Launched in July 2001, the MINI has proven a massive success. Sales have increased year on year, and the 500,000th MINI was produced as early as August 2004. Maybe more impressive is the fact that despite having been on sale for almost 5 years, and thought at release to be too reliant on styling cues from the original Mini, itself a relic from the 1950s, new MINI has not aged. It still looks as fresh, cheeky and stylish as it did at launch, and ever increasing sales reflect this, though some clever marketing has helped

There are three basic versions of the MINI: MINI One, MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S, with MINI One being available in both petrol and diesel form. More recently a Convertible version of MINI has been added to the range. The clever part was to make personalising the MINI a major part of the buying process. So great is the scope for personalisation that MINI states that statistically only two in every 100,000 MINIs built are likely to be identical!

The Car Enthusiast has already tested the MINI in Cooper S form in both hatch and convertible body styles. Here we catch up with the entry level model, the MINI One.

The MINI One starts at just £10,995 on-the-road and although reasonably well specified at that price, it doesn't take much to bump the price upwards. Our test car was fitted with manual air conditioning, front sports seats with leather/cloth facings, an iPod connector and chromed door mirror caps, along with the Pepper Pack, comprising of 15-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels, front fog lights, on-board computer, leather steering wheel and gear knob, etc). Add in the cost of the 'Black Eye Purple' metallic paint and our MINI costs £12,760. Some reckless abandon ticking of options could add to that quite dramatically, so some self control might be required when placing an order.

At least self control isn't so necessary when driving the MINI One. The 1.6-litre engine develops just 90bhp at 5500rpm leaving it much unstressed, and ensuring that progress is a little more sedate than the MINI really looks of. The claimed 0-62mph figure is 10.9 seconds, but that seems very hard to believe other than down a steep hill; the impression is much more leisurely than that. The engine is by far the least impressive component of the MINI On;, it sounds rough and is unwilling to rev anywhere near the 6000rpm red line. On the plus side, its relatively torquey nature, (peak of 103lb.ft is at 3000rpm), means you don't have to rev it too hard to keep up with traffic. Around town, the MINI One is plenty quick enough and on the motorway, while taking a little longer to reach motorway speeds than might be desired, can cruise with the best of the outside lane.

The payback for this relatively low powered engine is fuel economy. The MINI One has it in spades. While an official combined fuel consumption of just 41.5mpg doesn't seem overly impressive, the extra urban figure of 54.3mpg hints at what is possible. A spot check with our MINI One suggested around 45mpg which is entirely respectable in this class.

Actually the MINI is relatively classless. Both in terms of who buys MINIs, and also where it fits in just like the original Mini; so the MINI transcends class and gender; anyone can drive a MINI and not look out of place. Anyone who is a passenger in your MINI will be impressed with the style.

But not so the interior space; the MINI might be a lot bigger than the Mini, but inside it's more of a 2+2 than a four-seater. Rear legroom is tight even behind short drivers, and even young children will soon be complaining. Sit behind a tall driver or front seat passenger and you're only hope in the back is to sit sideways, on your own. Up front, the sports seats were both comfortable and supportive. The upright windscreen combined with the seating position some way back has an added winter/spring bonus in that when the sun is low in the sky, it still doesn't intrude as much as in most cars.

The first Mini was all about practicality and cheapness. How to get a family of four and their luggage in the smallest available space and cheaply. The MINI has grown up; as a style icon first and foremost: a chic runabout. Luckily it has inherited the original's other highly acclaimed virtue - handling! Our MINI One came on 15-inch alloy wheels with 'sensible' 175/65 tyres rather than the 17s that most Cooper and Cooper S models seem to sit on. They may look a little less sporty (although in my eyes are better proportioned), but on the 15s the MINI is blessed with an excellent ride, and handling to die for. The steering (electrically assisted) is nicely weighted and although devoid of true feel, gives enough semblance of feel for most drivers. Turn the wheel and the MINI goes where it's pointed. Throw it round a roundabout and the MINI clings on like a limpet. Maybe the relatively low power is a boon here, as there is no corruption felt through the front wheels.

All in all, the MINI One has a lot going for it. Engine aside, it's pretty quiet, wind noise is commendably low even at motorway speeds, and off the motorway it's capable of embarrassing much more powerful cars while the road is twisty.

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MINI UK hatchback range overview

- MINI One: £10,995
- MINI One D: £12,220
- MINI One D: £12,220
- MINI One Seven: £12,565
- MINI Cooper: £12,395
- MINI Cooper Park Lane: £15,260
- MINI Cooper S: £15,520
- MINI Cooper S Checkmate: £17,660