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:

• 

  My Mini, My Love, But why are you so sic - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Vanessa - July 1 - 4:46 am

  I love my Mini Cooper. Her performace is excellent and she is super fun to drive. Unfortunatly, she gets sick A LOT! I am the second owner of this car. Since I purchased it last June, the clutch has been replaced twice, the transmission has been replaced once, the computer has been replaced about four times, airbags have been replaced twice, and speakers have been replaced twice. She is currently in need of new brakes, a new windshield, a new speaker, I have a feeling the clutch is going again, and since the air bag light is on for about the 100th time again, she probably needs either another new computer or new air bags. I dont blame the car, I blame the HORRIBLE service dept. of BMW

• 

  My Mini and me are tight - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By tim villard - June 30 - 2:00 am

  With a new job way out in the country and a commute of 45 miles each way, it was easy to talk myself into buying a Mini. I love it. Mine has the CVT tranny, the sunroof, the sport steering wheel, and the cold weather package. The mini has been great on icy roads, not so great in deep snow, but absolutely a joy to drive.

• 

  Dream come true - 2011 Mini Cooper
  By jg2310 - June 24 - 11:46 pm

  I have wanted a cooper convertiable since it was released. The 2011 seems to have corrected alll of the control complaints I have read about with the 2010 model. I have driven a 2006 s model, and the 2011 ride is much smoother....no comparison. The 6 speed manual is a must, so much fun.

• 

  A little good, a lot of bad - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By mini s - June 24 - 12:53 am

  I had this car at 40k it currently has 72k. This has got to be one of the funnest cars to drive until something goes wrong. Where do I start, lets just do a list: 1. Passenger seat (cant recline) cost $600 to fix 2. Driver side door will no longer lock by itself or with key $900 to fix... yup just to make the lock go up and down. 3. power steering went out at 67k. So many people have post the same problem but Mini says no recall, cost to fix $1300 4. Pinging and clanking noise from the supercharger might be bearings. Yes I do keep up with normal maintenance cost to fix. 5. Currently at 71k car is overheating. I am hoping it is just the thermostat

• 

  Its the best. - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By epaquin - June 22 - 10:10 am

  I love to drive my Mini. Its comfy, roomy, everything. and Im a big girl. Im 511" and i fit comfortably in it. So if you are in the market, I would go for it.

• 

  Mini Max - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By semitame - June 20 - 5:23 pm

  My Mini has replaced an Audi RS6 as a runabout vehicle. I have an Audi Q7 on order for harsh situations. Going about town with my little go-cart is a blast. I ttook it on freeway from CT to NH. It is a little less friendly on poorly-maintained highways. It has lots of vibrations and I think I need to replace the performance run-flat tires with all-weather tires, and maybe adjust the shocks. I am old. Altogether my 500 mile trip was enjoyable. Pay attention on those bumps...make sure you land where you intended!

• 

  2003 MINI Cooper S - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By jmegown - June 19 - 10:00 am

  Great car...plan on buying two more for my kids...and maybe an open one for me.

• 

  Love my MINI - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By SuperDooperCooper - June 19 - 10:00 am

  The newness has run out but the fun has just begun. Mini finally got broken in after 3500 miles. She is a happy little gal now and is very smooth running. Still got lots of great comments from others.

• 

  Mini Baby - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Dita - June 19 - 10:00 am

  We special ordered our Mini from Salt Lake,Utah and recieved information as to when it was born and and when it would be delivered. We have had much fun with Mini.We also have a few other cars but we take the Mini to town to save on gas. We highly recomend this car to anyone and everyone no mater what class of car you can afford. It really is FUN.

• 

  bad buy, got hook on the hype - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Nickyg - June 17 - 2:00 am

  VERY CHEASY, too much for the price, so you sacrifice quality, its only time before things start breaking, and falling apart