MINI One or Volvo C30?

I don't drive a lot and am trying to decide between a Volvo C30 1.8 petrol and a MINI One 1.6 petrol. The Volvo has been heavily discounted, but the annual tax is €750 vs €514 for the MINI. I've read that the Volvo is heavier on fuel costs and servicing vs the MINI. My heart would probably opt for the MINI for its looks alone, but the small size concerns me and I wonder how well it handles. I took it for a test drive, but it's hard to tell on such a short drive.

Declan O'Mahony (Dublin)

Feb 2015 Filed under: choosing used car

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Expert answer

Hi Declan,

Don't worry about the handling - MINIs are terrific to drive. Great fun. The C30 is perhaps a bit less so and Volvo parts and servicing have always been on the pricey side, but it's a much more practical car than the MINI, which is seriously short on space. Both are fine cars though, reliable too so it's a question of what you value more - space and comfort (Volvo) or driving fun (MINI).

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser
@neilmbriscoe