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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  Buy this car!! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By ghm3 - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Ive never had a car this fun to drive. You literally will find ways to extend your driving to enjoy the performance. Handling is superb. Truly an enthusiasts car.

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  Nice drivability but Horrible Reliability - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By caroleza27 - October 6 - 4:35 pm

  Like many others, I have had nothing but problems since I purchased this car used less than a year ago. When I got it I seemed to be in ok condition even after 2 previous owners and 140k. Starting in the 2nd month o ownership I began having to replace things--each time a cost of $500-$600 mainly due to the high price of the parts. Every time I fix something, I have another problem. I am looking to get rid of the car as soon as I can because I cannot afford to keep fixing it nor can I spend all of my time at the shop. Great car in its younger years--definitely not a primary vehicle or one that will hold up over the years.

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  "uncle" - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By cheryl, - October 2 - 6:53 pm

  This car is so much fun to drive, rivaling other imports Ive had. It has plenty of power to render confidence in passing and on ramp approach, corners on a dime, and has awesome gas milage without performance trade-off. However, Ive experienced way too many costly repairs ie. engine wire harness, intake valve module, cooling fan module, power steering pump etc. Its time to cut my losses. Regretable, I scream uncle.

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  I love this car - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By streetracer2 - September 20 - 10:50 pm

  This car has a Nice go cart feel but I think there should be a little more power. The exterior design is probably the worst thing about it, I dont think its bad but most of the people I ask say it looks like a clown car or some weird like that but I like it.

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  My favorite car Ive ever owned - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By fervidmuse - September 14 - 6:19 pm

  My 2006 MINI Cooper S was the second MINI Cooper S that I owned, my first being a 2003 There were so many improvements made to the 2005 and 2006 body style over the 2002-2004 models. The 2002-2004 models are just as fun but not as easy to live with. The MINI is a car that you buy if you love driving; it simply puts a smile on your face every time you get in it, even the non-S models. I particularly like the cheeky British styling altho not everyone does. It was tied for highest resale value (w/Honda Civic) for compacts! If reliability, interior space or a quiet ride (MINIs have lots of interior squeaks/rattles) are at the top of your shopping this, this probably isnt the car for you.

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  mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By mumolie - September 12 - 10:00 am

  execellent fun car to drive and be seen in.

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  Living large in a MINI - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Salms - September 10 - 10:00 am

  You no longer need to be rich to drive an exotic foreign car. Suspension and handling are sharp, heavy and precise. No body roll dive or squat. The engine is potent and happy. The gears are well spaced; shifter is pretty good. The clutch is soft. The interior is spacious for two. The looks really are to die for! Prepare to spend a lot of time talking to passer-bys, and people at the pump. A guy in an M3 challenged me to a race, but I politely declined. This car isnt perfect-this is to be expected with a new model- maybe its just the ghost of Lucas returning from the grave.

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  Hot Mini Cooper S - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By RDW - July 28 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car on a lark, but havent been disappointed. Its great fun to drive and the attention is just a bonus. Its BMW heritage comes shining through.

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  Mini guy - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By MiniGuy - July 5 - 10:00 am

  Love the Mini, had a few minor problems with it but thats what you get when you buy a new car

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  Fun to Drive! when not being repaired. - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Hillary - June 5 - 11:46 am

  After 2 months of having it, I had the EML light go on and the car went into fail safe mode (9 mph). It did this on the 405 freeway, not very safe and very scary! I had the extended warranty and MINI roadside assistance came to pick it up. Apparantly it was the throttle body. 4 months later the same issue. This time it was the computer. 6 months later the same thing, this time they said it was just a fluke, everythings fine. Again 2 more times in the past 5 months. The MINI dealership is 35 miles away from my home, so this started to become a huge inconvenience especially with no rental car.