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The biggest problem with the Mini Cooper S is knowing what to call the damn thing. It's obviously the new Mini, but we can't call it that - because the old Mini was the new Mini. So this must be the new new Mini, which makes the new Mini the old new Mini. Or something.

Despite appearances, the new new Mini is indeed brand new. Every panel, according to the BMW boys, is original. Spend enough time gazing at it and you realise that the new new Mini is subtly, oh so subtly, different.

Not different enough that many people will ever notice, but just a little bit tidier, a little but stubbier - actually, just a little bit more like the old old Mini.

Of course, it's afflicted by the same problems as before. The boot is still tiny, there's still no rear legroom and the cabin is still as cramped as a gnat's jockstrap.

With its ludicrously oversized central dial and logo-emblazed volume knob on the radio, the interior could only be made more 'wacky' with the addition of an 'I'm mad, me' sticker on the dash. It's still trying just a bit too hard to be fashionable and different.

In fact, considered as a hot hatch rival to the Focus or the 207, the Mini still makes no sense.

Considered as a hard-top sports car, though, the new new Mini makes perfect sense.

Driving it just feels right. It makes you feel good about yourself. The new 1.6-litre turbocharged four-pot doesn't sound quite as raspy as the old supercharged four, but it responds strongly all the way up to the 7,500rpm redline.

The steering is weighted perfectly and the gearchange fits the engine like a glove. The Mini does what you tell it to do, and tells you exactly what it's doing - not because it's packed out with electronic wizardry but simply because it's balanced like a sports car should be.

The new new Mini isn't big and it's not clever. It's just a damn good little sports car that puts the fun back into driving. That's why it's our Small Car of the Year. We still don't know what to call it, though.

Don't forget: the only place to get full details of all the winners is in the Awards issue of Top Gear magazine, on sale December 13.