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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  love it / hate it - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By urbanllc - February 18 - 4:16 pm

  I cant think of another car I could want after having a MINI; however, especially for the first two years, I cant think of another car that could have given me so much trouble. Ill chalk it up to having bought the first model year. The mpg is poor and not nearly as high as represented. Still, its a good city car, fun to drive and easy to park. Service at my dealer is superb. Surprisingly, with the backseats down, it can transport quite a lot of cargo.

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  Cooper S Convertible -Mini Mania Kits - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By JLS - January 25 - 12:23 am

  This is a really fun car to drive and turns a lot of heads. Performance is exceptional with the MINI mania HP upgrades. Borla exhaust is a little loud on extended trips. A few body fit problems noted and as yet dealer has not been able to fix. A couple of quality issues that you would not expect on a BMW product. One of the key remotes did not work-had to be replaced by dealer. Line to boost gauge pulled loose triggering all kinds of engine warnings. The car is fully loaded with all options so lots of fun things to play with. Performance and looks are real highpoints. Electric top has a few quirks but generally works very well. This is a fun ride!

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  2002 Black Mini Cooper - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By cg - January 22 - 2:00 am

  I love my car mainly because it is SO CUTE. Only problem to date is the trunk wouldnt close, but the dealer is very responsive and has fixed the problem. The ride is bumpy with run flat tires.

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  Best Small Car in the World - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By st13scott - January 18 - 11:10 am

  Well I havent had my MINI Cooper S for very long, but it meets or exceeds every expectation I had for the car. How is it that MINI (Read BMW) can pack so much stuff into this price point but no one else can? Bi-xenon lamps in a car with a base price of $20,000! This can not be possible. Then you drive the car, its engine is smooth with a very linear feel to the power, especially considering that it is supercharged. Then you take your favorite corner and realize that it is going to be one of the most fun cars you will ever drive. Taking that corner at great speed, I had as big a smile on my face as I did the first time I hammered on a new 911 Turbo S. The moral of the story is stop reading buy a MINI Cooper S.

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  2003 MINI Cooper S - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By CharlesWil - January 16 - 2:00 am

  I have had the car only two weeks, but so for it has been a blast. Just love to drive this car. My other auto is a 1997 Darkar Yellow BMW M3. Havent driven it in two weeks! Motor On :)

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  enjoy the ride - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By king of love - December 30 - 10:00 am

  the car is fun to drive. be in. solid feel even on the highway. dont feel blown around. pleanty of room on the inside. insturements bright and beautiful. cornering lovely. power improves at higher rpm. around town with ac on a bit sluggish. but why not open the windows and the huge sunroof and let the fresh air and light in. that is the best. the premium stereo is a must especially with windows open and access to my mp3 player.

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  Cutting your MCS teeth in Germany - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By proformasignal - December 19 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Cooper-S (loaded) as serviceman returning from Germany with a desire to come back with something different. I got it. For the money, this machine performance is worth every penny. Eking 163hp out of a 1.6l engine and weighing a stout 2700lbs this bad boy strutslittle competition. The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), 17" tires, and "hand of demi-god" braking kept me from "balling-it-up" in a few corners at Nurburgring. If youre single (or a duo) and like to drive like theres no such thing as inertia, then this car is for you. Warning: DONT turn off the DSC.

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  Hot Hatch - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By milindsport - December 7 - 6:06 am

  Where do I start? This car so far has been such a pleasure to own and drive...and this is coming from a previous sport sedan owner. The "WOW" factor is definitely there...with impressive engine performance, great fuel econ and excellent driving dynamics. Apart from the performance factor, the design though polarizing to some is undeniably unique and the brand itself has a loyal and dedicated following with a large number of auto enthusiasts in the group. Finally the option to be able to customize this car to your exact specifications can be expensive yet a lot of fun. I have the "S" version which is a must for the performance oriented drive. Try the MINI....you will never stop smiling.

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  Worst car ever built - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By notaminifan - December 2 - 2:30 am

  I see them everywhere,so you estimate reliability as possibly "how bad could it be". I didnt do my research. 58,000 miles- almost no bearings left around the input shaft of the transmission- I only got 8000 miles out of it since I bought it used. It is a manual. Found it cause bleeding oil into the clutch and slipping. After reading about the problems, I want to drive it thru the showroom glass at the Mini dealership just to help the people with these problems with a national news story. This car is disgrace to BMW and to all German cars. Think they improved? Research "death knock". I would trade it for a Ford Pinto. A bicycle is worth more.

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  MINI Car, Major Problems - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Limycar - October 20 - 1:30 pm

  I wish that my ex-car was as reliable as the dealer I purchased it from. In 10 months, the car was in the shop 30+ days for the same problem four times...loss of power as a result of misfiring. The sensor lights such as the DSC came on without reason and the digital gauge for average gas consumption continued to read 99.9 even at a stand still. The central lock sporadically unlocked the passenger door when the key was removed. Dealer bought the car back and Im now driving a 2007 VW GTI. Dollar for dollar, VW is the better buy. Only thing missing is the character of the MINI...and the unreliability.