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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  Love it - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By kccopy - June 7 - 10:00 am

  Bought the car in April after years of driving Mercedes sedans. It was time for something fun and peppy. In the S model you get both. I have not driven a standard model so cannot comment, but I think the S has power to spare.

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  PERFORMANCE CAR FOR LITTLE MONEY - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By MINI IMPRESSED - June 7 - 10:00 am

  WE ACTUALLY HAVE A 2005 MODEL BUT PICKED IT UP THIS MONTH. SO FAR THIS LITTLE CAR HAS BEEN FUN TO DRIVE AND HAS NOT GIVEN US ANY PROBLEMS. THE BASE MODEL, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE, SEEMS TO HAVE GOOD POWER, THOUGH IT IS NOT THE FASTEST 4 CYL. OUT THERE, IT STILL MANAGES TO DO THE JOB.

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  Every day is fun on this car! - 2013 Mini Cooper
  By jswcat - June 5 - 1:21 am

  Having owned over thirty cars this is the only one that I look forward to driving every time I get in. The absence of electrical overkill (nav,sensors,power seats, etc.) is refreshing especially with a REAL steering wheel with NO buttons! A real drivers car with plenty of torque and not unusable excess for the sake of numbers.

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  Love my MINI - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By clark530 - June 3 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car I have ever had. I only have one fear and that would be who will sevice it.

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  Fun and room for a tall guy - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By Brian - May 28 - 9:13 am

  Im 66" tall and this car has more legroom that full size pickup trucks I have ovned. It gets much better mileage than the EPA estimates. I drive 30 miles to work each way, and average 39.5 mpg at an average speed of 37.5. It handles like a go-cart and is fun to drive. I have had Mercedes and Z3 convertables and currentl have a 230 compressor. The Mercedes stays in the garage!

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  3 years and still enjoy it - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Dtrain - May 24 - 1:06 pm

  I bought this as a commuter car for its great gas mileage and optional equipment. You absolutely cannot equip any other car in this class with features like the Mini. If you live in a cold climate, the optional winter package is a no-brainer, and go for the Sport Package with Stability Control. The car is rock solid on slippery roads and highways, and responds to every muscle twitch of the steering wheel which might take some getting used to. Ive continued to get close to its EPA rating, especially if you keep the speed below 70 MPH. The car will drive fast, but the tach runs high and eats up gas. This is not a family car - its perfect for 2-person weekend trips and daily commutes.

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  The greatest thing since sliced bread! - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By UKDragon - May 23 - 7:56 pm

  Whats not to like? The best exterior and interior designed car ever, great fuel economy, you can park it anywhere, still has a great kick in performance, it takes turns like nothing else! Ridiculously fun to drive, and you get to be part of the MINI community- dont forget to wave to other passing MINI owners on the road! One of the best things about this car is that you get to customize its appearance however you wish. Go explore their website and virtually design your own MINI! I have had no technical issues with mine, and its been 2 years. Plus it has a great warranty and the service is BMW quality. Nothing bad to say about it!

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  Mini and Me - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Holly Bell - May 20 - 6:50 am

  Owning a MINI Cooper S is like having a Corvette. Every Mini owner you pass by on the road waves just like the Vette owners. It andles well on the road. I am able to keep up with all the other traffic on the highway. The Cooper S is nimble and quick enough to react in tricky situations, but it is a heavy vehicle that doesnt sway back and forth on the highway when its windy like other vehicles I have owned. this is especially nice when passing tractor trailors.

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  The Best Ride that I have ever had! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By threerailing - May 6 - 10:00 am

  MINI was absolutely perfect when delivered and has been totally trouble free. This is definately "The Little Car that could!" You owe it to yourself to test drive one. Our dealer MotorCity MINI has been wonderful and has performed way beyond expectations. GREAT CAR AND GREAT PEOPLE TO DEAL WITH!

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  Engineering. - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Jcdogger - May 4 - 10:00 am

  I would love to meet the engineering team of this vehicle. The thought process that went into a car that sells for under $25k is amazing.