No long term opinion, never do more than a couple of hundred miles or so in any car I drive other than my venerable Octavia, but I do enough miles to form an opinion about whether I’d own one, so: Mini One, hate the dash layout, great fun to drive, I can see why people like them, wouldn’t consider buying one; Note, had one the other day, surprised at how nice it was to drive, went and handled well, decent road manners, pretty comfy, I wouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen driving one, or owning one if need be. Can’t comment on the Panda, yet to drive one.
I’d seriously consider the Up!, or its siblings from Skoda or Seat, comfy, handle well, go like the clappers, really rather a lot of fun to drive, and surprisingly well equipped, satnav as standard, or at least all those I’ve driven have had it.
I’d consider the Corsa SRi, as well, I’ve driven loads, six in one week, probably a dozen or so over the last ten months totalling nearly a thousand miles.
They were all identical loan cars from a body repair specialist, all a year old with 5-6000 on the clock.
Really nice to drive, well equipped with heated screen, comfy and well mannered, and the styling is attractive as well, I’d happily own one, I can’t obviously comment on space in the back, getting a mountain bike in the boot isn’t part of the inspection/appraisal process I run through before driving it away! 😀