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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  A CLASSIC - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By MAKEWAVES - February 20 - 10:00 am

  AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL CAR INSIDE AND OUT. A PERFECT DESIGN FOR THE CARS SIZE; WITHOUT QUESTION RANKS AS ONE OF THE BEST LOOKING AND INVENTIVE DESIGNS IN AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY, AND WILL ALWAYS RETAIN ITS GOOD LOOKS. WITHOUT REGARD TO HP, TORQUE, COMFORT...ITS EXCELLENT APPEARANCE/UNIQUE CHARACTER SECURES ITS PLACE AS A CLASSIC. AND ITS FASTER THAN A 56 PORSCHE SPEEDSTER AFTER ALL! THE BODY/COMPONENTS FEEL VERY SOLID. RIDE QUALITY IS OUTSTANDING WITH THE 15" BASE WHEELS/TIRES. A LITTLE SLIDING AROUND CORNERS CAN BE FUN, SO WIDER TIRES ARE NOT AN ADVANTAGE FOR THE MINI WHICH ALREADY HANDLES SO WELL WITH THE BASE WHEELS.

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  Sports Car Moves in Retro Style Package - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By MiniMan - February 19 - 6:23 am

  We bought the MINI because it looks great. We love the MINI because it is a sportscar in hatchback clothing. This little car begs to be driven. Youll find yourself searching out winding roads to go blasting down. It is a real treat. If you are on the fence about this car, spend some test drive time driving on a twisty 2 lane road and you will be signing your order immediately. After an hour you will feel like you have been driving this car for years. All the moves on the road inspire confidence. It has plenty of room up front for someone 64", however there will be no backseat room behind someone of this height.

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  Fun to Own - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By KK - February 13 - 12:26 pm

  My wife says I love the car more than her...not true, but it is a fantastic and fun vehicle. Of the many cars Ive owned, I have had more fun driving the Cooper than any other. As gas prices rose, the Cooper is even more beneficial, as I average above 30 mpg, even in the city. Overall, a pleased customer!

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  2002 MINI Cooper - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By anglophile - February 13 - 2:00 am

  Im ecstatic about my MINI since Im a long time British car enthusiast and have been waiting for the opportunity to buy a new cheap and cheerful car from England for years. So far its more reliable than my classic British car and gets as much attention. Handling and braking are superb, but the engine could use more lower RPM power. CVT transmission performs well. Cold weather package and sport seats highly recommended.

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  The best car on the roads! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By 631 - February 13 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car I have ever driven. The ride is great. The handeling could not be more perfect. Also when the car starts the engine sounds so nice. No upgraded muffler system is needed on this car. The back seat is a little tight to be in for a long time, but the front is very comfortable. The speedometer is not as hard to read as one might think. It is an excellent car for anyone to drive.

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  Enjoyable - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By archrail - February 9 - 7:53 am

  I am really enjoying the car. My other car is a 1971 Porsch 914-4. Both cars are excellant. But the MINI Cooper of course is techincally superior. After all, there should be advances in 34 years of motoring. But the Porsche is still fun to drive, however the MINI actually handles better. Both have 1.6 liter engines. The engine response with the MINI is quicker and you can really control the MINI on a mountain road. You drive has hard and as fast as you, the driver can handle!

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  Leaky A pillar - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By mini123 - February 8 - 10:00 am

  Great car ... watch out for the water leak down the A pillar on the drivers side. From my experience it appears the problem is showing up with more frequency. It seems some idiot in the factory has been forgetting to attach the sunroof drain hose inside the headliner. My car leaked extensively during the first rain storm. The dealers and Mnin are now aware of the problem, which is a quick fix. However, it may take several days to dry out the carpeting.

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  I Wouldnt Trade my Mini for Anything! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Mini_T - February 7 - 4:23 pm

  This is a great little car. Its very sporty and handles well. I bought mine in Germany and drove it to Switzerland and Italy. Talk about fun on the road. This car is built to handle the most death defying curves any road has to offer. I love to drive it and people love to ask, "How much fun is it to drive?" My standard reply, "Its my toy, and fun is an understatement!"

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  one happy 18 year old daughter - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By mike - January 27 - 4:40 pm

  I wanted safe but cute cool but with some get up and go and let me tell you I test drove a lot of cars in this price range and nothing even came close. The way it handled the looks you get when you roll up in a crowd. Great gas miliage. I got her the automatic in pepper White and she loves it! As a father I feel at ease when she is in her mini. A great car! Parents if you are looking to hook up the kid with a safe and cool looking ride just go test drive the mini and you will get one too trust me. My daughter still asks me is this mini really mine?

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  Im lovin it ! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Hans-Juergen - January 23 - 6:36 am

  Ive had my Mini for 15 months, and have put 17,000 fun-packed miles on it. I have the base model with manual transmission, sport seats, and a sunroof. Although I have read reviews that say otherwise, I think the base model packs plenty of power (as long as the A/C is off). I have not tired of this car - each time I get in it, I am reminded of how much fun driving should be. It is responsive on turns, and stable as can be at high speeds on the freeway.