City slicker Mini is also a spacious mommy car

I’VE SPENT years admiring the Mini. Back in my high school days, I can remember standing at the corner bus stop in Orange Grove waiting for a bus and being overcome with envy as I watched the wealthy kids from the area zoom past in the miniature car.

Back then, almost 10 years ago, the Mini possessed an attitude and stature that was unmatched. It still does. This was evident as I drove the new blazing-red manual 1.5litre 3-door Mini One. It’s the entry-level model, with the Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works models above it.

I’m the mother of a four-year-old, so I had to put on hold the Mini dream and buy a 1.4 Ford Fiesta Ambiente. Space largely influenced my decision. I was convinced the Mini did not have enough room to manoeuvre. Boy, was I wrong. I found the three-door to be quite spacious. For instance, I was able to place my daughter’s school bag, her ballet clothes, my laptop bag, my handbag and my work files in the boot without forcing it closed or breaking a sweat. Still not convinced? How about the 10 fully-packed plastic bags of my monthly groceries that I was able to fit in the boot, much to the surprise of the car guard. During a drive to the movies, my daughter, nephew and cousin found themselves sitting comfortably at the back while another family member sat in the passenger seat.

Being the girl that I am, I’m also very big on interior. Sure enough, my Ford Fiesta has the latest technology specifications on the dashboard, such as the Bluetooth and voice recognition system that I simply cannot live without. While the voice recognition feature wasn’t available in the Mini, I was impressed with other specs. This includes the Mini Centre, which gave me access to an online radio, 3D navigation system, the multifunctioning steering wheel with cruise control and the push start button.

More impressive was the auto emission control system which cut off the car’s power while I waited at a red traffic light and started up with ease when I was ready to go.

The smooth dark upholstery and the windows that glided down when I opened the doors left me speechless. I swear I had a “moment” every time that happened. However, I’ve learnt from my uncle that a car is not only about its interior. I was happy to know that, performance-wise, the six-speed low weight vehicle is able to do 195km/h. It was also happy with its fuel consumption, which Mini claims is a light 4.9 litres per 100km. Most drivers won’t get near that, especially in the city, my editor tells me, but overall I thought the consumption was excellent.

I loved the fact that the Mini also comes up with its readily available hand device, which helps if you find yourself stuck.

The makers have coined a tagline that goes something like this: “Trends come and trends go. But icons last forever.”

I agree. My admiration for the Mini has not died down over the years.