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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  Mini Madness - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Schpeck - October 26 - 10:00 am

  I had been dreaming of a mini for about two years, then was more fired up after seeing the "Italian Job". Built it online, and voila! picked up my mini in January and even my husband now wants to trade in the Tahoe for another family mini. My next door neighbor has one, and more in the neighborhood! What a great car to have and just enjoy being part of the mini mania.

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  Trading Spaces MINI - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By aminc - October 26 - 10:00 am

  My experiences have been rewarding, I am please with the style and most of all the fun factor. Numerous time I have been stop and asked about the car. I never had any mechanical problems, and enjoy the car as much as my wife.

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  A+ - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By mtrulis - October 26 - 10:00 am

  The mini is perfect. I live in Chicago and the mini can fit into any parking spot on those busy streets. In a land of SUVs the mini gets amazing gas milleage. I can get up to 420 miles on a tank which is twice as much as my old SUV and it costs the same amount to fill it up. Amazing car, great look, and everyone digs a mini couper

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  My Mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Toni - October 26 - 8:33 am

  Minis have everything in a small packet. Its really fun to drive at high speeds. In the city its even more fun to drive. It is small, fast and really good at cornering. The interior is really goo\d looking.

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  Im Happy with Happy - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Happy - October 23 - 10:10 am

  Just sitting in my MINI Cooper (Happy) puts a smile on my face. Very few cars can do that anymore. It handles like a GoKart and gets good economy. The only issue that I have had with it is that BMW says to use Premium Fuel, which is a bummer. The back seats are not usefull unless those in front are small also. Otherwise, this car is a beatiful piece of machinery.

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  LOVE IT! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By MY MINI - October 21 - 3:26 am

  I have been wanting a new car for sometime but couldnt find one that I liked til now. What a great car! So much better than a VW bug. I love everything about it!

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  MINI Car, Major Problems - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Limycar - October 20 - 1:30 pm

  I wish that my ex-car was as reliable as the dealer I purchased it from. In 10 months, the car was in the shop 30+ days for the same problem four times...loss of power as a result of misfiring. The sensor lights such as the DSC came on without reason and the digital gauge for average gas consumption continued to read 99.9 even at a stand still. The central lock sporadically unlocked the passenger door when the key was removed. Dealer bought the car back and Im now driving a 2007 VW GTI. Dollar for dollar, VW is the better buy. Only thing missing is the character of the MINI...and the unreliability.

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  MINI - Making driving fun again - 2012 Mini Cooper
  By parscar - October 19 - 6:41 am

  I have had numerous cars over the years. Company and personal. The MINI Cooper is by far the most fun to drive. Handling is great. Acceleration is fine and exceptional with the turbo.

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  I love Minis - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By coryelli23 - October 18 - 11:53 pm

  This is honestly the best car I have ever driven or ridden in. It is very fun to drive and has amazing handling. Also, the turning radius is very tight. The only bad thing about it is when you have to replace the tires. They are very expensive and hard to find. Honestly, I cannot see myself wanting another car.

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  my favorite car ever - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Scott Nickel - October 17 - 10:00 am

  This car is the most fun Ive had on wheels ever. It corners like it knows the way. The smiles from other motorists, the thumbs up, the conversations. All so positive about a car under 20,000. I am so grateful that BMW brought this car to market. Its an awesome ride.