The MINI is among a new breed of stylish vehicles that are appealing to sports car hire fans and other motorists thanks to their low running costs.

Demand for trendy superminis such as the Fiat 500 and Toyota iQ is high, according to motoring magazine Auto Express, which has said that the MINI First is the "most desirable of all".

The recently launched vehicle is meant to be a budget car but this does not mean that it does not feature attributes that have made other derivatives of the iconic car popular.

Despite costing less than £ 11,000, the vehicle "still has the appealing styling, dynamic handling and involving driving experience that has made every other MINI such a sales hit", said the magazine.

Equipped with a 1.4-litre engine similar to the one featured in the MINI One, the First is capable of accelerating from standstill to 62mph in 13.2 seconds and can reach a top speed of 109mph.

Other MINI models include the Clubman and John Cooper Works.

Click here to see our range of cars.