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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  What a major disappointment! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By timemoves - March 21 - 10:00 am

  I feel that with all the positive reviews here, the MINI would be a great choice. A test drive revealed a few flawas, but I just thought I was being a little too picky. Well, three weeks with the car and it remains my biggest car purchase mistake ever. There is really nothing fun about this car. If you want excitement with this little amount of sheet metal, you might as well buy a motorcycle instead. That is basically what the car is like. It is something of a hybrid between a riding lawn mower and a motorcycle. Nice concept, but a very poor execution. Shame on BMW for putting this thing on the US market.

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  No more sidewalk model - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By marcia low - March 18 - 3:16 pm

  I love my British racing green convertible. The sidewalk package has all the bells and whistles esp the gorgeous brown leather interior. Now they wont make it any more. I am disappointed I wanted a new one only because I think the rear window visibility would be much improved with the retractable roll bars.

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  You should get a mini now--RIGHT NOW. - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Richard Dieffenbach - March 15 - 10:00 am

  I bought the car May 31 when the delaer offered it to me fifteen minutes before closing because somebody failed to pick it up. I drove it home. What a blast. Ducati riders slow down for a look on the 405; "fast and furious" types in their slammed Acuras ogle it, as do their girlfriends; commuters speed by and then circle it for a second look. I am hooked. It satisfies the desire for quickness, style and handling and is not as frightening to drive as my dear departed 72 911, and it has air conditioning.

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  Happy Mini Owners - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By careyonair - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Glad we spent a little more and got the S series w/ Navi! If you live in a dense urban setting, or you just like to explore without getting lost every time, the Navi is a must. Incredibly FUN to drive, terrific to manouver in city traffic. Our 6 speed Mini rocks. I am almost 6 5" and can easily drive this. Other car is a BMW 330ci and the Mini really stands toe to toe with a 35K+ sports coupe, minus the shock absorbing vibration over rough roads. Surprised how many Minis are popping up here in Houston! Absolutely happy with purchase and BMW service is great.

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  MINI 2002 - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Caroll Wood - March 9 - 10:00 am

  The new MINI definatly has the spirit of the old mini. It performs better and you do not have to work on it every week end. The downside is that with all the new electronic gadgets and improvements, there is a price to pay. My MINI has been in the shop several times for "little" things.

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  Find the power band - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By jggimi - February 21 - 1:46 pm

  The normally aspirated Mini Cooper is a great deal of fun. While it lacks the punch of the Cooper S, it still has quite acceptable acceleration if you are in the appropriate RPM range. I happened to acquire one with the 6-speed auto transmission. If you include the sport mode, there are six different operational settings for the tranny, and there is a learning curve to figure them all out. I usually drive in manumatic/steptronic mode with the heavier steering of the sport mode enabled. The paddles on the steering wheel are especially convenient, and I do not miss a clutch pedal in heavy stop and go traffic. The wheels are on the corners, which makes for wickedly fun cornering!

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  Think twice-Novelty wears off quick - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Peter Rorie - February 21 - 7:10 am

  Im a medical rep. that drives 70 miles a day of hard driving. Ive put 10,000 miles and 3,000.00 bucs into the car!--all new brakes,fan assembly, electric windows,clutch, ect,ect. Its cool for the first month, then guess what? Its just another gutless little car. Resale is still good-(x car salesman). For a toy, its great. If your gonna make it your work car--buy something else.--If I had it to do again, Id of bought a clean used BMW 325. I paid 14k a year ago for it--Ill get 9500- in trade for it next month-(already had a quote)- make sure you love em if you make the purchase--your gonna spend a little $ on it. (Also, MAKE SURE theres a dealer close by) Youll be appreciated.

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  deMini - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By deRazz - February 20 - 10:00 am

  Great fun, I am always looking for the back roads as I zig-zag between San Luis Obispo and San Francisco. Why bother with the freeway when there are curves just a few miles away? It adds only an hour or so the trip and it is only a drag if I get stuck behind a camper or trailer. (But I do not stay behind them for long!

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  Went from an SUV to a MINI - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Rob L. - February 13 - 1:56 pm

  My 2004 MINI Cooper S Hatchback has literally put fun back linto driving. Its handling and acceleration are awesome.There is definite BMW in its heritage. The fit and finish are superb. So far in 9,000 miles I have not had any real problems. My only complaint is some lack of power with the A/C on.

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  nice car - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By Kathy - February 8 - 10:26 am

  Overall happy with this car. Would like to see heater improvements. Heated seats save the day. Dont like the way the oil or whatever it is gets on front wheel rims. Fun to drive and Ill definitely get another one