Mini generation gap

To celebrate 50 years of Which? car tests, they took an original 1961 Mini 850 and subjected it to the very same tests they now use to assess modern cars. To make it more interesting, they ran identical tests on the new MINI One, to see which fared best in a series of demanding acceleration, braking and swerve challenges. The results make fascinating reading - even if it always was going to be an unfair contest.

When the 1961 Austin Seven rolled off the production line costing £567 16s (£9,300 today), it had a wheezy 848cc petrol engine producing 34bhp and achieving 41mpg - compared to the powerful 90bhp diesel engine fitted to its modern counterpart, capable of 74.3mpg. But whereas the newcomer has nearly three times the power, it also weighs two and a half times as much, at 1,540kg versus a flyweight 620kg.

The new car looks enormous compared to the old one, too. It's probably just as well, to fit in all the extra equipment, including antilock braking, CD player and DAB radio, electric windows and mirrors, heated windscreen washers, "follow-me-home" headlights, green tinted glass and cup-holders. All luxuries yet to come in 1961.

The other big change is from the driver's seat. In the old one, notes Which? Car, there's nothing ahead of you save a spindly Bakelite steering wheel, central speedometer and a wide shelf. The flat seats aren't comfy - especially when cornering. But there's plenty of room for four adults, with generous door bins and under-seat stowage space. The old car has a 96-litre boot compared to 155 litres in the MINI One, which makes all the difference in the world.

So how did they fare when it came to the showdown?

Unsurprisingly, the new one proved vastly faster and easier to drive. Far safer, too. Whereas the new, highly developed MINI sped from 0-62mph in just 10.1 seconds, the old one loped to 62 in a leisurely 28.6 seconds. In fact, if it had continued until it hit its maximum speed, it would have topped out at just 74mph, compared to the MINI's 114mph.

Next came the braking test, from 62mph to a standstill. As Which? Car notes, it's uncomfortable in a modern car as your upper body is thrown forward against the seat belt, and the MINI was no exception, bringing all 1,540kg of the car to a halt in an impressive 35.1 metres. The old Mini, however, slowed gently to a halt in 77 metres; 11 car lengths beyond the new car.

"We know which we'd rather be driving on a foggy country lane," says a Which? tester.

Next came the swerve test, with the old Mini starting to lose grip at 40mph, compared to 47mph in the new one; not as wide a difference as expected.

However, Which? says improvements to car safety since the Sixties have saved thousands of lives. "Crash an old Mini at speed and you'd be lucky to escape uninjured," they conclude. "Our 1961 test noted the 'sharp-edged' sun visor brackets and 'undished' steering wheel as bad points but the lack of any crumple zone or seat belts is more significant."

The only area in which the old Mini triumphs is on visibility; thin roof pillars make the cabin feel airy and offer a superb all-round view. But the new MINI scores maximum points in the Euro NCAP crash test and comes with a long list of safety equipment. In a frontal crash at 40mph, occupants should walk away unhurt. That's progress.