What, you may wonder, is the point of renewing almost every inch of a car only to turn it out as a doppelganger of the model it replaces? That is what has happened to the new Mini, which should perhaps now be called the new, new Mini.

Yet there is a logic not only in the renewal of this car but in the reasons for keeping it the same. The replacement has arrived after just six years because BMW has decided to up output at its Oxford Mini factory, making this a sensible moment to renew the car as well. Forthcoming pedestrian protection rules meant the Mini’s nose needed redesigning to provide a more yielding impact area, and BMW also decided to bring forward the launch of the series to speed the arrival of the estate version — designed around this fresh Mini — in showrooms. And finally, droves of Mini owners told BMW that they didn’t want to see the styling changed.

So though it might look similar, the latest Mini is about as changed as it’s possible for a new car to be, old and new having almost no parts in common.

Compare the exteriors, however, and you’ll eventually spot the differences. The nose is a fraction longer, there’s now a one-piece grille, the headlamps look busier and more interesting, and the front bumper has been reshaped. There are new tail lights and little lips in the rear pillars that aid stability at speed.

But it’s inside the car that you’ll find the greatest change. For a start there is an absurdly large speedo, almost as big as one of 10in roadwheels on the original Mini, the dashboard has been refashioned to look more colourful and the centre console has been narrowed to yield more legroom. Anyone familiar with the seats of the existing Mini will be pleased to hear that the new folding and adjusting levers are vastly easier to use. The keen sighted, however, will spot some cheapness inside, as well as air-conditioning that’s awkward to adjust.

What hasn’t changed is the selection of cars. The Mini One, on sale in a few months’ time, costs £11,595, the Cooper is £12,995 and the Cooper S is £15,995. The Coopers go on sale on November 18, the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sir Alec Issigonis, the near-genius who designed the 1959 original. Later there will be a Mini diesel — with a better engine this time — and an automatic. The convertible continues unchanged for at least a year.

The outgoing Cooper S was unusual for being supercharged, its lightly whining pump force-feeding the engine to produce 163bhp. This edition is turbocharged, which eliminates the whine and contributes to the excellent fuel consumption. The engine’s delivery does ramp up a little, but the effect is so minor, and at such low engine speeds, that you barely notice it. Instead, you’ll enjoy the Cooper’s surging enthusiasm, easily exploited by well-spaced gear ratios that it’s a pleasure to flick between.

This, of course, is key to the Mini’s success. No matter how it looks, all owners will expect their car to be fun to drive. Happily, this latest version is a joy to send scuttling down the twisty roads and urban backwaters. It has plenty of roadholding, a clever set of electronics to rein in the over-ambitious without spoiling their fun, precise steering and reassuringly effective brakes. Couple this to the S’s zest and you have a diverting bundle.

Besides looking similar, this latest car presents a familiar mix of pros and cons. It’s an absolute pleasure to be in if you’re up front because it’s so stylish and well finished, but backbenchers’ ankles will be hemmed in, even if there’s a little more knee-room now. The boot is as compact as ever and the ride can still turn decidedly choppy.

But it’s also easier to live with. The steering is lighter around town, progress is smoother and quieter and the S will cost significantly less to run (although slightly more to buy). So, for all those poised to continue their affair with Britain’s most famous small car it’s good news: it’s the same, this new Mini, only better.

THE OPPOSITION

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