The MINI was the UK’s slowest depreciating car in 2007.

According to annual research from Parker’s Car Guides, a MINI bought in January last year will have lost an average of £1,388.

The runner-up was the Honda Jazz, the only car to have featured in the top five of the report every year since its launch in 2002.

It lost an average of £2,017 over the year

Small cars make up the entire top 10, and demand for them is unlikely to drop in 2008.

Other models in the top spot include the Citroen C1/Toyota Aygo/Peugeot 107, the Perodua Kelisa, Proton’s Satria Neo and the Hyundai Amica.

Parker’s editor Kieren Puffett said: “Demand for small cars has never been stronger.

“Now that buyers can bring their annual road tax bill right down to nothing and with a CO2-based London congestion charge on the cards for next year, we can only see it getting stronger.”