NOT SKIRTING THE ISSUE

In electric form, the latest Mini is a big improvement on its predecessor- but is it better than the petrol model? Will Nightingale takes both versions on a road trip to find out

- Will Nightingale

Remakes are rarely more popular than the originals, but the 'new' Mini (including Clubman and Countryman) has now outsold the car it was inspired by. Yes, the BMW version, first launched in 2001, surpassed the sales tally of the Alec Issigonis classic a couple of years ago.

There have been several generations of the BMW Mini in the 23 years since the German brand took over, of course, but the basic design of the three-door hatchback has only evolved slightly during that time. Indeed, we wouldn't blame you if you struggled to tell one generation from the other.

Is it the same deal with the new, fourth generation, which has just gone on sale? Well, yes and no. As expected, the looks haven't changed much, but, somewhat confusingly, there are now two completely different Mini hatchbacks: one powered by petrol and the other by a battery.

So, assuming you've already decided you want a Mini hatch, are you better off with petrol or electric power? To find out, we decided to take both cars on a (ahem) mini road trip to see what they're like to drive in different environments, how practical they are, and which is the cheaper choice.

THE DIFFERENCES

When we say 'completely different', we aren't just referring to their methods of propulsion. Let's start with the petrol Mini, which is, in effect, a heavily updated version of the third-generation car it replaces. It sits on the same underpinnings as before and even has the same engine line-up, although the interior is entirely new, as we'll explain later. Go for the entry-level model (named Cooper C) and you'll get a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a healthy 154bhp. Here, though, we're testing the more powerful Cooper S, which has a 201bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine. Fans of manual gearboxes won't be happy, because all petrol Mini hatches come with a sevenspeed automatic as standard.