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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  Fun drive, horrible interior design & engineering/road noise - 2013 Mini Cooper
  By norcalcommuter - February 13 - 5:28 am

  Small car. I knew that. Realize you are basically buying a 2 seat micro-car. You might as well fold the back seats down and use it as trunk space. My 8 & 10 year olds have no leg room and barely get space to plant their feet when 5-4" mom is driving. Dont tell me adults can fit back there! I *Hate* the Mini-Connected system with its joystick and horrible look/software. Confusing, not user friendly. In the world of touch screen everywhere, this lack of, is archaic. The seatbelts get caught between the seats and door post. You have to open the door to get your buckle. Too many confusing dash switches. Hard to get to the back seat. Ugh, glad I leased not bought!!!

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  MINI Review - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By EastCoastGirl - February 12 - 11:10 am

  I have had my 2008 MINI Cooper S for a year and half with zero issues. I have only had to have one part replaced on my coop - the recalled exhaust. (The tail-pipes were too long and were a burn hazard for the legs.) I love love LOVE to drive MINIs and cant imagine owning any other car. They handle well, have pep and are cute to boot!

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  New Owner - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By miniplatz - February 9 - 2:13 pm

  I drove it for two days in the West Virginia mountains using the paddel shifter. It was a blast. The only change I would make is an electric adjustable drivers seat. It is a great car, but it is not as much fun as my 1990 British Open Mini. Everyone should have one.

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  Long Time Owner - Still Happy - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Dwayne Hayes - December 17 - 1:10 pm

  I use this as my daily commuter, year-round in Chicago winter driving with a 20+ mile commute on local roads (lots of stop-and-go). Other than a few interior squeaks from the dash, I have little complaint. I cant find another economy car that can be equipped as nicely and handle solid on slippery roads and high winds. When it comes to running errands, city driving/parking (even grocery runs) for 6 years we always gravitate to the Mini. Only major repair: I had the fuel injector replaced at 70K. Drawbacks are that its a high-strung breed - higher revs, noisier on the highways and a bouncy ride on rough roads. Be prepared if youre a big coffee drinker -- you will need a good, no-spill mug

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  Since day 1 nothing but problems - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Miniman - December 3 - 2:00 am

  From the very first second I bought the car the windsheild weather stripping fell off and scrached up the roof. Then there was a vibration in the front of the cabin that hasnt been fixed after two attempts from the dealer. Then the passengers side rear tire keeps loosing air so the sensor comes on all the time and the headlight went out! And this is with no accidents! So now a rock hit the windsheild and no one can replace the glass b/c the car is so unique. I have never had so many problems with a car much less a new one. Good luck, its fun to drive but more problems than it is worth!

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  24kt GOLD-MINI - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By mercy - November 29 - 10:00 am

  Its a blast to drive

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  What can go wrong, DID - Murphys Law - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By MINIhaha - November 9 - 10:00 am

  Pickup our Cooper S PS/W this April. You know all those problems that MINI owners gripe about on forums? Well, almost all of that happened to us. Lets see yoyo/surging/ stalling, new transmission, windshield changed, paint blotches and uneven, oh, and the rattles! OH MY GOD, the RATTLES! If this is what they describe as spirited driving count me out!

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  Chili Red Head Turner - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By spkr4tdead - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I picked this car up on Friday the 22nd. And as expected, it was makred up by the dealer over 20%, and they still tried to make tou feel like they were doing you a favor by letting you buy one of their cars. I had been on the list to buy one since May of last year. Took over 7 hours to get out of there. And when that time came, they didnt even bother to clean the car, just handed me the keys, and sent me on my way, without ever even letting me test drive a single one.

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  Mini Cooper - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Reese - October 20 - 10:00 am

  Wow! All i can say is that i never had this much fun driving an vehicle... You can eat corners for breakfast now...

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  What a Blast! - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Ken w/Evans help - October 16 - 1:13 am

  The Mini Cooper S acceleration and handling are awesome. This car manuevers better than any car I have ever had the chance to drive. BMWs and Audis are unable to keep up. The performance of this vehicle is the selling point but there are so many other features on this car. The window automatically rolls down 1/2 inch when you open the door and then closes up tightly when you shut it. No more ear popping. The car is so tight that you can be in a high gear at low speed and it still drives smoothly without chugging along like other cars would do. Hold down the button on the key fob and all the windows and sunroof open automatically. The car will let you know when you have a flat tire. Go test drive one!