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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  Chili Red 2006 Mini - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By ChiliRed2006 - August 15 - 11:23 pm

  I am tall, but have plenty of head and leg room in my Mini. The hatchback with back seats that lay flat allows me to get a lot of cargo in the back. It has great visibility, gas mileage, and its just fun to drive. I love this car!

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  Best Money Spent - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By minicoupah - August 15 - 10:10 pm

  This is my second Cooper Convertible. I owned a base model for one year then traded up to the "S". The "S" is superior (actually stands for "Special") in all aspects. I ordered it my way with limited slip, DSC, xenon lamps, front & rear fog, premium pak #1 and cold-weather pak. Also I opted for 16" proformance tires. I learned that the 17"s are too harsh for lousy Massachusetts roads and dont plan on running it in the snow. This vehicle is a drivers vehicle. With the proper driver, there are not many cars that can match it in performance and handling. Oh, there are bigger, better, faster and more cars but NONE (at least in this price class) can compare to the ini Cooper S ragtop.

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  Mini Experience - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By hagertyr1 - August 15 - 10:00 am

  Mini is very wll designed- there is BMW quality for a low price- the warranty is for 4 years including oil changes . The driving experience is especially fun- the sped pick up on expressways is suprising. The stability of handling is remarkable. First winter in the Midwest was a test that the Mini passed. Ice and snow were no problem for the little Mini.

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  I love this car - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By jules - August 15 - 4:40 am

  I love my Mini and will definitely get another. Amazing for zooming in and out on the highway, and also awesome for city driving. Our gas mileage is great- high 30s and sometimes even low 40s for pure highway driving. My husband and I are both very tall and find the cabin more than comfortable. I dont have any complaints about this car!

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  Finally Got My MINI - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By chela348 - August 15 - 3:30 am

  Recently graduated 7 years worth of pharmacy education and took advantge of getting my dream car. I cant recall the first time I ever saw it (tv, movies, drive past one) but I wanted one. I dont drive manual so I waited a month for my Oxygen Blue White Top MINI! I cant begin to explain how much fun I have driving it! I get so much attention from it and love waiving to my fellow MINI drivers! Gas is so ridiculous, I get over 40 MPG (especially if i switch to the fake manual). I enjoy my panoramic sunroof everyday. Im a petite girl and feel like it was made for me in every way! Oh and Ive only had the car for 2 months and it now has 3000 miles!

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  Great style, poor reliability - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By michaelben - August 11 - 9:56 pm

  I own two MINIs: both S, one hardtop and one convertible. Both are stylish and a hoot to drive. I am a gentle driver - the convertible averages only 4,000 mi/yr and the hardtop about 9,000 mi/yr. And yet... I have had to replace the transmission three times on the hardtop, the AC failed twice on the hardtop, the AC / heat system failed once on convertible, the ASC light comes on/stays on in both, they have various serious rattles - that MINI knows of - they have had to be serviced. MINI service has taken care of everything, but I am spending most of my highway driving just taking both cars in for service. I am regretting having two MINIs that have so many service issues. Hate to give up the style, but...

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  Mini at 50 - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By Mini at 50 - WOW!!! - August 8 - 8:13 pm

  Ive had my Super Charged Mini convertible for 1 season and have driven it 14,000 miles as a daily commuter. No problems. Unless you call the attention you get from other drivers a problem. My kids think Im nuts driving such a small car as a daily driver, but I respond life is short and my Mini convertible makes the daily ride an escape from the grind. Put my computer in the trunk, plug my Ipod into the stereo, and let the wind blow on my scalp (not much hair left). Motor on!

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  Automatic Transmission Trouble! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By CeeeeCeeee - August 8 - 7:50 am

  Wish I had known this vehicle has a history of severe transmission problems! In all the years Ive been a car owner, Ive never had a transmission just die on me! I have now! Come to find out, this is not unusual with the entire fleet of automatic transmission MINIs!!!! What a bummer!

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  Awesome Mini - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By VICKIE - August 4 - 12:06 pm

  I first got my Mini Cooper in March of 2007. I love the way the Mini handles on the highway and the way she hugs the mountain roads. I wish there was a little more leg room in the back but I only have one child and we just bought her the 2008 Mini Cooper and she is loving her own Mini. We can take both Mini on a road trip and still walk away with money in our pocket from saving on fuel. We will always be a Mini Cooper family..

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  My Mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By JoBob - August 3 - 1:26 am

  If you lease this car its great! I bought it, and I keep buying it every time I go in for the scheduled service. I am going to miss this car after I trade it in. The money it costs to run it is 10 times the amount you will save in gas costs. Also you need to pack a lunch to drive to the very rare and exclusive mini service dealerships.After you get there eat that lunch you packed while you wait for hours to find out that there is more than just an oil change. Have a strong heart for the bill you get. I know for a fact I could have been driving a Lincoln cheaper than this. If you have lots of money and time to blow, buy this car!