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, Test drive one to understand... - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By 14characters - October 24 - 12:09 am

  This is my first MINI & I would buy another, given the chance. Fun to Drive, always. Reliable? After logging 73,000 miles without incident, I can say yes. Great service from the dealer from new. As Small as it seems, I can easily carry 8 pieces of lumber inside if needed. Plenty o leg room in the front. Fine for my young one in the back. Glued to the road. I slid on some gravel on a back country road moving at a good pace, yep! handles like a go-cart, I felt safe.

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  My "Fun" Car - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By larenzo - October 21 - 12:13 pm

  I have owned this car just long enough to put 1650 miles, but I have enjoyed every mile driven. The car handles so much better than I ever imagined for the price. For a 1.6 liter engine the power is amazing even in 5th gear. The appointments available are great and the price for these additions is also great. The sun roof works great and I have no wind noise. The door windows fit themselves into groves thus eliminiating wind noise. I have taken the car on a trip and the gas milage is as advertised. I drove for several hours and was not tired. I sure like the accelleration for an engine with only 115 hp.

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  Fun To drive But Build quality stinks - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By oboy - October 21 - 2:00 am

  I was really enjoying my Mini for the first 10,000 miles; a real fun car to drive. After 12,000 miles I started getting rattles and my clutch started to squeal occasionally when it was released. I have complained several time to customer service and the dealership, but they are refusing to take care of the problem under warranty. I think Mini has had some build quality issues, hopefully they get them taken care of. Proceed with caution. Hopefully customer service will improve.

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  Mini Cooper - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Reese - October 20 - 10:00 am

  Wow! All i can say is that i never had this much fun driving an vehicle... You can eat corners for breakfast now...

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  a real car! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By COATI - October 17 - 10:00 am

  Great car! Im 52 and its the first real car Ive ever had!!! All the others couldnt compare!!! The pick-up is incredible, its fun to drive and people call out "love your car".

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  the mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By nina - October 17 - 10:00 am

  VERY VERY GOOD I LOVE THE CAR VERY CUTE VERY SMOOTH RIDE FUN TO RIDE.

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  What a Blast! - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Ken w/Evans help - October 16 - 1:13 am

  The Mini Cooper S acceleration and handling are awesome. This car manuevers better than any car I have ever had the chance to drive. BMWs and Audis are unable to keep up. The performance of this vehicle is the selling point but there are so many other features on this car. The window automatically rolls down 1/2 inch when you open the door and then closes up tightly when you shut it. No more ear popping. The car is so tight that you can be in a high gear at low speed and it still drives smoothly without chugging along like other cars would do. Hold down the button on the key fob and all the windows and sunroof open automatically. The car will let you know when you have a flat tire. Go test drive one!

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  fun, fun , fun! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By sergio - October 14 - 10:00 am

  I bought an "S" model loaded for just $20,900, tax free. Great looks, draws lots of attention. Interior design is gorgeous, fit and finisf are great, but some plastics look too cheap. Engine is weak in the low range, but once you pass 4000rpms, then you get all the power. It reminds me of my Civic VTEC. ( and this is weird for a supercharged engine, though). Anyways, the car drives like a go-kart, and that is the main reason why I bought it. Ride is harsh, but not as I expected. Got it in silver with a black top. This will be in the future my second car. Im already saving for a 350Z.

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  What more could you ask for... - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By kl - October 13 - 2:23 am

  This is one of the few vehicles that has everything going for it, a great warranty, insane resale value, low maintenance, fun to drive, good gas mileage and it is easy to park. :-) I have had a lot of nice cars, a Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4, Cadillac STS, Z28 Camaro, and an 04 Cooper S. So this is my second MINI. I just cant seem to get away from them. This is car you have to drive to understand.

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  Beautiful car - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By davyjones - October 10 - 6:43 pm

  I havent enjoyed driving a car since my 73 Buick Riviera -- and before than a 1962 VW Beetle. But with my 2005 Mini Cooper Im having fun again. The Mini is attractive inside and out and a pleasure to drive. Its welded to the road, and even though Im not a hard cornering road racing type, I still appreciate its handling and driveability.