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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  Paper Weight - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By opusiam - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Perhaps, the 2nd worst vehicle I have ever owned. Too many warranty fixes from one previous owner and myself to list but include everything from water leaks to fluid leaks to repeat seat cover replacements, front seat replacement, loss of compression, etc. Compared to my previous vehicle, a Miata, it shifts like a truck. Handling is no where close to the Miatas. It would make a cute 3000 lb. paperweight.

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  My pride & jpy!! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By UKCheese - May 18 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Mini, had an original one way back when. Cant compare the two tho...the new Cooper S handles those tight corners brilliantly! FUN, FFUN, FUN!! Highly recommended!

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  Luxury in small package - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By jwildero - May 18 - 2:00 am

  The MINI Cooper is an excellent car. BMW has packed a lot of features into this little car, more than one would expect. Its like getting all the features of a luxury car, without the luxury car price.

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  My Review - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By mizzou1fan - May 18 - 2:00 am

  The best care Ive ever driven.

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  Dougs review - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By dojohns1 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  I love this car.

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  what a great little car ! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By jayfish - May 17 - 10:00 am

  i test drove both the cooper and the cooper s. i loved them both. test drive it before you buy it, youll agree, these are so much better than those hulking suvs on the road! plus you can run circles around those monsters as they make their way from gas station to gas station.

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  Stylish Fun! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By minimusicman - May 14 - 10:00 am

  This car is really fun to drive. The handling is excellent, & you can get a parking space almost anywhere. People always stop & stare. It brings a smile to almost everyones face, especially mine-which is why I got one!

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  Its a Keeper - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By lombardoca - May 11 - 11:10 pm

  Bought my 2005 Cooper S used (one year old and 12,000 miles on it). Dont put a lot of miles on it, but it is driven most days. Repairs needed by 25,000-30,000 miles indicate that many of the components just arent the sturdiest (wheels, tires, multiple oil leaks and a power steering fluid leak, suspension parts in need of replacement), but with the work done, it seems like new, and I would like to drive it forever.

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  Look at a VW GTI instead - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Car enthusiast - May 4 - 2:00 am

  I saw a Mini at the auto show just months before it arrived at dealerships and it felt like a hundred $100k vehicle. When I sat in the vehicle at the dealership, there was an obvious difference in feel from the one at the show- cheap. Its not as small as the original, negating any real association. While the S version is a decent sporting car, think of the base vehicle as a stylish Chevy Metro. The vehicle is fairly priced- before the dealer markup. As of now, neither versions are worth the money. If you wait, maybe you can have one at a more reasonable price (closer to invoice). Want a real value in sporting and luxury in a similar car? Seriously consider the VW GTI.

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  Holy S@#%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By king mini 05 - May 2 - 9:36 pm

  Wow!!!!! This car is absolutley amazing. Everything about it rocks!