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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  Short lived love affair - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By Family Guy - May 17 - 3:43 pm

  I custom ordered my Cooper S manual last spring, and sold it after only 9 months of ownership. It was certainly fast (one speeding ticket), nimble and fun to drive, but even my 8 year old daughter complained that the rear seating was too small and that "she didnt feel safe". I regularly drive 2- 3 hour trips and found this car to be harsh riding, noisy and rattley. The small tires and wheels were simply no match for the rough roads around Ohio and Michigan. My full-sized buddies complained bitterly about no leg room when they rode with me, whether in the front or back seats. Buy it for the city and only if you dont have kids.

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  MINI ROCKS!!! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By jmrh - May 17 - 2:00 am

  Wow! This really is the ultimate adult go-kart! Just purchased three weeks ago. Enjoying immensely! Hubby and I share the car - have to take turns as we both enjoy driving this vehicle. Although, I have to say, it is nice to be the passenger, too!

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  Boxster Killer - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Da-Works - May 14 - 1:53 pm

  I purchased my Pepper White John Cooper Works MINI S last May and IÂ’ve had a permagrin ever sense. The performance is almost scary and surprising to many who try to follow me on a back road. If youre thinking of buying a MINI, do it. Its more than just another sports car. The build quality is excellent and, so far, the reliability has been great. I bought my car with several features that the autocrosser would think of ordering. Full sunroof, upgraded seats and auto ac/heat, as well as auto headlights dimming rear view mirror, etc. Overall the added features make the car a great cruiser and weekend get-away car.

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  Journey of the Black Pearl. - 2012 Mini Cooper
  By Bob Morand - May 6 - 9:09 pm

  Bought new, have loved it! Im retired and have babied her, never been over 4500 rpms. Oil chg between scheduled times! Great car for someone. Extras, K&N filter, JCW strut brace, legal mod. pipes! Rear seat has never been up!

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  More Beauty Less Filling - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By nyrogrl - May 6 - 10:00 am

  Dont get me wrong...I bought the car out of sheer beauty, and art. Plus was very interested in the sport of the car. My impressions are mixed. First, I also own a 2000 Miata, which was my second for them. So, when I got the MINI S I was prepared to absolutely fall in love. I did, but...little things bug me...1st gear is loud and I do not understand that, cheap sunroof covers, lousy air conditioning, really bad. the handling is great, but the Miata kills it in my opinion. It is a looker, and a great little car, but as much as I wanted to just completely lather over it, my Miata is fantastic too.

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  Too Cool for Words - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By pjhowell - May 6 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Mini for about a month. There have been zero mechanical problems or concerns. It can really move when you stomp the accelarator! Feels solid. Corners like a go cart.

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  The most fun car Ive ever driven - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By CityDriver - May 5 - 9:00 am

  I wanted a combination of excellent performance with great gas mileage for under $25,000. This car is by for the MOST FUN car Ive ever driven, and I have had my share of fun cars. The power and handling are very comparable to a BMW. The interior space is deceivingly spacious and although the rear seats are small, the back seats do not deserve the "overly cramped" reputation that they have earned, but youre not buying the car for the back seats. The turbo is more than adequate considering the car gets 34 mpg on the highway. There are a few negative aspects- the controls are not easy to use (radio, heating/cooling system) and the speedometer is in the center of the dash which is awkward.

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  Minis - the new sexy car - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By jomomocomo - May 1 - 3:13 am

  Had my Mini S convertible for 4 months now, I love it as much today as the first day I got it.Looks sexy, feels sexy, its the new "it" car.People stop me all the time to ask about the mini, I get people chatting to me while I am driving, people honk, point, smile, stare. When its parked at the store people look inside, walk around it check it out; if the top is up they peer in the window, (I am forever cleaning nose marks off).My advice to you if you are thinking about buying one, run, dont walk to the dealership and order it ASAP, you already might be too late for the 2005s, they are hot, hot, hot.I love my mini!

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  Flawed - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By Alex - April 26 - 2:26 am

  I took ownership of my brand new Mini on January 22, less than a month later the mini lost all its brakes (because the brake hydraulic line was not properly attached to the brake system) while I was driving 65 mph. Scary as all hell, could have been injured bad, but was lucky that the road I was on was relatively traffic free. Response from Northwest Mini was too bad for you and it was the same for MINI USA. Looks like the safety inspections do not include checking the brake lines. Youd think that would be fundamental. The Mini is extremely fun to drive but hard to trust to keep you safe. I really hope my experience is out of the ordinary, but folks should be aware before they buy.

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  Automatic Transmission Problems - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By CeeeeCeeee - April 21 - 4:50 am

  I purchased the car at 44000 miles so have no idea if this happened before but at 60000 miles the transmission died on me! Whole new transmission installed and now Ive learned this is an ongoing problem. When will the next failure occur? Not a cheap fix, believe me, to say nothing of the inherent danger in losing all power without warning.