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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  Cute Car, Expensive up keep - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By redthirteen - February 15 - 2:00 am

  I love the look of the Mini. I love driving the mini it actually makes driving in traffic fun. But once you have to fix something on your mini, it can be very expensive. Once your car is out of warranty, Mini USA refuses to take any responsibility for their cars. They will not fix even a manufacturers defect, and cover themselves by saying it is out of the 3 year warranty. They are cute cars but are not made to last.

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  So much fun to drive but... - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By Gie - February 4 - 1:56 pm

  Bought in June brand new, third car only driven occassionally. Loved the car, so much fun to drive though handling is a bit rough. Yesterday, at 1171 miles, it began jumping. I am no car expert and the best way to describe the problem is like when driving a stick and you dont change gears properly. Needless to say it will be going back to dealer as soon as we can get it there.

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  To my fellow Road Warriors - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By RoadWarrior - January 8 - 10:10 am

  I love my 2009 MINI and its a good thing I do because I spend most of my time in it. I am writing this review for people who are considering buying this car for frequent long trips. The car is a blast but Im not sure I would purchase again because of all the long trips I take. In 14 months I have driven this car almost 60k mi. To be honest, the interior is not very comfortable. After driving about 2 hours on the hwy I start to get fidgety. Being in the passenger seat is almost unbearable after 1hr. Great gas mileage, but not really any pickup on the highway. I know I sound like Im complaining. I really love my Mini but if you plan on driving as much as I do, you might want to reconsider.

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  Fun? Yes...but aphathetic service... - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By DeeDubya - December 7 - 11:53 am

  I wanted a vehicle that was fun to drive and good on gas. The MINI S has delivered on those counts. But, the engine has developed a cold start stumble and nearly stalled in traffic the other day. BMW calls it a "low idle problem". The service department has "made a note of my concern", but would not look at the car. Ive owned it 7 months, but Im looking for another vehicle. One needs a thick skin at BMW/MINI Service departments. Sales departments are all sweetness and light, but the real truth can be found at service. Wait for the 2007 engine redesign if you want this car.

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  MiniCooper S - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By kapitan - November 19 - 2:00 am

  have driven the "S" since July and now in the snow and ice of upstate NY winter. Both experiences good- Mini goes like hell on good days and gets thru just fine over snowy roads, much better than my Ford Focus. Just now getting used to the somewhat un- yielding seat, gasoline mileage not impressive(c. 25) but smile factor 100, with strangers regulary walking up to ask or comment about it.

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  Fun but poisoned - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By Fun but poisoned - November 8 - 12:16 pm

  This car should win the Bang for the Buck contest. It is a performer that is easy on the gas. 0-60mph under 7 seconds and gets 30 mpg city/highway. There is no other car that can match the performance and the fuel efficiency of the new MINI Cooper S. But the engine makes loud noises like a diesel truck. On some occasions, it is worse as if it is grinding on some internal metal parts. Dealer has not found the solution yet. I have my fingers crossed that the MINI company will find a permanent cure for this problem. The car rattles sometimes. Handling is second to none.

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  Did I buy the right car - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By kongsi - November 5 - 10:41 am

  Well I was looking for a bigger car , but saw this MINI at BMW of Dallas and fell in love with it. I was surprised , how good the service was when I bought it , this Ali really went out of his way to help me choose the right car.Then usually I feel the car gets lesser as the time of purchase goes by , but they upgraded the car to certificated the car and replaced things that were getting worn , like the run flat tires. The car is a blast to drive ,the only thing I´m not sure of how hard the ride is and how loud the road noise is. It can wear me out . The price is a little high ,because some things are so much plastic , but there are allot of features on it .

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  In case you were wondering... - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Penny - October 28 - 3:20 am

  This has been a fun little car with more room than previously anticipated. For comuters who are willing to forego a smooth ride for great gas mileage or someone who likes to be looked at, this is the car for you. Personally, I am enjoying this car. I wasnt even interested in buying it because I had an SUV and thought it was to small, I was wrong! This car is fun and sexy at the same time, who would have thought! One thing that is confusing, the car has beaucoup gadgets, but is missing standard perks ie; auto tint rearview mirror or digital compass this was standard on a base Saturn. Those items are kind of a no brainer.

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  mighty mini - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By george daly - October 18 - 12:00 pm

  This is a great car. It is very reliable, fun to drive, and gets great gas milage. I would buy another one. I have owned sport cars and luxury cars, but I like this one the best.

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  Zoom. - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Mini1380 - October 6 - 10:00 am

  The car just wants to go. This car has drivability/handling of a go-cart with the quality of a BMW. Being six feet tall, I easily fit in the car with room to spare. There has been an amazing amount of time spent on details such as the programable options: light delays, auto-locking, etc.. I just love the car.