New MINI One price, release date, and spec

The New MINI One, which is bigger and better equipped than the model it replaces, will cost from £13,750, when it goes on sale later this year. The news means the basic MINI will cost a lot more than the entry-level Fiat 500 (£10,245), but less than the cheapest Alfa Romeo MiTo (£14,350).

Despite looking very similar to the model it replaces, the new MINI One is bigger in every respect. It’s 98mm longer, 44mm wider, and 7mm taller. The length of the wheelbase – which is crucial to interior space – has also increased by 28mm.

The new car still has distinct MINI looks, though, thanks to its hexagonal grille, circular headlights, and upright rear light clusters that use bright LEDs. The MINI will also be the first model in its segment to get optional all-LED headlights.

The MINI One will continue to offer a huge level of customisation, and the car will feature five new colours. When speccing their car, customers can choose to have the roof painted in contrasting black or white, at no extra cost, and for the first time roof-rails are optional.

The larger exterior dimensions translate into more room inside, with passenger and boot space both increasing. The front seats now have a wider range of adjustments, while the seat squabs have also been lengthened by 23mm. Boot space – always a weak spot in the old MINI – has increased by 30 per cent to 211 litres, and the car’s interior also gets its fair share of cubbyholes and cup holders.

The rear seats split 60:40, while the optional Storage Package includes a locking false floor for the boot – which can be fitted at various heights – as well as back seats that recline.

The new MINI One’s interior carries over the old car’s character features – the most obvious being the centrally-mounted display. It features a TFT screen as standard, or an optional 8.8-inch colour screen for the infotainment system, sat-nav, and vehicle functions.

The car also features LED lighting that perform various functions including adding a visual dimension to the car’s parking sensors, turning green, yellow, and red – as you get closer to an obstacle. Keyless go – which allows you to get into the car without ever having to use a key – is standard across the MINI range.

The new MINI One gets a choice of 1.2-litre petrol or 1.5-litre diesel engines. The petrol is capable of 61.4mpg and has emissions of just 108g/km, which mean road tax will cost £20 annually. It is surprisingly quick, with 0-62mph taking 9.9 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 121mph. The diesel, meanwhile, manages an impressive 83.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 89g/km that mean it qualifies for free road tax. While the petrol can be specced with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed auto – the diesel is available with the manual only.

The new MINI One will be available in MINI dealers from 15 March. For all the latest reviews of the MINI range, including our road test of the new MINI, visit the Carbuyer MINI reviews page.