The growth and growth of diesel knows no bounds. Those of us who grew up with the original Mini could never in our wildest dreams have contemplated a diesel version, yet that's what has happened with its BMW-inspired successor.
Now, we're really sticking our neck out here: Mini One D is better than its petrol-engined sibling. That's the judgement on first driving One D and then doing a back-to-back comparison with the petrol model.
Unlike the predecessor, nobody is likely to buy the new petrol-driven Mini for economy: it's more of a fashion statement. One owner we met recently loved her car and its driving feel but she was a bit unhappy about fuel consumption. Her Mini One, which has a 1.6 90 bhp engine was, she thought, giving only around 30 mpg. She had been an original Mini owner.
We had to remind her that 1.6 litre capacity is sizeable enough in Mini terms with greater consumption. The original Austin Seven and Morris Mini-Minor versions came with 850 cc. Our friend simply hadn't comprehended the bigger bulk and bigger power output.
Potential Mini buyers should look seriously at Mini One D, on sale here since May's end. At €22,400, it comes between the entry-level Mini One at €20,200 and the €22,700 Mini Cooper.
A recent drive and a fill-up afterwards indicated 40 mpg - this is highly acceptable because the 1.4 litre turbocharged engine with 75 bhp has such an impressive performance dimension. This engine, by the way, is built by Toyota in Japan mainly for the Yaris: BMW's Oxford plant takes 10,000 a year.
Starting up the Mini One D, the silence was astonishing. Many diesels still cough themselves into life: this one breathed fresh air instantly. There weren't any traces of vibration in the cabin, which proved to be the case on the move too. Below 1,000 rpm the action was limited, but as we moved into higher revs, there was that smooth, creamy show of power that's typical of a modern oil-burner.
One D also had a delightful six-speed gearbox that teased out the power more efficiently, aided by the diesel engine's flatter torque curve.
Really we didn't have that much to complain about. Chassis refinement isn't great. The One D, like all Minis, is firmly suspended and, at low speeds on poor surfaces, the ride verges on the uncomfortable. That's the trade-off for agile steering and iron body control.
The €22,400 tag may seem expensive but we think it's a great small car, oozing style and fun to drive. The bonus is that it brings relief to that expensive and all too-frequent chore of filling up. BMW here expects 40 to 50 diesel Mini sales in a full year. It deserves to be higher.