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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  Cooper S Report Card - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By T.C. - June 2 - 12:23 am

  This is one of the most fun cars Ive ever driven...BUT it rides like my Grandfathers 1958 pickup, theres no give and you feel every bump in the road which causes bent/broken struts and or the brackets. It has seating for four with the LATCH system but its really a 2 seater. When a carseat is installed theres no room for it to be occupied unless the person in the front seat is 4 feet tall with their seat all the way forward. Being small doesnt mean saving money at the pump due to using premium gas. The limited number of dealerships creates problems for the consumer both buying/selling and getting repairs/maintanence done. When theres only one dealership in the state its very detramental for everyone.

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  Dont buy a mini with a CVT!!!! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Cindy - May 16 - 1:23 pm

  I had my heart set on a mini, and I wanted an automatic, so I purchased a used 04 mini CVT 38k,mile. The day after purchase , it would red line at 15 mph. I took it to the local mini dealership, and they told me that it was normal, that I probably was not driving it aggressively enough. So then it stalled on me at a red light, and they said this was normal, still not driving it aggressively enough. After this happening probably 9-11 times in the 6 weeks I had it, I sold it. I would have to drive it around the parking lot for about 20 min. to get it to get back to its normal self. Some people say that theirs goes out completely. I am lucky I got rid of mine while I could! DONT BUY MINI

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  Clutch and Transmission Failure - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Fun in Del Mar - February 20 - 1:46 pm

  I have had a lot of trouble initially with the computer system of the car, but the worst is that I had to have the clutch replaced at 75,000. miles and now I need a new transmission at 83,000. miles. Dealer tells me its my driving - but I have been driving Beemer stick-shifts my whole life - I never had to have either one of those parts replaced until I got to 175,000. miles. Furthermore, all maintenance the car needs is very expensive - which may have to do with individual dealerships. Nor am I happy about the acceleration of the car. It certainly does not compare to any of the 3- series of the BMWs - but then again its also cheaper.

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  These Cars Have Problems! Be Careful... - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By candleman - September 5 - 2:13 pm

  Be sure to ask your local dealer just HOW MANY of these vehicles they have serviced for "carbon build up" problems. Problem starts usually just outside the 36K warranty, are anywhere from $500 - $1000 to fix, and will recur about every 40K miles or so. Evidently, if they are not driven "aggressively" (high RPMs), this is COMMON. Do the research, gang... [non-permissible content removed]

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  Too much maintenance, too much time - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By MAM - August 25 - 10:33 pm

  Its a fun car to drive, great gas mileage, cute etc, but very expensive for repairs. In one year, Ive spent $2500 out of pocket on a car I bought brand new from the dealer, in addition to the gas to get to the dealership (100 miles roundtrip in DC traffic) and taking time off work (they close at 7pm).

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  Mini cooper S - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By ccs8c - July 3 - 8:40 pm

  My clutch went out at 14,000 miles, windows finicky (dont work all the time). Re the clutch: no explanation other than its my fault from Mini of North American and the dealer; I had to pay for the replacement less than a year after purchasing it. My previous clutches didnt burn out until 60,000-75,000 miles, so I dont understand this, but I wont buy another mini and will sell this one within the year.

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  Sad but True - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By mangopop - January 17 - 10:03 am

  I bought my Mini in 2006. It was the ONLY car I wanted and I fell in love with it instantly. After 1 1/2 years, and about 12K miles I started having all sorts of electrical problems. Ive had more sensors go off than I knew were in the car! Airbag sensor, Gas sensor..and a few more that I dont remember the name for. I have now been in and out of the dealership every month for the last 5 months and im really disappointed that my Mini cooper did not live up to my expectations. I was hoping for it to be around for a while, now Im looking to let it go before the warranty is up.

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  minis a gank - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By donbon - November 30 - 2:00 am

  The interior build of the minis leaves a lot to be desired. I chose not to buy one after *really* lusting after them.. the reason? The controls and gauges inside all have visible and poorly worked mold seams. Thats just inexcusable. The interior is also about as plastic as a Fisher Price toy car walker my 3-year old likes to put around in. The faux aluminum panels wont fool anyone. Performance-wise, I find the minis (the basic, that is -- i havent driven the "S") to lag really badly in 1st and do not much better in second. Yeah, it handles ok, but accelerates like molasses.

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  Unfortunately, I am on a 1st name basis with the members of the Maintenance Dept. - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By cicirenne - November 8 - 3:46 am

  I love to drive it but its in the shop all the time. I purchased my 2007 MINI COOPER S new in Dec 2007. the car has just passed the warranty period & yet another problem occurred that is not covered under warranty. I cannot continue to I make monthly payments & pay for repairs too so have decided to search for a new car and trade this one in. Since I purchased it the drivers side door locking mechanism fell apart, the tensioner has been replaced 2 times, the timing chain replaced, the water pump replaced, the air intake hose & clamps replaced , & the air conditioner fan motor replaced. It eats oil - I have to put 1 qrt of synthetic oil in it every 2500 miles.

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  How Do You Spell Dog? Mini! - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Ace - November 5 - 5:56 am

  Yeah, its cute. But a movie doesnt make it fast. The Mini is: 1. dog slow, 2. has a rear blind spot 3. the top doesnt tuck away, 4. it has no cover for the top, 5. no rear seat lighting, 6. no power seats, 7. you sit low so it is hard to see out of, 8. it has no satellite radio, 9. the stereo stinks, 10. I hate the retro guages, give us state-of-the art. 11. and include a built-in iPod jack.