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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  not so economical as you had hoped - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By Keokola - March 14 - 8:53 pm

  I loved my Mini before I bought it brand new. Coveted it for years, saved up for it. Paid cash. But before I drove it off the lot I was told it takes only premium gas-- not the good mileage I thought. Then all the dashboard lights started coming on, one at a time. The low tire light; I cant even tell which tire, but the only way to reset is to take it to Mini Hawaii to have them use the special hi-tech gizmo on it for $135! Then the engine light (which I think is related to a 1st-time gas fillup gas cap mistake) but I cant get that reset without the same $135 diagnostic gizmo. Its still cute, and I still love it but it promises to become very expensive in time and money. I have regret.

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  Speedometer - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By sweeper2 - March 14 - 4:26 am

  The Mini is fun to drive and gets good gas mileage but it has two serious faults that would keep me from buying another Mini. First, the speedometer is off over 5 mph at 75 mph, the speedometer reads 80 mph when I am going 75 mph. I called Mini and they said that this was within design specs and they wouldnt and couldnt make the speedometer accurate. The other problem is with the road noise. It is difficult to talk on a cell phone at highway speeds. If they would fix these two issues and offer better customer service it would be a great car.

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  Mini Cooper S - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By S4 GTR - January 12 - 10:00 am

  Very very sharp handling car (for stock). Exceptional Style has nothing to compare with... Very noise when you are about 65MPH interior, heavy power steeling and clutch. Lots of issues for electronics. Went to dealer for 8 times for windows, center console, DSC... Very costy for change the OEM run flats

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  Oil consumption & fuel mileage ! - 2012 Mini Cooper
  By raymondn1 - December 25 - 6:56 pm

  Great little car I purchased new for my wife however it has consumed 2 quarts of oil in on 3500 miles she has put on it.Fuel mileage is no where close to what is claimed.....Just traded it in on a Porsche Carrera that is getting the same fuel mileage as the Mini did with no oil consumption thus far :)

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  Fun Car to Drive When You Can - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By tbong - December 25 - 12:50 am

  Owned for three months and it has been in the shop three times. With problems ranging from the car not starting to the GPS not working. Customer service is the worst I have ever experienced.

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  Fun, Fast, And Darn good looking - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By 2008GLI - December 12 - 3:33 am

  I love the s-model, ive owned it a year and have never had any problems, it is good on gas, quick in traffic, i always get compliments on it, but the interior design stinks, seating is not to comftorable, but overall this car is very quick from point a-b, and it has been very reliable, services are pricey though, If your looking for a small hatchback thats quick and good looking get the Mini cooper, another Good one is a 2006+ Gti, looks better, alot smoother and interior design is way better, not to mention its good on gas and very comfy, but overall mini is king.

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  Great Little Car!!!!!!! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Carol Wyatt - December 11 - 10:36 am

  I couldnt wait till the new Mini to come out because I had a 1973 Couper that I bought in Canada. My younger brother drove it after I was done with it then I sold it ........... Wish I had it back many times. Love my New Mini and I wont sell this one.

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  Low miles does not equal low wear. - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Rich - December 6 - 9:13 am

  Fun to drive, sure. Surprisingly comfortable and quiet for size. Mine has 39,000 miles on it. Paint chips everywhere, scratched glass everywhere. Tires lasted only 30k miles. Just put new ball joints on it. Mechanic surprised I dont need new gaskets and seals yet. Service is expensive. Still I enjoy it so much I will probably get another one in two years.

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  Fortunate and Fun - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Rick Bounds - November 30 - 10:00 am

  Ive really enjoyed the car. There have been a few rattles which have been fixed by the dealership. There have also been a few strange noises coming from the clutch when the car hasnt been driven in several days at start-up. At times when it is hot, it idles rough. I love the car, but Im not too convinced that maintenance will not skyrocket as the car gets older. The strange noises coming from the clutch have me worried. All in all, Im still glad I bought it.

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  Good little car - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By BD - November 28 - 7:03 pm

  I bought a Mini with CVT. It has enough power for San Francisco conditions. It will easily do high speeds on the freeway. My car was jerky with the CVT at first, but a change in the chip due to California emissions stopped it. The sun visors are worthless, too short when put to the side and block too much vision straight ahead. The Harmon Kardon stereo is sometimes distorted and not worth the money. I have had no problems with the sunroof yet, the mesh filter seems ok in the hot sun. My car hasnt been back to the dealer for any problems except the rear hatch is hard to close tight. It is hard to get appointments at some dealers, others are better. I did not notice any major build defects when my car was new.