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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  2002 Black Mini Cooper - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By cg - January 22 - 2:00 am

  I love my car mainly because it is SO CUTE. Only problem to date is the trunk wouldnt close, but the dealer is very responsive and has fixed the problem. The ride is bumpy with run flat tires.

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  Mini Makes Sense - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Stevesp - January 22 - 2:00 am

  Experience with the dealer and the car are perfect. Both lived up to their marketing promises and maintain a high standard you would expect from some Asian competitors. No gouging by the dealer and the car runs and performs flawlessly. I use the it to commute and it makes the drive interesting and more economical. Look at the Mini before you buy a domestic economy or Asian econo car. The other reviews here covered the fun part and I certainly agree with them.

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  One cool coupe! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Samuel Turner - January 20 - 10:00 am

  This has got to be the best car I have ever driven! The large speedometer is easy to read, quick steering, small steering wheel,no large blind spots,acceleration and accurate shifting.

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  GET TO BE GETTIN - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By MWO71 - January 20 - 10:00 am

  I BOUGHT MY COOPER S USED ITS A 03 WITH 15K MILES, I BOUGHT IT ON EBAY. ITS A GREAT CAR, I WANTED SOMETHING SPORTY BUT UPSCALE, WITHOUT IT BEING A KIDS CAR. ITS FAST OFF THE LINE ONCE THE SUPERCHARGER KICKS IN, AND PLENTY OF POWER IN EVERY GEAR. I PUT THE CHECKERED ROOF ON SO PEOPLE WILL SEE ME COMING, ITS A GREAT CAR AND I WILL BUY ANOTHER ONE. I HAVE A EMPLOYEE AT WORK WHO IS 68 AND 320 POUNDS. HE FITS WITH PLENTY OF ROOM LEFT.

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  Best Small Car in the World - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By st13scott - January 18 - 11:10 am

  Well I havent had my MINI Cooper S for very long, but it meets or exceeds every expectation I had for the car. How is it that MINI (Read BMW) can pack so much stuff into this price point but no one else can? Bi-xenon lamps in a car with a base price of $20,000! This can not be possible. Then you drive the car, its engine is smooth with a very linear feel to the power, especially considering that it is supercharged. Then you take your favorite corner and realize that it is going to be one of the most fun cars you will ever drive. Taking that corner at great speed, I had as big a smile on my face as I did the first time I hammered on a new 911 Turbo S. The moral of the story is stop reading buy a MINI Cooper S.

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  2003 MINI Cooper S - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By CharlesWil - January 16 - 2:00 am

  I have had the car only two weeks, but so for it has been a blast. Just love to drive this car. My other auto is a 1997 Darkar Yellow BMW M3. Havent driven it in two weeks! Motor On :)

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  fun little car - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By JasonZ - January 16 - 2:00 am

  A real pleasure to drive. It would be nice to have a little more torque between 2500-3000 RPMs, but take it on a windy road for some 2nd gear driving and youll forget all about it. More usable cupholders would be a welcome improvement. 2000 miles so far and I love the car.

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  its a Mini thing - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By luna9 - January 6 - 10:00 am

  Im completely satisfied with my Mini- no mechanical issues, sporty, reliable, blah blah blah. But, putting the practical stuff aside, the real reason why I love my Mini is... its a Mini. Ever since I first laid eyes on a classic Mini with the Union Jack on the roof, I knew I wanted one. Theres something about the hum of the engine, the distinctive silhouette, the pop-art meets old-school rally racing coolness of that big speedometer in the middle of the dash, and being greeted every morning by a smiling, happy little Mini. Yes, Mini owners are a little nuts about their cars. We cant help it- you just have to love the Mini.

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  female point of view - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Debbie Daniel - January 6 - 10:00 am

  easy handeling and manoverability, has saved me a close call or two. The breaks dont lock up and you do not flat spin. A great safe car.

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  Love It - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By MikesMini - January 6 - 10:00 am

  All I had hoped for. My CVT works great at 14 thousand miles. I believe the cars stalled once since I bought it, and that was moving from reverse to drive in my driveway. One oil change and tires rotated. Drove over the Blue Ridge Mountains with it; what a blast!! Any gripes I have are minor (below). In two more years Ill be ready for my second!