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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  Fun Ride - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By MItch - July 28 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned my MINI since October 2002 and I have to say its one of the most enjoyable cars to drive. Its comfort has been exceptional on road trips of more than 3 hours and the fuel economy is excellent. The pick-up and fun factors are only echoed with its safety features. TOO MUCH FUN.

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  The Greatest Car Known To Man - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By The Big M - July 27 - 10:00 am

  Wow, what a fun car! Ive had my MINI Cooper for about a month now and I couldnt be happier. The handling is extraordinary, the performace excellent, its absolutely gorgeous inside and out and its the most comfortable car Ive ever driven. Those that complain about lack of horsepower should learn to drive - with proper technique this car goes like a bat out of Hell! But where it really shines is in the twisties - no car can match the Coopers handling through corners at speed. What more can I say... I love it!

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  Andys Mini Review - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By Andy Klapp - July 23 - 10:50 pm

  I absolutely love my Mini! Its great fun to drive and I get noticed by people who are obviously jealous because they dont have one. I am 6 2" tall and I have more headroom in my Mini than many vehicles I have driven. The fuel economy is great! I average 35 - 40 MPG around town. My Mini only has three options (speed control, bonnet stripes and checkerboard mirrors) and it was well worth the $20,000 price tag.

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  05 Mini - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By jrfats - July 23 - 10:26 pm

  Im delighted with this Mini. I call it a go cart with air conditioning. I wish that the tires would last longer, but that is a low profile run flat problem. I wish that there were more dealers as I keep the car in Montana - it is over 400 miles to the nearest one. So far, I have had no problems. The brakes are much better than in the 2003 model, which I still have in another location.

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  Fun Car. - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By Bobby - July 12 - 6:26 am

  I was extremely surprised with this car. My wife and I had never drove this car when we left the dealership we left with the MINI. Also, the car is fun to drive and it gets up and go more than most 4 cylinder cars. Go get it you wont be disappointed!

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  Breackdown - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Frieda - June 28 - 10:00 am

  The car is fun and great to drive. But it broke down, died, twice. The first time something was loose and the car would not start after I turned it off to get gas. I had to get towed. The second time, about one month later, the cooling fan would not go off, it drained the battery and the car was stuck in my garage, had to be towed again. Last time we didnt have the car for five days, now its been two days so far. I dont know if this car is a lemon or if it happens to all Minis.

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  Get the S - 2018 Mini Clubman
  By Chris B. - June 27 - 3:58 pm

  Owned new clubman for 6 months after deciding between Mini Cooper S 4 door, Honda Civic, Audi A3, & Honda Accord. We went with the Clubman for the handling, storage capacity in the back, ergonomic rear doors, and the allure of being part of owning a Mini. Within the first 30 days started feeling buyers remorse due to incredible sluggish acceleration and even in "sport" mode the car lacks power (lack of horsepower almost felt dangerous in traffic and especially entering highways), which made us wishing we wouldve paid more for the S model. We went back to the dealership to trade it in and they wanted 35% less than what we paid (we knew there would be depreciation), but the dealership elaborated that Mini halted production of the Clubman for several months because they were unsure if they should keep producing the car because customers were veering more towards Mini Coopers or Countryman models. They also said that the value depreciated because of poor demand & potentially high cost of parts. We walked hoping that we would grow closer to the car. The car has an excellent cabin-feel, handles incredibly well, and the sunroof(s) are an amazing feature that make the cabin feel much bigger. During a snowstorm the car slid off the road and the suspension got ripped apart... I firmly believe most cars wouldve survived the wreck, but the tiny parts got mangled from the impact. We purchased a Mini Cooper S for the handling and speed. The regular Clubman is just too boring and doesnt seem like a car that Mini wants to continue making.

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  my MINI - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By xgeeyupjeex - June 22 - 10:00 am

  its a fun ride--quite exhilarating. i love the engine sound--very powerful despite being a 4-cylinder. in the beginning, the car was quite shaky..but after a few miles on the road..it got better. i love to ride it--showing it off to my friends. even though it is a small car, it seems to have a lot of power. i can actually park this car in ease--anywhere..very nice car! most of all, i like it cuz it resembles so much of me..very unique.

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  Huge Mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By LIVEfrom718 - June 22 - 10:00 am

  i absolutely love it. at 163hp this car flies!!! it doesnt sound too much, but between the weight and size it really hauls! its a really fun car. i get the "its a cute" care from a lot of people, but once they see the interior, the way it handles, and all the little extras people are really shocked. at first most people are reminded of the beetle and all the cuteness that surrounds that, but dont forget that this little guy is made from the folks at BMW!

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  123333333333333333334 - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By popie - June 22 - 10:00 am

  it was great fun to drive and a great car to take on trips for long periods