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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  Magic car - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By acetonic - March 11 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car Ive had the pleasure to own and the most fun to drive. Im 60" and have plenty of room. The seats and wheel can be adjusted to fit anyone. A friend of mine who is 65" even found a comfortable seating position with plenty of headroom. The performance and handling is super. I find myself searching out the longest, twistiest route to my destination. Doesnt feel like a small car at all when you are on the road, only when its time to park. Highly recommended.

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  Lots OFun - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By Mflem300 - March 11 - 12:16 am

  Ordered from the website and it was waiting for me when I returned from Iraq. Got the premium package and the chrome package so it looks fantastic and is loaded with features. Great fun to drive and still a real headturner. Great gas mileage while a blast to drive. I am looking forward to hitting the back roads and putting it through its paces. Six speed is really easy to drive. his MINI is a great improvement over the 03 I sold 2 years ago.

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  What Thrill! - 2010 Mini Cooper
  By centurion8 - March 7 - 4:33 pm

  Tired of "run-of-the-mill" cars. Wanted something different. This Mini S hits home. Still in "brake-in" period, but what a thrill to drive. Plenty of power, great cornering, excellent stability. We could not ask for anything more. Added a few options. Pleased with MPG, right now showing 29. Has factory turbo and boy does it move. Very pleased with this Mini S.

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  Just Amazing!! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By CarMen - March 2 - 11:46 pm

  Since I bought this Mini machine, I have had so much fun, beieng able to fit into spaces that otherwise were left for bikes! It is very versatile, it fits my pocket very well, saves me in gas, great mileage. I was a little bit afraid about the performance in the snow...but oh surprise..it was even better than I had expected. It handles very good, with such grace.. I can go on and on, but you have to test drive one and let the car tell you what is capable off. Good luck!

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  what a rush! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By tygirwulf - March 1 - 4:16 pm

  I fell in love with MINI on my first test drive 2 years ago. I love it even more now that Ive had one for 6 months. Gas mileage has improved over the 8,200 miles Ive owned the car, currently at 28 mpg mixed between country driving and stop and go traffic. Interior design is quirky and not at all like other cars, but to me was part of the charm and I quickly got used to it. Seats, while not cushy padded are quite comfortable for me nonetheless because of their design. It is deceptively powerful and if you know some curvy roads, very thrilling to drive. This coming from a computer geek who used to hate leaving the house if not necessary. I plan on owning this car for as long as possible

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  MCS / JCW - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By TicketBait - March 1 - 10:00 am

  This is more fun than my Vett. I lowered the car so the ride is a little more harsh but it looks wat to cool, I put on 18 inch rims too! no rubbing. no regrets

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  Awesome Fun - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By swisso - February 24 - 10:00 am

  Just purchased a new convertible Cooper S. I test drove the following convertibles: BMW 3, Jeep, Audi and mini. Having owned two BMWs in the past there is no question that BMW has graced this car with German engineering. This was unquestionably the most fun to drive and put an ear-to- ear smile on my face from day one. Looking out the back can be a bit of a problem at first but once you get used to the size its fine. Ive cruised at 90mph with the top down and that is no problem also. Just like the reviwers said: "this is a go-cart for adults". If you really enjoy feeling the road while driving and you dont need a lot of space this is it.

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  Driving Orgasm - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Minime - February 15 - 10:00 am

  This car rocks. Im a car salesman at an Audi dealership, so I drive TTs and S4s all the time, but this car beats them all in my opinion. Its not the fastest off the line, but I was doing 110mph before I knew it, and I wasnt even trying. For all you minivan moms and BMW snobs who bash this thing for not being fun, youre not driving it right. Dont be afraid to rev the engine a little, thats where the fun is. And the handling is awesome.

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  The open road - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Theball - February 10 - 10:00 am

  Just returning from my trip to the Northwest where I rented a mini S. From Seattle to Port Angelus and from there to Vancouver Island . Every task I asked this little car to do, it did in a manner which lets you know its really built to hug the road. The response to every curve with the leadfoot is what front-wheel-drive is all about me.

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  You need one of these! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By laclede - February 4 - 10:00 am

  Its a MINI. Its a blast. Lets Motor!