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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  My Ford was more reliable. - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By bstndance - June 3 - 11:13 am

  I leased my Mini and had a great two year relationship with the car. Suddenly, after the two year mark its all downhill. It started with the fan always running even when the car was off. That turned into a water pump problem. Then the check engine light comes on randomly. The interior falls apart easily. The mini emblem on the steering wheel popped off when I pressed the horn. The windows and sunroof sometimes open when I unlock the car using the electronic fob. Now, the battery suddenly up and died in the middle of the day. I ran into a store for 15 mintues, came out and it was dead. Got jumped but the car died again the next day. Cant wait for my lease to finish!

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  2004 MINI Cooper Hatchback - My Favorite Car - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Cheryl - May 30 - 1:00 pm

  I bought a 2004 MINI Cooper Hatchback for my teenage daughter and now everyone in the family wants to drive it. It definitely attracts attention and is so much fun to drive. Most people coo and squeal "Its so cuuuuuuute!"

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  better than my corvette - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Mr. B - May 23 - 10:20 am

  I have had the competition and this is the best. I had a porche 914, a mazda miata and a corvette. The mini blows them away. Everyone said i was crazy foe selling my 2002 corvette for a mini cooper but it was a good choice. The mini is not tempermental and can be driven as a daily driver instaed of just a sunday driver like my other "Toy" cars have been. I cant stop revving and driving it hard. I am a big guy (300lbs) and fit very comfortably in it. It also has goos storage whwn the rear seats are folded down. Mine is pepper white with a black top and black stripes. I also upgraded the wheels to 17s. I also got the automatic transmission which I highly recommend. Its exactly like a stick!

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  cheap thrill - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By jfb - May 17 - 10:00 am

  The mini is very Zippy and the fuel consupsion rate is great!A bit too much plastic in the design. Very fu to drive.

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  Red Hot Mini - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Carriann - May 17 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love driving my Mini. It is the most fun car out on the road, and I get a lot of attention. Not only is it red and black, but I have had racing wheels added, red tint, a custom alarm, the whole works...I recommend this car to everyone =)

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  Dont be fooled - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By MC - May 13 - 9:23 pm

  I fell in love with my MINI at the dealership... Thought it was a great deal. A 2007 with only 20k on it! At a good price too. I had the car for no more than a month, only having added 800 miles to the ODO when... BAM! There goes my transmission! Luckily it was still under warranty. But then come to find out the engine has a whole load of problems too... And so ends my MINI Cooper experience. Traded it in for a prius. Idk if it was my individual car of the quality of 2007 minis but beware.

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  Real Lemon - 2011 Mini Cooper
  By 1sadmini - May 11 - 5:40 am

  We purchased this car for our daughter, wanted a car that war dependable and safe. Turned out to be a real Lemon. Spends more time in the shop. Cant fix anything unless you have a pix or video to show the problem. Was missing parts from the factory also. Problems still exist. BMW USA offered to replace the car because of all the problems, then changes their mind the next day when we were going to take their offer. Be very careful if you decide to purchase this car from Mini(BMW USA), they do not stand behind their product. Guess that is why there is the LEMON LAW. May have to go to court to get relief. Very disappointed with what was suppose to be a superior company and product.

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  Too much fun! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By dmcc1964 - May 10 - 10:00 am

  Every time I get in the drivers seat I want to pull onto the race track! This car is so much fun. I turns heads every time I drive it...Corvette and Porsche owners want to race. To date, I have been quite pleased with the mechanics of my MCS. It has performed flawlessly. Only complaint is the required high octane fuel costs and the clunky gearbox (I drove a Honda before...noted for its smooth gearbox).

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  Mini Cooper is the most fun car outhere! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Donchik - May 4 - 2:00 am

  I fell in love with this car from the first sight and my love keeps growing since I bought it. It is fun to drive, everybodys looking at you and smiling, but at the same time it is not VW Beetle, cute and all. Mini has an agresive character and is build based on the bulldog which is very much visible.

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  Cooper S - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By IC - May 1 - 12:23 am

  My MINI Cooper S is like a go kart with a great engine. I think this car is the best ever and I traded in a 2005 Ford F-150 Supercrew for it! I would get another MINI again without any hesitation. It handles great and has a great power band. Get the 6-speed transmission, which gives you full control.