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 2002 - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Caroll Wood - March 9 - 10:00 am

  The new MINI definatly has the spirit of the old mini. It performs better and you do not have to work on it every week end. The downside is that with all the new electronic gadgets and improvements, there is a price to pay. My MINI has been in the shop several times for "little" things.

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  Find the power band - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By jggimi - February 21 - 1:46 pm

  The normally aspirated Mini Cooper is a great deal of fun. While it lacks the punch of the Cooper S, it still has quite acceptable acceleration if you are in the appropriate RPM range. I happened to acquire one with the 6-speed auto transmission. If you include the sport mode, there are six different operational settings for the tranny, and there is a learning curve to figure them all out. I usually drive in manumatic/steptronic mode with the heavier steering of the sport mode enabled. The paddles on the steering wheel are especially convenient, and I do not miss a clutch pedal in heavy stop and go traffic. The wheels are on the corners, which makes for wickedly fun cornering!

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  Went from an SUV to a MINI - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Rob L. - February 13 - 1:56 pm

  My 2004 MINI Cooper S Hatchback has literally put fun back linto driving. Its handling and acceleration are awesome.There is definite BMW in its heritage. The fit and finish are superb. So far in 9,000 miles I have not had any real problems. My only complaint is some lack of power with the A/C on.

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  nice car - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By Kathy - February 8 - 10:26 am

  Overall happy with this car. Would like to see heater improvements. Heated seats save the day. Dont like the way the oil or whatever it is gets on front wheel rims. Fun to drive and Ill definitely get another one

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  Pip Pip Rules the Road - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Gary Besaw - February 8 - 2:00 am

  Our Mini is called Pip Pip! This is absolutely the most fun-to-drive car on the road! With the DSC stability control this car cherishes the curves in a twisty road. With the Six speed gearbox it insures that the pizza delivery boy is left behind at the stoplights(My wifes true experiences!) If you keep your foot out of the engine your gas mileage is about 34 mpg on the road and about 22 in town. We have had some nigglies - fogged up rear passenger taillight, defective power steering pump and a leak on the rear moonroof quarter panel that stained the headliner. All items repaired at no cost - and with a smile by Brecht MINI in Escondido!

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  I love my Mini! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Jars7mB429fan - February 8 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE MY MINI. Its great for road trips and just driving to school everyday. It gets great milage and is just a joy to drive1

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  Best car ever - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By otter215 - February 8 - 2:00 am

  This is the most fun of any car that I have ever driven.

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  awesome! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Brian Jenks - February 2 - 2:00 am

  this is a n extreamly fun car to drive with its turn capibility and peppy engin!

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  Its not a car, Its a MINI - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By ITS A MINI - January 28 - 7:10 am

  I started doing research and I drove the new VW CC, the Nissan Maxima and the Mercedes C300. But I wanted something different, something fun to drive, small, sportier, and unique. My solution: MINI COOPER S Dark Silver, Premium and Sport Package. I drove both the base MINI and the S and they are both fine but you can really tell the difference the turbo and the extra HP makes on the S, besides the few differences on the exterior which I find really cool. The MSRP is ar

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  You will not regret this purchase! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By jujuzulu - January 20 - 8:20 am

  This car has been incredible! It is enjoyable, gets great gas mileage and I bought mine back when everyone stopped me to see "What in the heck is that?" youre driving. (Fun, at first but ultimately a bit cumbersome! Although once I started talking about it, couldnt stop smiling!). The run flats have been a nice asset, as that has been my only problem in 5 years of ownership---2 flat tires! Motor on, MINI!