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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  Gotta love this car - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By bpago - July 31 - 2:00 am

  For a retro based car, this is the most fun you can get. Great power with a little tweaking. It makes every one smile and, the driver is the lucky one. Every trip is an adventure. A true cult brotherhood among fellow owners. If you just get in on and close the door you will want one. FANTASTIC dealer involvement in "MOTORING ON"

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  Break lines split? - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By christian - July 31 - 2:00 am

  I just bought a "s" last week. I also have a 67 kensington cooper with 15k miles. The "s" is a awesome little car, however, the day after I drove it off the lot the brake, dsc, airbag and seatbelt warning lights came on. Took it service, "Hey buddy, your not going to believe this, your brake lines are split and spraying fluid all over the place". Nice, considering I drive my 2 and four year old to school in this ride. My 67 is 30 years older and has been more reliable than my 04 with only 150 miles on it! Great job BMW! Brakes that work to much to ask for? Pathetic.

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  I own one. - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Paul of Melbourne - July 26 - 2:00 am

  I own a Cooper S. This car was well thought through. I enjoy the handling and interior the most. The factory offers so many options and there are hundreds of sites and shops that sell accesories. Very well made car.

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  Love my Mini - 2012 Mini Cooper
  By lgreen17 - July 24 - 8:22 pm

  I bought my car about a year ago, the Bayswater package. It is everything I ever wanted in a car! Its fun to drive, easy to park (I work on a college campus and I can always squeeze it in somewhere), has style and good gas mileage too. Ive only had a couple of issues, 1) the service engine light came on after a few months and the dealer said I must have put regular gas in it, not the premium, and 2) the door is hard to open sometimes. Im taking it in for a year service next week so I hope to get that fixed. Press the button door locking is my favorite feature. I also drive on gravel everyday and it handles great.

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  Room for improvement - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By mchappyq - July 24 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Mini for almost three months and keep wondering what is wrong. It just does not seem that fun to me. Many people talk about how fun to drive it is, but I think it reminds me more of my old Daewoo than a nice BMW. Where is the acceleration? I cannot find any low end power. The dealer keeps telling me do not expect a ride like a BMW but something more like a Mazda. I did not find that very comforting.

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  angels mini cooper review - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Angelbaby - July 21 - 10:00 am

  The 2004 mini cooper is a great for someone who wants a car that is good on gas, is not too big, and has an excellent design. Please note that this car is VERY reliable. Also it may not look like it but it is incredibly spavious for such a small vehicle this car is a class of its own.

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  Love My MINI - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By MiniSuz - July 21 - 4:26 am

  Its only been six months, but the love affair continues between me and my MINI! Ive never had such fun owning and driving a car!

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  My Mini Tex - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By jkdy - July 20 - 8:03 pm

  I bought my mini ("Tex") used in Dec. 04 from a dealer. I am a car nut, but Tex has totally hit all the right buttons; I dont have a desire for any other car. I dont like that the dealer is 150+ miles away; it makes getting it serviced tough. I have also bent two rims on icky Michigan roads. I hate that and would like if there were more practical tire options since I drive 75 miles a day. But even with that; when I go to think of another type of car, nothing else is as much fun as the "cute" factor, that everybody from middle-aged ladies to young, make car mechanics, to practical hubbies always seem to comment about. My Tex has the big attitude to match his name and his performance. Its unmatchable!

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  I like it - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By Mini in VA - July 15 - 8:00 pm

  Owned my Mini for a year and a half and its been a real treat. NO problems. Even after 8 years people still crane to look at them, so dont buy one if you dont want to be noticed. Although it is admittedly a toy we have taken in on long trips to the beach in South Carolina and skiing in Vermont and it surprisingly accommodated my wife and I and all our gear. The little thing travels really well and seems the longer you are in the seats the better they get. I do wish they had put an opaque screen on the sunroof as the Virginia summers get boiling hot, but the auto down windows on the remote helps that some. Drinks in the cup holders tend to unintentionally turn on the seat heaters too.

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  Better than the tester - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By hiker56229@yahoo.com - July 6 - 2:00 am

  Put some rock and roll in the CD player and let this little rocket get its legs. In the fun per $ competition I dont see how you can beat this car. At the right engine speeds the acceleration is excellent and then handling is amazing. I went with the 16 inch wheels for a smoother ride and Im pretty happy with the choice. The tires are sticky and Im sure I lose a lttle in the corners to the 17 inchers but it cant be that much to justify the loss in ride quality. And the ride is better than I thought it would be based on how this cars suspension is set up. What a hoot!