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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  Fun but beware - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By ATMNLV - April 23 - 11:00 pm

  Love the car very comfortable with more than enough power. Car has 2000 miles on it and my engine hood scoop is melting which is happening to a lot of cars. MINI wont reply or hasnt recalled this design defect

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  Sold on MINI - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Carol Clark - March 8 - 2:00 am

  This is 7th car Ive driven off the showroom floor, and no prior purchase comes close to my MINI. On Edmunds recommendation, I chose the Cooper over the Cooper S. I find her to be zippy and powerful enough to enjoy anywhere. Fun to drive is an understatement. I think of places I need to go just as I did 35 years ago when I had a brand new license! She feels like a sports car, and fits anywhere!

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  Best small car on the road! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By tywashin - January 23 - 8:13 am

  Well, I have only owned it for about two months, so far it has been a great car. Its very fun to drive. And I like how other mini owners wave when ever we see each other. I draw attention wherever I go. Its also the best car I have ever had on gas. The seats could be a little more comfortable for long road trips.

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  Short Lived Love Affair - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By Ohioman - January 16 - 5:16 pm

  O.K., its cute, fit well in my garage and was truly "fun to drive", but the novelty for us was over for us in a big hurry. It is a very small car, and while likely the best in its class, we found it cramped, noisey, rattley and poor riding, especially on road trips. The run-flat tires are bricks, the premium stereo was fair at best, it was nearly impossible to get comfortable (no,we arent big people), and I really didnt care for the valve rattle at start-up on cold days. I switched to a Camry SE V6 which is (yes) faster, more refined, has far nicer/more of "everything", and for about the same money. If you need to drive regularly, long distances or with others, dont buy a Cooper

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  Fun Car, When Its Not In the Shop - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By Arisdad - January 16 - 6:50 am

  I first drove a Mini in 1966 and I never forgot it. When the 2007 model came out I decided to buy one. Everything about the car is great: a bicycle fits in the back, it gets great gas mileage, and the overall feel of the car is exceptional. Except...the engine malfunction light came on at 340 miles and it has been in the shop ever since. Mini U.S. and Mini Germany have no idea how to fix it at this point. I am told that it has been joined by another 2007 with the same problem at 380 miles. I would suggest that you avoid buying a 2007 at this point and give them time to work out the bugs if you feel you must have this car.

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  Super Cooper - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Joel Prosio - January 8 - 10:00 am

  Let me start out with, Wow, what a car! It doesnt get much better in this class (If this car is even definable by class). The last "performance" oriented car I owned was a 92 Acura Integra GS, and boy, a lot has changed in the last 12 years. For about 24K fully loaded, Im amazed at the features that are available, and the fact that very few of the options are gimickey. The optional Dynamic Stability Control works well, the trip computer is intuitive, and provides useful information, and the panoramic sunroof really opens up the cabin. Of course all of this would mean nothing if the car didnt work well as a whole, which it very much does.

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  Great Car - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By miniowner - December 5 - 10:00 am

  I feel as though I need to add another review - Now broken in, it is a very different car. I feely free to hit the red-line and enjoy the performance. I really dont think the car needs more h.p. anymore - The car is great! I do recommend however getting the 16" wheels. The 15s are sloppy in hard cornering. The only complaint I now have is the rain gutter - its made of plastic and has snapped off. Im still happy :-) - how some arent is beyond me...

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  Fun to Drive, lots of limitations - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By jasonbum - November 30 - 7:15 am

  I bought this car used and I am perhaps the wrong demographic to own such a car. If it wasnt so fun to drive, I would hate it- if that makes any sense at all! Noisy on highway, base engine strains when pushed. Automatic trans is clunky on downshifts and has trouble making decisions. This car had some type of solenoid problem before I bought it and found that out later. Very finicky about fuel- Mini will almost spit out anything less than 93 octane. Carbon buildup problems exist and on such a tightly built engine, that becomes worrisome. The Mini, for me, is like someone that you just date but wouldnt marry.

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  A must own for any enthusiast - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Andy S. - November 2 - 6:00 am

  I have owned several affordable performance cars and this is by far my favorite. The comfort and build quality are just so so, but you dont care because it is so much fun to drive on a daily basis. Anyone who likes driving needs to own a MINI at sometime in their life.

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  Fun, but not reliable or well designed - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By Brian - October 5 - 5:00 am

  Owned/driven my car for 15 months. Fun, but not reliable or well designed. Factory options only (no mods). Since owning, in for repairs SIX times (2x for turbo, 1x for audio amp, 1x for sunroof, 1x for tailpipe recall AND 1 week for replacing a factory built too-small transmission motor mount). My windshield has 3 stone chips and 2 big cracks due to stone hits & the high windshield angle. Engine has cold idle issue where it sounds like a diesel truck for 1-3 minutes. If you want a fun around-town car, are willing to overlook flaws/ major issues, can deal with repair trips to out-of-town dealerships (6 in 15 months), then buy this car. As for me, Ill be selling at the end of the warranty.