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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  2004 MINI Cooper S Hatchback - My Dream Car - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By tim - December 13 - 9:06 pm

  I have wanted a MINI since 1967. So I had high expectations when I bought mine and BMW has met them all! I would buy this car again in a second. Its the first car that did not have to go back to the dealer in the first year of ownership. I would recommend getting rid of the run-flat tires though if you want a better ride.

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  Small Wonder - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By MiniGirl - December 12 - 2:46 pm

  I love my 2006 Mini Cooper S. It is a blast to drive and handles great. I feel like Im a kid driving a go-cart. Im 6 tall, yet I have more head room than I did in the SUV I used to own. I would highly recommend this car to anyone looking for something sporty, fun, and reasonably priced. The Cooper S has MUCH more power than the Cooper. It is worth the extra money. The Harmon-Kardon stereo is also worth the extra money. It sounds fantastic!

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  this is a great car! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By paly65 - December 10 - 10:00 am

  Ive had many types and makes of cars and this is by far the best value Ive ever owned. The dealership is a cut above all others and has gone out of their way to make buying a car and servicing that car pleasant. The car is outstanding. My only regret is that I did not get a few more of the options but nothing I cant live without.

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  Love it... going to build a MINI family! - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By MDK - December 5 - 10:50 pm

  I love my MINI, have wanted one for years, designed my own, got it delivered in 3 weeks and have not had to go back to the dealership for anything! I have the 6 speed manual and love it! I would pay all over again! One day Ill own an S-convertible and an S- clubman to finish my MINI family. I recommend these cars to anyone and everyone come across! And I just got back from a cross country road trip, best and most comfortable drive Ive ever had for long term road time.

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  The Best Hatchback Available - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Alejandro - November 26 - 10:00 am

  I can sum up my mini cooper S with three phrases, Fun, Quality and Good Value. BMW did not hold back from giving the mini the technology and design it does for its big boys (700 series) This car is fun to drive everyday. I never imagined thought that I would get so much attention from other folks. Hence the styling success. For the first 6 months of ownership I would at least 1 person if not 3 people stop me to chat about my mini cooper S. I look forward to many years of motoring pleasure.

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  EXCELLENT - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By OU812IG88 - November 26 - 10:00 am

  GREAT CAR LOOK FORWARD TO MANY YEARS OF DRIVING THIS GREAT VEHICLE. GLAD I MAD THE PURCHASE.

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  Laser Blue pocket Rocket - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By Gauhog - November 25 - 11:50 pm

  Purchased the Mini used after seeing them around for some time.Everyone knows all the cliches; go-cart handling, great brakes, etc. Fuel economy is excellent despite my heavy foot. I have taken numerous 1500 mile round trips with 35+ mpg @ 75-80 mph. The Mini rides well on the smooth interstates, but lousy roads in the northeast can beat you up a little; I guess a combination of the short wheelbase, run-flats, and inordinately high tire pressures. Overall though, the experience has been a good one so far. One other thing, no matter how many seats are physically in the car, the car is a two-seater.

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  i love my little car - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By pedro fonseca - November 23 - 6:56 am

  is a pleasure to drive an small car with enough power and low gas consuctionI am very happy with my litle car, i trade an BMW convertible and for less thn half the price I get an excelent transportation fonseca

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  Super Car - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By stan - November 7 - 6:43 pm

  Bought it off ebay in 1/08. I really like the feel the car it is solid. I have had 4 people in it back seats are ok. It is a gocart I driver a nice curving road to work OH MY what fun. Fuel MPG I get 31.6/32.3 most of the time. I hope I never have to sell it to pay the place off.

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  HOW SWEET IT IS!! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Rob-Rob - November 4 - 10:00 am

  Picked up my Cooper S in April 03 & have never been happier with a car before. If you love to drive, et is purely a "DRIVERS" car. If you are a real driver then you will truly love this vehicle.