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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  Instant Celebrity - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Tracker - July 9 - 10:00 am

  42 mpg on the highway last weekend! Whoo hoo! This little car delivers: fun to drive, economical on gas and overall price, and a babe magnet (both sexes). I have such a great time driving my MINI, I just cant stop smiling. When I park my car, usually theres somebody asking me questions and when I return to the car often it has attracted a crowd of admirers.

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  MiniCooper - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By skyg - July 6 - 10:00 am

  Excellent ride, fun, efficient

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  Awesome Little Thing - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By JP Money - June 27 - 2:16 am

  For both driving spirited and casually, the MINI Cooper S is an awesome car. For a young single male, it has enough space for anything I need and enough room for three of my friends. It is peppy and fun to drive. I have never had a problem with it, knock on wood. This a rare compliment for cars nowadays, which are often over shadowed by complaints. This is the best small car out there!

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  this car is awsome - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Branden - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Iv had a lot of fun with this car and i hope you get one to!!!

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  FORGET THE PORSCHE! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By wbs - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Why buy a Porsche and blow the extra dough? You want looks and have money left over to buy.....another car (or two). The Cooper S is the real deal and the kids can come along for the ride in the backseat! I am 62" tall and I can stretch out and be comfortable. Not sure which there is more of---fun or leg room! If you drive it, bring your checkbook because you will buy it. If you dont then you forgot what it means to live a little!

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  griffith mania sold on THE MINI - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By curlyjojomcfarkwatt - June 27 - 2:00 am

  this car is quick and fun and very very hard to turn over!!! it would be the best gettaway car for the old time gangsters if you could teleport it back in time. had a griffith once that used to get stares and questions, but not like the mini does.....great on gas and much roomier than one would imagine till inside and using it yourself....long live the mini!!!

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  Unreliable go-kart - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By Alex - June 18 - 5:53 am

  DO NOT BUY A MINI!!! I was excited to pick up my Mini a couple of years ago; it had go-kart handling and almost 40mpg. However shortly after I picked up the car the problems started; engine overheating, windows not rolling up, various engine lights coming on, etc... Each time the dealer would help me resolve the issue, but as this wasnt scheduled maintenance, I had to arrange alternative transportation. In addition we live about an hour from the dealer so it was two hours of driving with my wife following me. This wouldnt have been such a big deal if it wasnt in the shop at least once a month. Moritz would not work with me, and I finally sold the car for a much more reliable Nissan.

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  A Fun car to drive - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By MIchele - June 18 - 5:30 am

  My Mini Cooper is a blast to drive! It handles great in the snow;much better then the Mustang I drove last winter. I will always buy a Mini. A Fantastic car for the money.

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  My Mini - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By cpmken - June 16 - 10:00 am

  The most fun vehicle we have ever owned.

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  BIG Fun in a Small Car - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Bill - June 14 - 8:40 pm

  I have had my MINI since August. I have really enjoyed it. My "second" car is a Lincoln Town Car and I am seriously considering selling it and just keeping my MINI. It is actually easier to enter and exit the MINI than the Lincoln. It always gets looks when I pull away from a light. Evidently some people think it is an "economy" car, but I know it is a "hot rod".