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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  An every day car! - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Mike - June 15 - 2:50 am

  This is my fifth Mini. Ive had a Mini classic, 2004 Cooper, 2005 Cooper Convertible, 2005 Mini Cooper S Convertible, and now a 2006 White Pepper Cooper S Convertible. This is such a fun car to drive, especially going round corners. Its nippy and fun! I have so many options...some of the major ones are: aero kit, (custom chrome grill), 17" web spoke wheels, xenon headlamps, additonal racing lights, chrome exterior, chrome line interior, navigation, automatic transmission with paddles (one of the greates features), auxillary gauges, sport package, premium package, cold weather package, convienience packaage, front fog lights, rear fog light (great for backing off drivers too close or those with brights on), and the wind deflector.

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  The best MINI ever - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By de lang - June 12 - 2:00 am

  I have never drove a car like this It has a corner handling like A go cart it has more than enough power to let the wheels spin even in third gear.(with tracktion control turned off) the brakes are very powerfull even in wet conditions.

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  Wonderful - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Linnea Lamont - June 5 - 2:00 am

  The MINI Cooper is one of the best cars I have been in. Everyone should try out this vehicle. Not only is it comfortable, it drives smooth and has a wonderful design.

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  i loved the car so much i ordered an "s" - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By minicooperbob - June 4 - 10:00 am

  the is most fun car i have ever owned. i have been in the auto business for years and drove many cars. the mini is a hit

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  A very mediocre car in todays age - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By asd4652000 - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Not sure what the fuss was about. Went and bought me a Mini two months ago and have had nothing but headaches. The engine has stalled twice on the highway, luckily I was able to coast into the service lane. The dealership is not able to replicate the problem so they say they cannot fix it. Nightmare 101!

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  Love hate relationship - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Loosenut - May 31 - 9:36 am

  The car is so much fun to drive its addictive. It corners smoothly and accelerates well. The front seats arent the most comfortable but are very adjustable. The biggest problem I have had is with the new gas containing ethanol. Seems the gas companies add more than the 10% they say they do and the Mini runs lousy because of it. At least that is what the dealer says. Oh yeah, and now the CD player died.

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  DONT BUY A MINI! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Ali T - May 29 - 11:36 pm

  I bought this mini just over 6 months ago and have had nothing but problems! Got it from a local deal with a 3 month warrenty, kept having to take it back and now have a constant reoccuring problem that no local garage can find let alone sort!!! Warrenty has run out now the costs keep rolling in!!!

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  Looks, hype, and lack of substance - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By mcoMINI - May 29 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive car, though there is NO torque below 3k RPM. Controls are too heavy, ride quality is VERY harsh. Interior too plasticy (vinyl seats in a $22K car?!?). Uneven gaps in body panels look bad. Unpainted plastic on body looks cheap. Stereo isnt very good. Brazilian made Chrysler engine is disappointing, (yes, even in the S model). To top it off, the dealer is STILL trying to rape their customers.

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  The rear seat room is fine. - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By Carl Anderton - May 23 - 11:00 am

  Even favorable reviews of Mini Coopers claim that the back seats are almost useless. Horse hockey. Im 62", and Ive ridden in my backseat. Sure, its not a stretch limo, but I didnt want a stretch limo. I wanted the ultimate blend of style and utility and thats what I got. My family of 4 fits just fine in my Mini. And Ill tell you something else, that hatchback rear facilitates quite a bit of cargo that your standard 4-door compact could not handle. This car puts a smile on my face every time I get in it. Can you say that about your car?

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  Stay Away! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By jennyj - May 18 - 12:56 pm

  I bought this car from the previous owner who babied the car and had virtually no mileage. I argued with my family and friends that if I had to drive a "fuel economy" car it would at least not be generic, so I bought the Mini. To say I have been let down with this car and BMWs backing of this car would be the understatement of the millennium! The transmission went at 42,000 miles and the wanted 7,500 to replace it, even though there were hundreds of similar complaints of faulty trannys, BMW simply turned its head! Next were the window motors, the end caps of the rain gutters, the exhaust (at over a grand), the power steering pump, and more! This car is the biggest pile of garbage around!