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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  Why did I listen? - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By intro - March 4 - 10:00 am

  I based my most recent purchase, a MINI, based on the 18 reviews here on Edmunds. What was I thinking? I think many of the people here on the board must not really own a MINI. Except for reasonable gas mileage, not much good to say about this car. Might as well go get a Toyota Prius or something.

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  Mini - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By max from mini - February 28 - 10:13 am

  Very peppy. Fun to drive. Excellent in the city or the highway. Does better gas mileage than is advertised. Cant mistake this car with anything else. Exterior design stands out from the crowd and you donÂ’t have to break the bank for it.

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  Just love it - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By TW4040 - February 27 - 2:00 am

  I cant believe what I have purchased in such a small package. One only has to drive an "S" to fall in love with it. Cant wait for the convertible.

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  This can be a 10 rating car, but its not - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By maybery - February 20 - 10:00 am

  Having the car only 2 weeks the car stalled. It did not turn back on. The car went to their service facility with only 800 miles on it already with problems. 3 days later the car is ready to be picked up. The throttle control was broken, faulty, or improperly installed but whatever the case this part was replaced. The car ran fine for another 200 miles and we now have the same problem again. We worry more now with a 1000 mile brand new vehicle then with our old car with 100,000 miles on it.The mechanical issues make me feel very unsecured and unsafe driving this car with a child on the back seat.

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  A CLASSIC - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By MAKEWAVES - February 20 - 10:00 am

  AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL CAR INSIDE AND OUT. A PERFECT DESIGN FOR THE CARS SIZE; WITHOUT QUESTION RANKS AS ONE OF THE BEST LOOKING AND INVENTIVE DESIGNS IN AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY, AND WILL ALWAYS RETAIN ITS GOOD LOOKS. WITHOUT REGARD TO HP, TORQUE, COMFORT...ITS EXCELLENT APPEARANCE/UNIQUE CHARACTER SECURES ITS PLACE AS A CLASSIC. AND ITS FASTER THAN A 56 PORSCHE SPEEDSTER AFTER ALL! THE BODY/COMPONENTS FEEL VERY SOLID. RIDE QUALITY IS OUTSTANDING WITH THE 15" BASE WHEELS/TIRES. A LITTLE SLIDING AROUND CORNERS CAN BE FUN, SO WIDER TIRES ARE NOT AN ADVANTAGE FOR THE MINI WHICH ALREADY HANDLES SO WELL WITH THE BASE WHEELS.

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  Sports Car Moves in Retro Style Package - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By MiniMan - February 19 - 6:23 am

  We bought the MINI because it looks great. We love the MINI because it is a sportscar in hatchback clothing. This little car begs to be driven. Youll find yourself searching out winding roads to go blasting down. It is a real treat. If you are on the fence about this car, spend some test drive time driving on a twisty 2 lane road and you will be signing your order immediately. After an hour you will feel like you have been driving this car for years. All the moves on the road inspire confidence. It has plenty of room up front for someone 64", however there will be no backseat room behind someone of this height.

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  A Very Bad Investment - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By choulli - February 16 - 10:15 am

  Bought my Mini Cooper S, std shift, new in 2007. It was a fun & happy ride for a very short time. Since owning this money-sucking imp, I have spent approx $5K in repairs (not maintenance) including: new brakes new tires tailpipe recall coolant & water pump recall timing chain oil pump (1st tow) water pump & new seals thermostat (2nd tow) drivers side window mechanism drivers side visor Front suspension is shot & clutch is in need of replacement. Car is under 50K miles & less than 8 yrs old I am trading it in for a Subaru & I will not buy another.

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  Fun to Own - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By KK - February 13 - 12:26 pm

  My wife says I love the car more than her...not true, but it is a fantastic and fun vehicle. Of the many cars Ive owned, I have had more fun driving the Cooper than any other. As gas prices rose, the Cooper is even more beneficial, as I average above 30 mpg, even in the city. Overall, a pleased customer!

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  Fun drive, horrible interior design & engineering/road noise - 2013 Mini Cooper
  By norcalcommuter - February 13 - 5:28 am

  Small car. I knew that. Realize you are basically buying a 2 seat micro-car. You might as well fold the back seats down and use it as trunk space. My 8 & 10 year olds have no leg room and barely get space to plant their feet when 5-4" mom is driving. Dont tell me adults can fit back there! I *Hate* the Mini-Connected system with its joystick and horrible look/software. Confusing, not user friendly. In the world of touch screen everywhere, this lack of, is archaic. The seatbelts get caught between the seats and door post. You have to open the door to get your buckle. Too many confusing dash switches. Hard to get to the back seat. Ugh, glad I leased not bought!!!

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  2002 MINI Cooper - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By anglophile - February 13 - 2:00 am

  Im ecstatic about my MINI since Im a long time British car enthusiast and have been waiting for the opportunity to buy a new cheap and cheerful car from England for years. So far its more reliable than my classic British car and gets as much attention. Handling and braking are superb, but the engine could use more lower RPM power. CVT transmission performs well. Cold weather package and sport seats highly recommended.