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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  Mini and Me - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Holly Bell - May 20 - 6:50 am

  Owning a MINI Cooper S is like having a Corvette. Every Mini owner you pass by on the road waves just like the Vette owners. It andles well on the road. I am able to keep up with all the other traffic on the highway. The Cooper S is nimble and quick enough to react in tricky situations, but it is a heavy vehicle that doesnt sway back and forth on the highway when its windy like other vehicles I have owned. this is especially nice when passing tractor trailors.

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  Lots of Fun for the Enthusiast - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By aburg - May 14 - 6:08 pm

  Bought our S 6spd used in 2010 with 28k on the clock. We chose a Mini S because we wanted something that got decent MPG was fun to drive and was a little different. It has fulfilled all of those things and we are extremely happy with it. We knew that buying a Civic or Corolla would probably be cheaper and more reliable but it would also be a lot more boring. The Mini has been in the shop now and again but we knew it would probably take some up keep going in. We bought our Mini used, it still had some factory warranty on it and we added an extended warranty ($1,800) which has turned out to be useful.

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  Your speedometer wont be even close to accurate - 2013 Mini Cooper
  By lindigo - May 14 - 11:43 am

  Before you buy, do a search on Mini Cooper + speedometer so you will know inaccurate speedometers are their policy. I asked them to recalibrate my speedometer which is running about 7% high. They refused, quoting an internal bulletin not to repair speedometers that are within 10% of accurate plus another 2.4 miles. I.e., if you and your Garmin know you are driving at 65 mph, your speedometer will not be recalibrated unless it is displays OVER 74 mph. So much for their claim that they fix new cars. I even bought the extra coverage so this "guarantee" would continue for extra years. I would never buy another Mini Cooper. Still talking, but I may have to sue to get my new car fixed.

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  The Best Ride that I have ever had! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By threerailing - May 6 - 10:00 am

  MINI was absolutely perfect when delivered and has been totally trouble free. This is definately "The Little Car that could!" You owe it to yourself to test drive one. Our dealer MotorCity MINI has been wonderful and has performed way beyond expectations. GREAT CAR AND GREAT PEOPLE TO DEAL WITH!

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  I turned my condo into a castle - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Jay Jay - May 5 - 10:00 pm

  I love this car so much (I am a sales estimator for a remodeling company) that I made a custom protective bag to carry my ladder in the back, purchased bags and gear to hold all my samples, and I have a portable navigation system. I live and breathe in my MINI. I drive the heck out of it on appointments, and on weekends I hang out and go on drives with other MINI maniacs! I went to Casino Morongo last weekend and am going to Vegas in a week and a half. I have had two Chevrolet Corvettes, and my MINI may not be as fast, but it handles far better! I am getting 28 mpg con ity roads which I think is great as Im always stopping and going. Theres no need for a gas hog like a Hummer. Minis are classically in and they hold their value.

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  Engineering. - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Jcdogger - May 4 - 10:00 am

  I would love to meet the engineering team of this vehicle. The thought process that went into a car that sells for under $25k is amazing.

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  ITS NOT A BEEMER!!!!!!! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By justplanenutz - May 4 - 10:00 am

  Why does everyone keep trying to compare it to a BMW?! It was designed to be a fun, sporty, LITTLE vehicle for those in the under $20,000 category to enjoy. No it is not a 328!!! If you have $35,000 you should go buy a 328 and shut up! If you do not have $35,000 then please go buy something that was designed to go really fast and quit complaining about a really good car!!! I like my MINI!! I like Beemers!! The MINI is not a Beemer!

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  What a blast - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Dr.J - May 4 - 10:00 am

  I had the first cooper in the area. What a blast. I love everything about the car.

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  fun to drive - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By stealthm - April 30 - 10:00 am

  Great car to drive and oh the looks you get!

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  Happiness is Driving a Mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By BBock - April 25 - 10:00 am

  The Mini Cooper is the ideal urban vehicle -- small, manouverable, great gas mileage and does it look fabulous??? But we love to go on road trips and were so pleasantly surprised with how great Mini is on the highway and how comfortable it is to spend long periods of time in the car. We are in love.