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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  Speedometer - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By sweeper2 - March 14 - 4:26 am

  The Mini is fun to drive and gets good gas mileage but it has two serious faults that would keep me from buying another Mini. First, the speedometer is off over 5 mph at 75 mph, the speedometer reads 80 mph when I am going 75 mph. I called Mini and they said that this was within design specs and they wouldnt and couldnt make the speedometer accurate. The other problem is with the road noise. It is difficult to talk on a cell phone at highway speeds. If they would fix these two issues and offer better customer service it would be a great car.

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  mini #1 - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By bbc - March 12 - 2:00 am

  Drive like a go cart on steroids!! Once you drive one you will have to buy one!

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  SSSSweet - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By AllenRD - March 11 - 10:00 am

  I just love this car. I dont know how some here can give it a 1?, give me a break. Great quality and fun to drive, and all for under 20k.

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  What a car - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Franky2k - March 11 - 10:00 am

  I test drove the S on march and I thought it had great handling and power. Now that I have one and Ive had some time to motor around I think its a superb car. No problems here. Excellent.

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  Magic car - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By acetonic - March 11 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car Ive had the pleasure to own and the most fun to drive. Im 60" and have plenty of room. The seats and wheel can be adjusted to fit anyone. A friend of mine who is 65" even found a comfortable seating position with plenty of headroom. The performance and handling is super. I find myself searching out the longest, twistiest route to my destination. Doesnt feel like a small car at all when you are on the road, only when its time to park. Highly recommended.

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  Lots OFun - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By Mflem300 - March 11 - 12:16 am

  Ordered from the website and it was waiting for me when I returned from Iraq. Got the premium package and the chrome package so it looks fantastic and is loaded with features. Great fun to drive and still a real headturner. Great gas mileage while a blast to drive. I am looking forward to hitting the back roads and putting it through its paces. Six speed is really easy to drive. his MINI is a great improvement over the 03 I sold 2 years ago.

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  What Thrill! - 2010 Mini Cooper
  By centurion8 - March 7 - 4:33 pm

  Tired of "run-of-the-mill" cars. Wanted something different. This Mini S hits home. Still in "brake-in" period, but what a thrill to drive. Plenty of power, great cornering, excellent stability. We could not ask for anything more. Added a few options. Pleased with MPG, right now showing 29. Has factory turbo and boy does it move. Very pleased with this Mini S.

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  I finally figured out my MINI problem - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By faminest - March 5 - 10:00 am

  It took me a few months to figure this out, but I finally discovered what the problem is. I thought I would be getting a lot of envious looks with my MINI. Unfortuantely, as time has passed, I have discovered people are looking at my MINI, not becuase they want one, but because they think it looks weird. It is a similar effect as when I bought a PT Cruiser. In retrospect, these cars are very similar.

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  Just Amazing!! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By CarMen - March 2 - 11:46 pm

  Since I bought this Mini machine, I have had so much fun, beieng able to fit into spaces that otherwise were left for bikes! It is very versatile, it fits my pocket very well, saves me in gas, great mileage. I was a little bit afraid about the performance in the snow...but oh surprise..it was even better than I had expected. It handles very good, with such grace.. I can go on and on, but you have to test drive one and let the car tell you what is capable off. Good luck!

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  what a rush! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By tygirwulf - March 1 - 4:16 pm

  I fell in love with MINI on my first test drive 2 years ago. I love it even more now that Ive had one for 6 months. Gas mileage has improved over the 8,200 miles Ive owned the car, currently at 28 mpg mixed between country driving and stop and go traffic. Interior design is quirky and not at all like other cars, but to me was part of the charm and I quickly got used to it. Seats, while not cushy padded are quite comfortable for me nonetheless because of their design. It is deceptively powerful and if you know some curvy roads, very thrilling to drive. This coming from a computer geek who used to hate leaving the house if not necessary. I plan on owning this car for as long as possible