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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  Lots of Fun for the Enthusiast - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By aburg - May 14 - 6:08 pm

  Bought our S 6spd used in 2010 with 28k on the clock. We chose a Mini S because we wanted something that got decent MPG was fun to drive and was a little different. It has fulfilled all of those things and we are extremely happy with it. We knew that buying a Civic or Corolla would probably be cheaper and more reliable but it would also be a lot more boring. The Mini has been in the shop now and again but we knew it would probably take some up keep going in. We bought our Mini used, it still had some factory warranty on it and we added an extended warranty ($1,800) which has turned out to be useful.

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  Your speedometer wont be even close to accurate - 2013 Mini Cooper
  By lindigo - May 14 - 11:43 am

  Before you buy, do a search on Mini Cooper + speedometer so you will know inaccurate speedometers are their policy. I asked them to recalibrate my speedometer which is running about 7% high. They refused, quoting an internal bulletin not to repair speedometers that are within 10% of accurate plus another 2.4 miles. I.e., if you and your Garmin know you are driving at 65 mph, your speedometer will not be recalibrated unless it is displays OVER 74 mph. So much for their claim that they fix new cars. I even bought the extra coverage so this "guarantee" would continue for extra years. I would never buy another Mini Cooper. Still talking, but I may have to sue to get my new car fixed.

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  I turned my condo into a castle - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Jay Jay - May 5 - 10:00 pm

  I love this car so much (I am a sales estimator for a remodeling company) that I made a custom protective bag to carry my ladder in the back, purchased bags and gear to hold all my samples, and I have a portable navigation system. I live and breathe in my MINI. I drive the heck out of it on appointments, and on weekends I hang out and go on drives with other MINI maniacs! I went to Casino Morongo last weekend and am going to Vegas in a week and a half. I have had two Chevrolet Corvettes, and my MINI may not be as fast, but it handles far better! I am getting 28 mpg con ity roads which I think is great as Im always stopping and going. Theres no need for a gas hog like a Hummer. Minis are classically in and they hold their value.

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  ITS NOT A BEEMER!!!!!!! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By justplanenutz - May 4 - 10:00 am

  Why does everyone keep trying to compare it to a BMW?! It was designed to be a fun, sporty, LITTLE vehicle for those in the under $20,000 category to enjoy. No it is not a 328!!! If you have $35,000 you should go buy a 328 and shut up! If you do not have $35,000 then please go buy something that was designed to go really fast and quit complaining about a really good car!!! I like my MINI!! I like Beemers!! The MINI is not a Beemer!

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  Its a 20k car forsake! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Deneed4spd - March 28 - 10:00 am

  I have read few negative comments. These people really have dumb comments. Many say its unsafe. Of course its unsafe, the car is small! Common sense, if you want a safe car, buy a bigger car. Its a $20000 car. How much performance do you want. It really sounds like people are expecting the car to handle like a porche gt3 or some super tunner. I drive a bmw 328is and race autox dsp. I have the opportunity to test drive both the Cooper S and Cooper, and I feel for the price they are amazing. You try buying any other stock car for 20k and see if it handles this well. Lastly, the engine. Its a small car = small engine!

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  Mini Review - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By RaquelleS - March 15 - 5:30 pm

  For the most part I have absolutely loved being a Mini owner. I got the car with 39k i think and now I am at over 90k and havent had any real problems out of it. I really wish that it was easier to work on. Im a 24 yr and am not made of money to go to the dealer every time I need to change the oil. I havent had any tranny problems like all the other comments, but Im guessing that theirs is automatics.

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  New owner - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By skip2211 - February 20 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 2006S in October 2010. i get about 27 mpg city and 30-34 mpg highway. Sunroof will bake the driver as there is no shade ! I am having it limo tinted. Performance is great but ride is VERY stiff. Potholes feel like craters. Great handling and fun to drive. Oil change at Mini dealer is over $100.. Had to buy a bra for it as the front attracts all rocks. I am 65 and feel like a kid again! Holds resale value well but Mini dealers are few and far away and costly. Get rid of the run flat tires but then you have no spare ! It turns heads wherever I go and is bright red.

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  MINI BUZZing noise - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By al123 - February 16 - 2:00 am

  Excellent performance, and fun to drive. Interior is not up to expectation. constant rattle buzz problems. Windshield developed stress crack which was not covered by warranty. After the windshield was replaced there is a constant squeaky sound from the passenger side of the windshield.

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  Beware of "Warranty" - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By Unhappymotorer - January 24 - 10:50 pm

  I bought my car brand new a year ago -- have loved it despite quirks with the windows (no fix for it yet...supposedly coming in late 2008). Drove it responsibly for 14,000 miles in the year to include a trip across country. Now the clutch is "burnt" and its not covered under the warranty. They are blaming me, which is ridiculous. I would be wary of buying one again.

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  Beware - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By martini7721 - January 20 - 7:45 pm

  This car was too expensive to own. Between having to pay for run flat tires and synthetic oil changes, a broken timing belt at 50k and a busted head gasket at 100k, this car cost me just a hair under $15,000 in repairs and maintenance over a period of seven years. I bought it brand new in 2006 for $28,000. Couldnt even allow myself to sell it privately because I was so angry at the cost of owning this vehicle.