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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  Great car but... - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By johnd - August 6 - 9:50 pm

  Great car, fun to drive. Cute as a button however, we are noticing some build quality issues. At 40K, radiator leaked, replaced battery 2 times, new belt tensioner, new engine seals. I dont know if the mechanic knew what he was doing but I found out the dealer sold his dealership shortly thereafter and all new people are working there now. Not too happy with the repairs.

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  BMW in Sheeps Clothes - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By tellu66928 - August 4 - 2:00 am

  Loads of fun to drive. What a bargain price for a faux BMW!

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  cooper S - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By mini owner - July 31 - 10:00 am

  so fun, very reliable. complete joy to drive. rips around corners. very tight handling, suspension. U like a soft and squishy ride? this is not the car for you. carries 4 ok, 2 great. solid construction. vry roomy interior. fold down back seats make for good carrying capacity. buy rubber boot liner. really comfy seats. beautiful design. gas mileage pretty good w/ S. optional cold weather package, heated seats good.premium sound package is worth it.sunroof too. regrets - not opting in for some of the extended warranty packages they offer e.g., exterior damage. Nothing wrong with the car, just the other drivers on the road.Gripes are with the interior trim.

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  Great car, but... - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By wlwhoosier - July 25 - 12:06 pm

  Had the car for only a few weeks. Lots of fun to drive. Always drove Honda products--MINI could take some hints on interior feature design.

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  Driving is fun again - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By bajaarizona - July 25 - 10:00 am

  This is as much fun as I had at 16 in my first car, an MG TD, except that its also civilized and reliable, and a whole lot faster and more maneuverable.

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  Best car ever. - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By justcorey - July 21 - 2:36 am

  The title sums it up! I purchased my 03 MINI in 2/06 with 35.5k on the odometer and it has been awesome. It has plenty of space for me (65"/255 lbs.) and a co-pilot, great car on the highway (which is about 80% of my driving), plenty of power for such a small car and is just plain fun to drive. I skipped on the S model but have not been disappointed with my decision. It has truly been a reliable car - I say this as Im about to hit 98k. The only major out of pocket expense was a set of rear calipers and rotors - all other repairs have been fairly inexpensive and limited to mostly oil changes every 15k. I would not hesitate to recommend this car to anyone, as I love mine that much.

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  I LOVE MY COOPER!! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Ship2Shore - July 19 - 10:00 am

  I have had very few problems with my Cooper. It is dependable, economical, and very fun to drive. My Cooper has a personality all its own...It makes me SMILE!!!

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  2005 MINI Cooper S Convertible - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By vx49268 - July 19 - 10:00 am

  I had a 2003 MINI Cooper S and decided to trade up for a cabrio S model. The 2005 is a vastly better car. MINI has really worked on improving their build quality. If you owned a tin-top MINI, you will feel the extra weight of the cabrio when cornering, but it isnt too objectionable. Nits - Rearward visibility, top up or down isnt too good. The new cup holder on the center stack squeaks Picks - Convertible top. Absolutely awesome. Very well built and very versitile. Revised shift linkage / gear ratios are spot-on. Resale value - you wont find ANY car in this price range that holds its value as well as MINI.

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  Kudos to this car, so far - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Jim from Indy - July 17 - 6:53 am

  This car handles almost as well as my 1991 Dodge Stealth. Plenty of leg room for 62 and above. Just bought it a week ago but no complaints as of yet. Keeping fingers crossed.

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  Being a Teenager again - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By spenser weppler - July 17 - 2:00 am

  This car is great its like driving a go-kart it takes corners amazingly and i love zipping in and out of traffic with it. Its a little rough with rough pavement especially with the 15 inch performance flat run tires, but i hear with 16 inch that roughness is minimized.