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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  2003 MINI Cooper S - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Wendalostrogoth - April 22 - 3:20 am

  I got my MINI Cooper S a few weeks ago and I am still absolutely in love with it. Unfortunately, when I got it, there was a little dash rattle. The techs at that particular dealership couldnt identify it (not a Mini dealer). So now I have to make an appointment at my local Mini dealer to remedy the situation. Other than that issue, I dont have any problems.

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  MINI - Most Fun You Can Have Dressed! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Lee Jones - April 17 - 10:00 am

  Whatever you do - Dont go for a drive in the MINI after watching a Formula 1 race on TV - The temtation is too great! The 2003 MINI Cooper S is an absolute ball to drive. When you experiance the oneness that you and your MINI attain even in a short drive you will never feel the same about a car again. Just THINK about turning and you are there - no lean, no tire squeel, just performance. You will find that you will look for the twisty roads instead of the freeways. When you do want to accelerate the MINI does a comendable job with a 0 to 60 under 7 seconds. A super neat little automobile for everyone!

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  Great Little Car - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By Gizmom - April 15 - 6:03 pm

  A nice, solid car. Enough power to hold its own against the big guys. The leather sport seats are very comfortable -- I did an 8 hour trip a couple of weeks ago, and could have easily done another couple of hours that day. Average mileage has been 38 city / 43 highway. I had the same windshield washer issue that JMS mentioned. However I found that the nozzles are adjustable and was able to redirect the spray back to the windshield (as opposed to the roof of the car!)

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  MINI ME - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Drew - April 14 - 5:20 pm

  I love this car! It is a blast to drive. I wouldnt take it on a long trip, but around town it is great fun. The convertible is really cool. The seats have warmers in them if your sidekick gets cold. The interior is very retro, very cool! Go and test drive one and I guarantee youll want one. It is a little bit high on the price for the S Convertible, but it is worth the money. If only my wife would let me drive it more! People often will yell at us while we are in the car "Cool Car!". And, it is.

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  Parking/Price - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Playboy Bunnie - April 11 - 10:00 am

  its a neat little car, very sporty looking, its nice to park in little spaces, id like it cheaper though

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  Pleasantly surprised - 2010 Mini Cooper
  By Kari - April 11 - 4:46 am

  I have been very impressed with my 2010 Mini.I have driven 4 cylinder cars in the past for fuel economy and am very pleasantly surprised with the power and immediate pick up of the Mini.It is the regular Mini Cooper and goes from zero to whatever in a nanosecond.I have friends that have had their Minis for 6 and 7 years and and love them.I hope mine lasts as long or longer.

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  04 Mini Cooper S, The Best! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By soldier73 - April 10 - 11:40 am

  I bought it with 128K miles 5 months ago as a comuter car, I drive 100 miles round trip daily to and from work in Germany. I beat this car up, over 100 mph on the autobahn all of the time and it hasnt missed a beat yet and Ive put over 11K miles on it. Ok, Ive had to add oil here and there, but thats true with many turbo/super charged car.Im a little bigger than the average guy, 62" but to my surprise the car is just right. Ive even made trips with my family, wife and two boys 10 and 11 y/o in it and havent had any issues with space. Ive owned multiple BMWs, to include the E46 M3 and this car is on par with the best of them with better fuel economy.

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  More Fun than my 911s-Part II - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By TPAMiniGuy - April 3 - 2:20 pm

  After 12000 plus miles the car is flawless..it gets better than sticker gas mileage..onboard computer displays your MPG in realtime and average...great feature...not a single problem ..average 36.5-39.5 ..it will get over 40 MPG if you drive it easy on the highway at 70...Sports car ride more firmly than a luxury car..It is incrediblely stable and safe at "highway plus" speeds...also has fantastic brakes..Tons of leg room..We plan to add a 2009 S Convertible so our 2008(yellow) will have a playmate...as soon as she decides on the color....If youre a car guy youll love this car....If you not, youll still love this car!

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  Its a 20k car forsake! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Deneed4spd - March 28 - 10:00 am

  I have read few negative comments. These people really have dumb comments. Many say its unsafe. Of course its unsafe, the car is small! Common sense, if you want a safe car, buy a bigger car. Its a $20000 car. How much performance do you want. It really sounds like people are expecting the car to handle like a porche gt3 or some super tunner. I drive a bmw 328is and race autox dsp. I have the opportunity to test drive both the Cooper S and Cooper, and I feel for the price they are amazing. You try buying any other stock car for 20k and see if it handles this well. Lastly, the engine. Its a small car = small engine!

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  Mini the "Smile Car" - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Lemini - March 28 - 10:00 am

  Fantastic Breaks, interior design is outstanding! Handling on curves is very reliable- no pitch at all. Add DSC and you are set! Standard items,colors are plentiful with an abundance of additional options to customize as individual pleases. Able to track on Mini website when auto was in production until arrival. Fun!