED headlights, heated front seats and wireless phone charging. The Cooper S includes an extended sunroof, Harman Kardon audio and head-up display.

Mini says that for an extra $4000 over the standard models, you’re getting an extra $8500 worth of “value” in the 60th Edition.

I’m not sure that’s the correct word to use but a Mini, especially a look-at-me special such as this one, is a desire-driven purchase.

The sums, at least to the people that count, are irrelevant. My beloved fell in love, big-time, with the test car the moment she saw it. Talk about an easy sell.

COMFORT

Each update of the 21st-century Mini — in 2006, 2014 and last year — has brought much improved (and much needed) comfort and refinement to the car.

The Cooper S, now with adaptive suspension as standard, is plenty civilised enough to live with as a daily drive, especially in the city, where it loves the nip and tuck of traffic.

Tall drivers fit easily in the Mini, with ample seat and wheel adjustment, great vision and an amazing sense of space that belies its compact dimensions, in large part due to the high roof and upright windscreen.

It’s a different story in the rear, where the only place to put your legs is behind your ears. The extended wheelbase five-door is no stretch limo but you get more legroom and boot space.

SAFETY

Autonomous emergency braking works only at low speeds. Adaptive cruise, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping or rear cross traffic alert are missing. All are standard in a $25,000 Toyota Corolla.

DRIVING

The 60th Edition brings no added zip or handling hardware upgrades over the standard Cooper S.

BMW’s 2.0-litre pulls smoothly and easily across a wide mid-range but is tuned with fuel economy as a priority, so it’s a touch laggy at low revs and a non-event at the top end. Mini claims 6.7 seconds from 0-100km/h. Maybe …

The longer wheelbase and softer suspension in five-door models add compliance and comfort — at the expense of steering responsiveness, agility and Mini’s famed “go kart” feel, where the three-door is much more the genuine article.

HEART SAYS

I’m in love with the Mini. I don’t care what it costs. I feel joy just looking at it.

HEAD SAYS

I once had a Mini. A 60th Anniversary special edition is a good excuse to buy another.

ALTERNATIVES FORD FIESTA ST, FROM $31,990

This arrives early in 2020 and if you’re shopping the Mini against rivals it could be worth waiting for. Ford Europe knows how to do sporty frontdrive hatches. Runs a 147kW/290Nm 1.5-litre turbo/six-speed manual.

VOLKSWAGEN POLO GTI FROM $31,990

Five-door hotrod Polo runs a 147kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbo/six-speed dual clutch auto. VW claims 6.7 seconds for 0-100km/h. Easily the best of the small, warmish hatchbacks … until the Ford arrives.