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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  Red Mini - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Jack Nesbitt - July 14 - 8:36 pm

  Coming up on 10,000 miles. No major problems of any type. Rides hard as one would expect. Small noise in dashboard when on bad LA freeways. Gets great mileage. Averaging 31.7 mpg in LA combined highway and city.

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  I am going to miss my MINI !!!! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Happy MiniOwner - July 7 - 7:16 pm

  Ive had my MINI since it was a pup, straight from its mother teat! But after 4 years, its time to get an automatic since the wife cant drive a stick. This has been one of my favorite cars I have owned, being in my forties, thats been a lot. It is a blast to drive. I agree the seats could be a little more comfortable, but theyre not that bad. The cup holder situation is bad, very bad. Mechanically, I have only had an O2 sensor fail. and those ridiculously expensive tires were replaced too early with normal high performance tires (it is also a weird size had to special order them). The passenger seat has stopped reclining. I will miss waving at other MINI owners and being in the family.

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  Mini Madness! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Hobbs - July 4 - 2:00 am

  Just got my Mini. First Thoughts: Fun, fun, fun to drive!! Lots of looks from passerbys, Handles very well. The Good:Sport Automatic impressive. Love the Sunroof and the seats Pleather look like real leather. I enjoy driving it every time I am in it. I suggest the Indi Blue color with black roof. The Bad: No interior storage space a big bummer. Radio controls on steering wheel should have an AM/FM toggle switch. CNN rates the MINI the worst (most costly $$$$) in bummer crashes.

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  Best Value - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By jstwpb - June 29 - 2:00 am

  When I first saw the MINI I was impressed with the retro interior and exterior styling. After test driving the car I knew that I had to have one. It handles better than any small car I have ever driven. I got mine with premium package one and the sport package. I felt that these were an excellent value. These packages included may features found on cars costing $10K-$25K more than my MINI.

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  03 Cooper S w/Sport Pack - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Mike03CooperS - June 29 - 2:00 am

  It is an incredibly fun car to drive when either on a country road or in a hurry, having to weave around sport utilities. Handles just like youve read about - point and shoot - but the ride is a bit rough on bad roads with the 17s, as youd expect. Strong enough motor - could use another 40hp. Brilliant car. HIGHLY recommended.

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  FUN IN SOUTH FLORIDA SUN - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By matthew - June 23 - 10:00 am

  FUN I LOVE IT CANT ASK FOR A BETTER CAR

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  MINI COOPER S convertible - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By jan - June 22 - 5:10 pm

  My mini cooper s has been the most fun to drive of all my cars. I had a 328I BMW and loved it. This little car is better. It hugs the road, corners on a dime and likes to go bery fast. I love the concept of sun roof and convertible in one car. You can always ride with the top down.

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  Great to Drive; Not the Best Build quality - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By fredkhn - June 19 - 4:56 am

  I love the car for its looks, performance and drivability. It drives like a go-cart. It has enough space for my two children in the back as well. This is one of the reasons that I purchased the vehicle. Though built by BMW, there is much to be said about build quality. BMW should be careful not to bring down its reputation with Minis poor quality. The sunroof in my car has had to be repaired/replaced a couple of times but the rattles continue. I have been experiencing other rattles in other parts of the car.. I am not the only one with this problem. I even met another person at the same dealership with the same problems. BMW of Canada cannot fix these problems. They do try very hard to fix them, however. I give them kudos for effort.

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  Finally, an affordable British car! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Novitd1 - June 18 - 10:00 am

  When I heard about the launch of the new MINI Cooper, I knew I had to have one since I am an anglophile and have been hungry for a "cheap and cheerful" British car ever since the demise of British Leyland. My MINI has been everything I dreamed about and more. It has reliably transported me on my 120 mile/day commute, even during our harsh winter. Last month, it protected me in an accident on I-95. After my car was hit in the rear side, it spun out and collided with a metal guardrail. I was unhurt except for a tiny bruise on my temple. Sadly, my insurance totalled the vehicle, but I thought so highly of it that I have a 2004 on order.

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  GO MINI F1 STAR - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By YEAHDOGY - June 18 - 10:00 am

  VERY FUN TO DRIVE. RECOMEND FOR THE COLLECTION