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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  Hard to service - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Downhill - May 28 - 4:10 pm

  Have had this car for a year, 11,000miles, fun car to drive, but a nightmareto service especially if you travel. Dealerships are not convenient,must waita month or more to get an appointment. Also, having trouble with transmissionfinding gear at low speeds. Car lunges,so far two dealerships have not beenable to fix it.

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  Poor Reliability - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By lorri636 - May 13 - 2:08 am

  I have a 2009 Cooper S with automatic transmission. Its a fun car to drive, but goes in to have work done about every 6 months. Its had multiple problems with misfiring, carbon build up, timing belt replaced at 24,000 miles, electronic sensor issues. Ill probably keep it until the warranty is up and then trade it. Will never buy a Mini again.

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  MIN-E - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By John S - April 17 - 10:40 am

  I bought my Mini Cooper S used with 17,000 on it for a fair price. It is one of the best cars ever driven. People stare, smile, and ask questions wherever you stop. This car is fun, fun, fun. Thats all you can really say. Downside - this is not a family car, but it is perfect for two and the occasional three or four. At 20,000 miles, I had to have the slave cylinder replaced (leaking). This was all taken care of under warrenty.

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  greaaat fun - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By blk - April 13 - 5:33 am

  Fun car to drive-- cant wait to go drive----larger than you think--faster than most people think with larger engine--gets better the more you drive-- easier to get in and out of than a Z4 or similar sports cars. Most fun I have ever had driving a car.

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  Most fun car Ive ever owned - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By Tony - April 4 - 7:40 pm

  Great car! Let me start by saying that Im 64" 250 and I have plenty of space. Took it on a trip from Detroit Michigan to Naples Flordia 3 months after taking delivery. Averaged 35-MPG for the trip and was comfortable for the 21 hour trip. Turned heads the entire trip and was just a blast to drive. This is my first MINI as well as my first small car and plan to keep it for a long time. Used to lease large SUVs or trucks in the past, but no more. I love my MINI!

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  First of MINI - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Gretta0326 - April 1 - 8:30 am

  This is one of the most fun cars I have ever driven. I went with the automatic but really wish I had gone with the manual S version. It handles fabulously and is a must-have if you have to park in the city.

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  What to DRIVE - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By MiniCooperJD - March 22 - 10:00 am

  If you like to DRIVE, then the Mini Cooper is your car! This is not the sort of car that likes to be driven along in a slow and boring fashion! Live it up! The car is SPUNKY, FUN, COLORFUL, and most of all it has a PERSONALITY. How many new cars can boast that? My reliability has been good, build quality is good, though you can certainly tell it is not a Honda. Now, I will let you all be the judge of whether that is a good or bad thing. The interior cupholders are a joke, but other than that, I have NO complaints.

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  Our new MINI - 2010 Mini Cooper
  By hrnsindy - March 22 - 6:20 am

  When we purchased this MINI, I wasnt sure about it. I had liked the VW GTI, But hubby and daughter were sold on this..but now that I have driven it - I love it too! the gas mileage is great we are getting 33/36 mpg! and it is fun! I find that I have a bit more of a defensive driver as people tend to run you over. But our 16 yr loves it and I see that she is a better driver too. We had a Mustang GT, but this far better and we are glad we bought it! We keep it in sport mode for city driving (the turbo lag is the only thing I dont like) but Sport mode takes that away. Get the Mini Cooper S...and the good stereo.

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  Tranny Problems? - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By J-man shipes - March 5 - 8:10 pm

  Mini cooper is very fun car to drive. Great on gas, fast, and is very easy to get around in. It is a tight ride in the seats, so its not the funnest to drive for long periods of time. NOW! The downfall. Mini cooper has had problems with the junk transmissions they put into the coopers. Despite being built by BMW, it is not a BMW tranny in the car. My car has 67000 mile on it and the transmission is acting up in it, the cost to fix it? Try $6000, since mini does not sell parts to fix the bad trannies. Other than that, its a very cool car to drive until you get to high miles on the car and it will cost you.

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  Fun 2 Drive - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Mini Inu - February 24 - 10:00 am

  Car is just fun to drive, period. ItÂ’s a little bumpy for a daily drive, but not too bad. You really realize how small this car is when you pull up next, or park next to a SUV. Need a little more HP, for some driving enthusiast, so see about the JC Works kit. And buy the S, it is worth the extra HP, as a minimum. Sunroof is also a must! Harmon Kardan is nice, but I never heard the stock. Again, worth the extra cost.