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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  good car - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By twenty-7 - November 28 - 10:00 am

  its a good car

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  MINI S - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By ABBEY - November 28 - 10:00 am

  A BLAST TO DRIVE AT ANY SPEED AND LESS THAN A CAMARY

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  Too Slooowww - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By HerbSchober - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Too slooooowwww, needs larger engine to be a true sport type vehical.

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  Mini Experience - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Ron KLein - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Words cannot explain the experience with the Mini. I have other sports cars before and the Mini is in a class by itself. For the price and the car that you get I dont think theres anything else on the market to compare. Ron

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  AWESOME!!! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By SMOKIE - November 28 - 10:00 am

  my experience is bar-none the greatest its been. will never go back to any other car of the sporty style etc!.. anybody knows like i do this is the ultimate german car for any person who like to things all in one...I used to live in germany and drive around with a friend of mine who had an early 80s model with a hopped up 4 cyl.What blew the doors off any v-8 vehicle ..talk about quick! huge sharp turns and curbs that germany has this car was unbelievably one heck of a stable street hugger!!"THATS A BLAST"!!So with that ill sign off for now .thanks for your time and convenience"LATER"... sincerely, mini-cooper car fan!

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  BUMP IN THE ROAD - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By MEJORDON - November 28 - 10:00 am

  I CALL MY LITTLE JEWEL MY BUMP IN THE ROAD - BE SURE TO GET A BRIGHT COLOR SO YOU ARE SEEN. I LOVE IT

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  i love this car - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Lester - November 28 - 10:00 am

  this car is a joy to drive

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  Mini Cooper Proves Size Does Matter - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By VryDarkEyes - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Since purchasing our Mini weve been seen driving around Southern California with an endless grin on our faces! The inside is very roomy. I have two teenage kids and we can all 4 fit comfortably inside our Mini without anyone having to sit with their knees in their chest. We attended our first Mini Rally (9/13/03) and had a chance to really play with the car and it performed awesome! Ours is the Mini, but handled and performed as well as the Cooper "S" on every twist and turn. The exterior styling is eye-catching. I have never had so many strangers approach me in all my life. Everyone wants to look at this car!

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  The best ever - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By LadyVamp1983 - November 28 - 10:00 am

  This is by far the best car out there today...it is the most fun I have ever driven and its easy to find your car in the parking lot too! The Milage is incrediable, I am averging 42 miles to the gallon. I gaurentee you will love it too!

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  mini is a winner - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By jrmkzo - November 28 - 10:00 am

  I am extremely happy with my car. My sister baught one on the same day, now most of my family members are thinking of getting one. You get a lot of car packed into that price tag. Once in a while the pick up isnt that fast, but on the other occasions I find myself peeling the tires, but that is the only drag on the performance. Other wise, its excellent, and actually amazing in bad weather. I would highly recoment it.