BMW's modern reincarnation of the Mini has been something of a success story, harking back to the go-kart-like agility of its ancestor but also appealing to the trendy set with its funky styling and all the attributes of a modern car.
Trouble is, it's always been an expensive option in Cooper and Cooper S form - its pricing (starting at R228 868 for the Cooper) being far cry from the affordable appeal of the original.
Now BMW has launched a more affordable version of the Mini in South Africa and it comes in the form of the Mini One that's been available overseas since the modern Mini's inception. The bad news is that it's still not affordable in the stricter sense, its price tag pegged at R197 492, but it's still a good R30 000 cheaper than the Cooper.
What are you losing out on then? Styling, kit and engine sacrifices are the short answer.
Let's first take a look under the bonnet. While, like the Cooper, it has a 1.6-litre engine with Valvetronic technology, this one's less powerful with outputs falling to 72kW and 153Nm (from the Cooper's 90kW and 160Nm).
It basically has no more power than a modern 1.4-litre engine but it's still enough, says BMW, to get the little mite from 0-100km/h in 10.5 seconds at the coast. Claimed fuel consumption amounts to 5.4 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, equating to CO2 emissions of 127g/km.
A six-speed manual gearbox is standard on the Mini One, but you can also opt for a six-speed Steptronic automatic if you can part with R213 502.
The MiniOne's status as the poverty model in the range is further reflected in the styling, where it now has black-coloured grille slats, door mirrors and tailgate handle while the Cooper's alloy wheels make way for 15-inch steel rims with hubcaps.
Inside, you'll find that many of the silver/metallic surfaces have been replaced by black trim and there's a two-spoke steering wheel.
There doesn't appear to be any compromise on the safety front with the Mini One still packing six airbags, a tyre pressure monitor and Dynamic Stability control with Hill Assist. And while the comfort specification still includes air conditioning and a CD/Aux sound system, you'll pay extra for things like an on-board computer and multi-function steering wheel among the long list of optional extras.
It still has a Motorplan, however, albeit limited to just three years/75 000km. Costing just shy of R200 000, this is not the affordable Mini that many had hoped for but hopefully a future production version of the smaller Rocketman concept holds some hope in that regard.