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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  Amazing ride in such a small package - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By ojershelly - June 14 - 9:26 am

  This car puts the "kid" back in all of us! Lower the top and it brings a smile to your day. Whoever said "bigger is better" never drove a Mini. Drive one.

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  2010 Cooper Hardtop 6 Speed Auto - 2010 Mini Cooper
  By micweb - June 13 - 2:33 pm

  This is not your typical "B" segment mini-car (like the Honda Fit, Yaris HB, Scion xA, all of which Ive owned). The NVH (noise-vibration-harshness) levels are ultra low for this class. This is a QUIET, SMOOTH car. Very high levels of front seat comfort. Base suspension and stock tires are surprisingly good - I have no plans to make changes, which is unlike me. Superb gas mileage - an indicated 35.4 mpg on my mostly freeway driving in regulare (non-sport) mode. Also a bargain, if you dont add "extras," and take into account the fine stock sound system and detailed on-board computer.

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  Awesome MINI - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By GEORGE - June 2 - 3:43 pm

  This car is a crowd stopper! Anywhere you go, people are in awe over it. It is great now that I pass by the pumps when everyone is in line for $3 gas.

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  Its an okay car - 2012 Mini Cooper
  By Daniel - June 2 - 8:53 am

  I purchased the car brand new and owned it for almost two years. I never had any problems with it. It definitely had some cons which lead to me selling it. When it rains it is impossible to enter the car without a gallon entering with you, poor design. The AC is below average and makes a lot of noise. The Bluetooth was terrible, the other party could hear everything. It also had its pros. I was getting 38 mpg mixed driving , it was a manual. It was fun to drive and very easy to park. I never had one issue with it on the 2 years of ownership. It was a fun car, but I couldnt stand the cons.

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  Lemon - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By forgetaboutit - May 29 - 2:00 am

  Car has had 4 different software loads to fix stalling problem which is just one of the 39 different issues with this car (15 are repeat issues like the air bag system failure - 3 times). Car has been to the dealer 18 times in 16 months and is there now. I suggested the dealer put it in the recycle bin this time.

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  Fun car with a few minor flaws - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By blueguydotcom - May 28 - 1:23 pm

  Every morning I look forward to driving my Cooper S. The turbo engines relatively smooth and eager to rev. With a pretty tight suspension on the car, it seems to swallow most corners with ease. The small exterior dimensions hide a surprisingly roomy interior. Ive transported 4 adults in my car without complaint. Fold down rear seats also make the car pretty good at transporting groceries/gear from Costco. Finally, the car nets an astounding 35 mpg for me on the freeway and I get about 30 mpg combined. FWD robs the car of fun though. Until I start a family, the Cooper will meet my needs - small, fun, economical, zippy and easy to maneuver in any environment - its a perfect urban car.

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  THE BEST - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By green cooper - May 28 - 10:00 am

  This is a great little car. You cant get anything better for under $20k. Heck even $35K. The people who put the bad reviews on here are crazy, what were they expecting, a Porsche? Come on, get real. Its not quite perfect but I cant recommend it high enough.

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  Cooper MINI Convertible - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By No Fun - May 27 - 9:23 am

  I am very disappointed with the engine & automatic transmission design. There is a very bad dead zone in the acceleration in 1st from a dead stop. The top squeals when coming up. The maintenance is free but when they dont fix anything its worthless. The repair shop isnt familiar with the car and cant fix problems. I have had to go back 4 or 5 times before something gets fixed. They have even lied, actually fixed something and said on the repair sheet that there was nothing was wrong. I would not recommend anyone buy this Car with an automatic. The rear view is cluttered and very dangerous to back up. The automation in the controls is stupid, mostly unnecessary and very annoying

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  MINI Cooper - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By slider8411 - May 24 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle preforms well, is fun to drive,and is wonderfully unique. After driving the MINI Cooper, driving a "normal" vehicle seems very lacking.

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  this is a kids car - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By lisa davis - May 24 - 10:00 am

  this car is very diffcult to get in and out of ,and i only weigh 145 pounds .there isnt any room for any movement.also i almost got ran off the highway twice due to other cars not seeing ,and especially trucks .