Overview & Reviews

Few cars are as instantly recognizable as the Mini. Loved for its diminutive dimensions and cheerful good looks, the British-born car has inspired passionate devotion both in the U.S. and abroad. The brand was briefly discontinued, but was revived in 2002 with help from BMW. Successfully paying homage to the original Mini Cooper of the 1960s, the reincarnated Cooper combines an athletic, BMW-engineered chassis with a space-efficient interior and a generous standard features list.

The history of the Mini make began in 1959. The original Mini car was produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) in England and its mission was to be a lightweight, agile four-passenger car that took up minimal space. In a sense, the brand was born out of necessity. The United Kingdom was subject to fuel rationing in the wake of the Suez crisis, and British consumers clamored for vehicles that offered optimum fuel efficiency.

The car was originally sold under BMC's Austin and Morris brands; the Mini name didn't make an appearance until 1961. Although it had just 34 horsepower, the Mini was the ideal urban car and proved popular in crowded European cities. In 1961, John Cooper, a man who built Formula One racecars, put his magic hands on the Mini and the result was the ferocious Mini Cooper. His Cooper S model had (at 76 hp) more than double the output of the standard Mini. That infusion of power, along with suspension tweaks and some really good driving, had Mini winning the Monte Carlo Rally four years in a row (1964-'67). The marque landed on American shores in 1962.

The '60s truly was the decade of the Mini. New variations on the car's theme came with the introduction of vehicles like the Mini Pickup and the Mini Moke, a vehicle that resembled a quirky cross between a Mini and a Jeep. The car's abbreviated proportions are even rumored to have played a part in sparking a fashion trend; the miniskirt raised hemlines and became emblematic of an era. Mini motorcars tore up the asphalt on the silver screen, with the brand's appearance in the 1969 film The Italian Job. By the end of the decade, more than 2 million Mini motorcars had been produced. Sadly, the vehicle was pulled from the United States in 1968, in the wake of strict new emissions regulations.

Though no longer available in the U.S., Mini remained in production in Europe through the '70s and '80s. By the mid-'80s, more than 5 million Minis had been produced worldwide. In 1994, the brand was acquired by the BMW Group. The marque went on hiatus in 2000, but was resurrected (and brought back to American shores) in 2002 with the launch of the entry-level, front-drive Mini Cooper hatchback. Thoroughly modern in every way, right down to its BMW-engineered suspension, steering and brakes, the Mini Cooper is sold alongside its cousins at BMW dealerships.

Today, Mini's offerings include various derivatives of the Cooper, including a coupe, a roadster and a convertible; the slightly longer Clubman; high-performance John Cooper Works variants; and even the crossover SUV-inspired four-door Countryman. With such a diverse, fun-loving lineup, it's no wonder that Mini has become one of America's most desirable small car automakers.

User Reviews:

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  2 months old - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By sjcrino - December 29 - 2:00 am

  great car. a real head turner. runs great. not much storage or little nooks and crannies. manuel transmission drives itself. run flat tires are a misery. way too stiff. don`t buy this model if you have back or kidney problems...or use a pillow. having a great time with this car.

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  DRIVING THE MINI - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By WHL - December 22 - 10:00 am

  I WAS JUST GOING TO LOOK BUT AFTER DRIVING A DEMO, HAD TO HAVE ONE. THE CAR IS FUN TO DRIVE, MY WIFE LOVES IT. I WOULDNT RECOMMEND LONG TRIPS IN IT.

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  Mini in Quality - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Denise - December 8 - 12:56 am

  I love the looks and space, but was disappointed with the the quality of the car. In 4 years I have spent almost $5000 in repairs. The battery was dead at 3 years. Several months after paying $700 for an oil change/inspection the check engine light came on and the car was sputtering. The spark plug wires were bad. Several months later the oil light came on. It needed a switch, but then also needed an engine harness and starter. This work had to be done at a dealership and took one week to complete. I was fortunate that they had a loaner available. I am afraid to take this car on a road trip. I am thinking of trading it in on a Honda. I never had such expensive repairs with my Honda

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  A Nightmare from Start to Finish - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Molly B - December 7 - 6:53 pm

  One good thing about my Mini - its sexy and fun to drive. Well, thats two good things. And thats where the happy story ends. My Mini has had engine recalls, indicator lights fall out (left and right sides), 3 windshield cracks, radiator thermometers explode (twice), random signal lights signaling (i.e. flat tire, check gas cap, service engine) for years on end ("bad computer circuitry"), oil pan leaks, emissions tubes cracked, the metal decal on my steering wheel pop up (twice. who knew that the entire steering wheel has to be replaced when that happens), vanity mirror covers fly off their hinge, battery failures, and more - but Ive run out of room. In short, my Minis been a nightmare.

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  Mini S - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Puaili - November 28 - 10:00 am

  My right window had not been able to go down and the BMW dealer has tried to fix it twice and thise third time I am waiting for a new part.

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  Motoring to Repairs - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By A. Calin - November 28 - 10:00 am

  After 14 visits to the dealer for repairs, one time having it towed to the dealer and countless calls (in excess of 25) to the MiniHelp line - all in 12 months. The fun is gone!!! There are cars that are lemons - and mine appears to be one of them! Too many issues to list, but the worst one is the fact that BMW will not fix an issue unless the issue is present when you bring it to the dealer. Example: my power steering worked intermittently for 2 months and was only fixed when the car overheated and had to be towed in - luckly the power steering didnt work when it was dropped off.

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  Too Slooowww - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By HerbSchober - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Too slooooowwww, needs larger engine to be a true sport type vehical.

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  BUMP IN THE ROAD - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By MEJORDON - November 28 - 10:00 am

  I CALL MY LITTLE JEWEL MY BUMP IN THE ROAD - BE SURE TO GET A BRIGHT COLOR SO YOU ARE SEEN. I LOVE IT

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  Super Mini Love affair - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By CommsortiumLTD - November 28 - 10:00 am

  I say "super mini" because it is a super little car. Drove the "S" and performance was not different enough to justify the cost. Mileage so far at 3500 is in mid 20s. Premium gas required making it still expensive for size. Seat adjustments are weird and difficult to operate. Rear seat is hard. Otherwise, a worthwhile buy. We have one and may buy another. Car gets tremendous attention everywhere..more than I ever got with my Porsches or Ferrarri!!!

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  Expensive to own! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By carrieb - November 9 - 10:43 am

  This is a really fun car to drive but very expensive to own. Have owned less than two years and have had one thing after another malfunction. Fragile and only the dealer seems to know how to repair. Hit a pothole and had to replace the tire and rim for $1000! Considering selling and buying something more reliable.