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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  A $20000 planter - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By ALEXTAM - December 30 - 10:00 am

  It was a big let down. I thought it would be better than a vw bug. It has a for sale sign on it now. It is noisy poor excelleration and the exhaust is rattling. very poorly made. not bmw quality

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  Honey, I shrunk the car! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By michaelkrz - August 24 - 10:00 am

  I bought my recently graduated-from- college daughter a new MINI thinking she would love it. Unfortunately, after driving it less than a week, it has had so many problems she ended up selling it and buying a Honda. The doors did not appear correctly set. The engine had smoke come out of it. And so many rattles she thought her niece was playing in the back. Oh well.

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  MINI company does not support vehicle - 2017 Mini Countryman
  By Joyce - July 21 - 3:13 pm

  I liked my new 2017 countryman when I first got it but after trying to get service for it... I WOULD NEVER BUY A MINI AGAIN! The service people at Global Imports MINI in Atlanta have had my car at the shop for almost 11 weeks. They keep claiming that they cannot get the part shipped from Europe. After 9 weeks the part finally shipped from MINI but when it arrive the part was missing a part! Now it has been 2 weeks and that part has still not arrived. The MINI company has been terrible with customer service with complete lack of followup and a complete inability to be able to track a part being shipped. This is the most disorganized company I have ever seen with the worst customer service. I could have ordered a whole new car in the time it is taking them to provide one part.

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  A very poorly made auto - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By porsche7876 - May 24 - 10:00 am

  I typically buy two to three new cars a a year. My favorite remains Porsche, however, I tried a MINI for a month to see what it would do. What a disappointment. The standard MINI shifter was terrible. So, I got the S which was only marginally better. Poor acceleration for what they claim to be a fun to drive car. Much like a Honda Civic more than anything else. Moving on.

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  Room for improvement - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By mchappyq - July 24 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Mini for almost three months and keep wondering what is wrong. It just does not seem that fun to me. Many people talk about how fun to drive it is, but I think it reminds me more of my old Daewoo than a nice BMW. Where is the acceleration? I cannot find any low end power. The dealer keeps telling me do not expect a ride like a BMW but something more like a Mazda. I did not find that very comforting.

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  My MINI has been my MAJOR headache - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By frankiej - December 23 - 10:00 am

  Bought my MINI a few weeks ago because of all the excitement. Thought it might even let me do well with the ladies. Well, after the exhaust literally fell off my car the first wek I knew I was in for a problem. The car drifts to the right constantly. The engine makes a funny sound. Blah.

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  Look at a VW GTI instead - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Car enthusiast - May 4 - 2:00 am

  I saw a Mini at the auto show just months before it arrived at dealerships and it felt like a hundred $100k vehicle. When I sat in the vehicle at the dealership, there was an obvious difference in feel from the one at the show- cheap. Its not as small as the original, negating any real association. While the S version is a decent sporting car, think of the base vehicle as a stylish Chevy Metro. The vehicle is fairly priced- before the dealer markup. As of now, neither versions are worth the money. If you wait, maybe you can have one at a more reasonable price (closer to invoice). Want a real value in sporting and luxury in a similar car? Seriously consider the VW GTI.

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  A very mediocre car in todays age - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By asd4652000 - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Not sure what the fuss was about. Went and bought me a Mini two months ago and have had nothing but headaches. The engine has stalled twice on the highway, luckily I was able to coast into the service lane. The dealership is not able to replicate the problem so they say they cannot fix it. Nightmare 101!

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  I finally figured out my MINI problem - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By faminest - March 5 - 10:00 am

  It took me a few months to figure this out, but I finally discovered what the problem is. I thought I would be getting a lot of envious looks with my MINI. Unfortuantely, as time has passed, I have discovered people are looking at my MINI, not becuase they want one, but because they think it looks weird. It is a similar effect as when I bought a PT Cruiser. In retrospect, these cars are very similar.

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  What a Major Mistake - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By majormistake - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Within two weeks of buying a MINI, the engine just does not perform as it should. This car has been a Major Mistake. I should have just bought a 1994 Geo Metro. Would have looked about the same and been just as unreliable.