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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  Take It for a Long Test Drive - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Orlando - May 27 - 11:50 pm

  I had a Mini S Convertibe for four months and got rid of it. The car is nice to look at it but my sincere opinion is that is more of marketing hype that truly a good purchase. Various sites rate the Mini as having great resale value, but I found the hard way that not to be true. If you are really considering one take it for a really long test drive and please do not buy it with leatherete which is very hot and unconfortable. Also, I would recommend an automatic with paddle shifters, because of the weak engine you shift all the time in order to find the right gear. The Sport package is a great value and the convertible top with two functions is great. Finally for the money ($31,000) there better buys out there!

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  Buyer Beware - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By Marian - May 27 - 11:06 am

  I purchased my 2009 Cooper S brand new (7 miles on it) in January 2009 from Brian Harris in Baton Rouge. It has needed various major repairs on SIX occasions in a 15 months of ownership. It has also needed an additional two tows 90 miles away (from New Orleans) to have the run flats changed. The repairs have involved mechanical and electronic defects. Perhaps this model is defective, but the car is utterly unreliable. And if you dont live near a dealership, forget about this car. It is cute and fun, but for the cost in time and money of dragging it in to a dealer time and again (and they never seem to know how to fix this model definitively), please save yourself the aggravation.

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  Too many problems, excessive oil consumption - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By bill_jones - May 26 - 7:28 pm

  I owned a 2008 Mini Cooper S, until recently when I traded it in with 75,000 miles. I bought it new and it was a fun car to drive. It had lots of leg room for my 6 4" body, but in terms of maintainability it was the worst car that I have ever owned. After 36,000 miles, I was continually plagued with either a "CHECK ENGINE" or "SERVICE" light and as a result I was forced to bring it to the dealer/car repair shop to get it analyzed. Furthermore, it had "run flat" tires...a terrible experience! To summarize my MINI experience: after 50,000 miles it turned into a lemon. To the future owner...stock up on SYN 5W-30 motor oil...youre going to need it!

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  Stylish Fun! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By minimusicman - May 14 - 10:00 am

  This car is really fun to drive. The handling is excellent, & you can get a parking space almost anywhere. People always stop & stare. It brings a smile to almost everyones face, especially mine-which is why I got one!

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  Its a Keeper - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By lombardoca - May 11 - 11:10 pm

  Bought my 2005 Cooper S used (one year old and 12,000 miles on it). Dont put a lot of miles on it, but it is driven most days. Repairs needed by 25,000-30,000 miles indicate that many of the components just arent the sturdiest (wheels, tires, multiple oil leaks and a power steering fluid leak, suspension parts in need of replacement), but with the work done, it seems like new, and I would like to drive it forever.

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  Drive it like you stole it - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By HonoluluDoug - April 30 - 2:00 am

  The essence is this: the MINI Cooper (particularly the S model) is a drivers car. This is the most fun Ive had driving a car, ever. The unofficial motto says it all: "Drive it like you stole it!" Driving it like you have your mom in it is no fun at all, and its worse deal for your mom. Very direct, tight, steering, brakes, and shifting make for a rewarding experience. Choosing a new car is always a gamble, but after two months of driving it like I stole it, I feel like a winner.

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  coopsoso - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By jc vol - April 26 - 2:00 pm

  Performance it good. Fueling its great and the best car for parking!! I just love it. lol

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  Mini 2003 - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By beeg - April 18 - 10:00 am

  Have to travel an hour and a half to service, would be nice to have closer dealerships. Have had problems with the engine wanting to stall and exhaust system rattles. Cup holders too small, not overly comfortable on a long ride.

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  Fun to Drive When Not in the Repair Shop - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Joe & Cindy - April 11 - 3:10 am

  This is a great car to drive, but our Mini Cooper S has had multiple trips to the repair shop for various quirks - a replaced key reader (after 3 visits), squealing clutch, replaced head, noisy blower fan replaced, electric fan for power steering replaced, vented gas-cap issues, short run-flat tire life (<25,000 miles). All of this at under 30,000 miles and 3 years. The dealership was very supportive, though, and took care of the problems, even towing our car back to dealership for most of the repairs (100 miles, one-way) for no charge.

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  Old Blue - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Harry Alessio - March 21 - 10:00 am

  I have had only one problem in 30000 miles.The rear hatch had to be adjusted to make the warning light go off.