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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  Simple Sporty and Elegant - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Yodas Ghost - June 14 - 10:00 am

  Nuff said...

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  2500 lbs of FUN!!!!! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By midlcrx - June 14 - 10:00 am

  Just flat out fun to drive. Love the way it sticks to the road and handles. I am 64" and have no problem getting into or out of this fine little car. My MINI will be my daily commuter car. The MINI fit all of my requirements of performance, handling, mpg, price, and uniqueness. It is just a lot of fun, only problem is that I am putting too many miles on the car, close to 100 miles a day, but what fun. MOTOR ON....

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  Theres Nothing Wrong with My MINI - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By ElmerFudd - June 11 - 6:43 am

  My all black 2005 Cooper S draws in the guys and the girls. Its hot fun to drive, everything always works, it has no sqeaks or noises, and has lot of pure driver pleasure for the gearhead. The mid-60s interior and deep throttle rumble evoke the golden age of sports motoring, but without the pools of oil under the engine and jiggling the under dash wires to get the starter or radio to work. I live in the land of exotic machines (San Francisco), but my all-black Cooper has the highest fun/dollar and status/dollar ratio of any of them. Oh yes it is really easy to park, and surprisingly practical for around town with 3-4 people in it and for longer trips with two. Buy it or youll never forgive yourself.

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  Fun on Mountain Roads - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Aimless - June 10 - 2:00 am

  This car is a blast to drive. We live in the Colorao Mountains and it handles the hills and curves quickly and with stable steering. Nothing like blowing by everyone as you head up the pass on I-70. I will admit it is a bit like riding a rollercoaster when we get more than 6 inches of snow. But hey, on those days we just use the SUV. We have had this car since 2002 and people still point and stare as I zip by. It really is the most fun I have had driving, including several more expensive luxury sporsters. When we first got it we were afraid that it would not be comfortable for long trips. I have driven it on several 6 hour trips and it has been great.

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  Get one - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Dax One - June 8 - 10:00 am

  I got a mini cooper S over two weeks ago, and im already close to 1000 miles. Fun to drive, and I havent even been able to take advantage of the supercharger yet due to the break in period. So far so good, and a total gas.

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  The Most Fun You Can Have in a Car - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By J. Cooper - June 4 - 8:00 am

  The MINI Cooper S is as fun as driving gets. According to every woman the see it its "adorable" Ive not yet been impressed with the fuel economy but its still new and still cant get used to the center console gauges, but its a small price to pay for this much fun.

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  2004 MINI Cooper Hatchback - My Favorite Car - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Cheryl - May 30 - 1:00 pm

  I bought a 2004 MINI Cooper Hatchback for my teenage daughter and now everyone in the family wants to drive it. It definitely attracts attention and is so much fun to drive. Most people coo and squeal "Its so cuuuuuuute!"

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  better than my corvette - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Mr. B - May 23 - 10:20 am

  I have had the competition and this is the best. I had a porche 914, a mazda miata and a corvette. The mini blows them away. Everyone said i was crazy foe selling my 2002 corvette for a mini cooper but it was a good choice. The mini is not tempermental and can be driven as a daily driver instaed of just a sunday driver like my other "Toy" cars have been. I cant stop revving and driving it hard. I am a big guy (300lbs) and fit very comfortably in it. It also has goos storage whwn the rear seats are folded down. Mine is pepper white with a black top and black stripes. I also upgraded the wheels to 17s. I also got the automatic transmission which I highly recommend. Its exactly like a stick!

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  Red Hot Mini - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Carriann - May 17 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love driving my Mini. It is the most fun car out on the road, and I get a lot of attention. Not only is it red and black, but I have had racing wheels added, red tint, a custom alarm, the whole works...I recommend this car to everyone =)

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  Too much fun! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By dmcc1964 - May 10 - 10:00 am

  Every time I get in the drivers seat I want to pull onto the race track! This car is so much fun. I turns heads every time I drive it...Corvette and Porsche owners want to race. To date, I have been quite pleased with the mechanics of my MCS. It has performed flawlessly. Only complaint is the required high octane fuel costs and the clunky gearbox (I drove a Honda before...noted for its smooth gearbox).