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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  Kool - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By 001 - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Great Car fun to drive I recomend it to anyone ,this car is great So go buy yours today !

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  Excellent - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By jasper - November 25 - 5:36 pm

  This car is so fun to drive and reliable. I was pleasently suprised by all of the features that it has. I wouldnt have expected them because when I first saw it I just though it was a cute car. The features coupled with the price make this the best car I have ever owned!

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  One word, "FUN Fun Fun" - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Britishdave - November 21 - 8:30 pm

  One drive of this car and you know right away what all the fuss is about. It truely is that good! Thanks to European gear ratios and go- kart cornering, mine has had fun staying up with some expensive metal on the mountain roads this summer. If you know anything about MINI Cooper history, you know that in years to come many of these cars will be tore apart and rebuilt into 300hp plus pocket rockets. They already have 250-280hp aftermarket tuning kits available. Can you imagine? Great mileage, awesome low depreciation values, complete standard features all adds up to a fun car that loves to be driven at a fraction of the cost of competing toys.

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  MINI spells F-U-N - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By mlg2ca - November 19 - 4:26 am

  Bought the car about 2 months ago and never had so much fun driving. I am taking long way to work and making detours! This car is both sporty and eco-friendly. The turbo provides wonderful torque in the twisties yet is economical to drive on the highway in 6th. As some teenagers that walked by my house put it, This is a sick ride man !.

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  Life is Good - 2011 Mini Cooper
  By Anonymous - November 19 - 2:00 am

  Bought Cadbury (Hot Chocolate exterior with Polar Beige interior) less than a month ago and loving every top down minute! No regrets on selling our 2008 Miata. Averaging 31 mpg.

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  Best Car I Have Ever Bought - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Chuck Cole Sr. - November 16 - 10:23 pm

  This Car Offf the showroom flor fits the bill in what i want in a car. Rides great on long trips. The fun factor is way up there. The most bang for your buck. Not only that but the "cute" factor is still there after two years of ownership.

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  My Apreciation for the MINI COOPER - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Caliboi471 - November 16 - 2:00 am

  The Mini Cooper S is a great little car with many features only found in Luxury cars like a Supercharger, DSC, 4-wheel ABS, Xenon headlights, run flats, and 6 standard Airbags. The Mini is great Value for the dollar and i love every second i drive it. It handles better than most psorts cars, and has a Top Tem Rated resale value. Being built by BMW you can be assured that reliability isnt an issue, and that safety is #1 Compare the Mini with any other car around $20k and youll sursprised how much more youll get for the money ina Mini and how muchmore fun youll have driving it.

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  BMW @ 20k - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Cheeky - November 16 - 2:00 am

  I have never paid MSRP for any car but checked around and no one was bargaining. Graham and sales manager Bob @ Checkered Flag in VABeach, VA were absolutely wonderful and I feel honest. Purchased the tire hazard ins. @ Bobs insistance and have used it on my run flats, which are a must package. My wife drives the car and it is near impossible to pry her out of it. So far w/ 6K on the odometer it is running great with no probs. Sporty little car with great ride and handling. If you might want more try the S for a kick in the butt, Just remember to run it around 3500- 4500revs for performance. Happy in a mini!

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  Timing chain - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By okyourway - November 12 - 7:06 pm

  I love my car but it started knocking when I started the engine, and the service light was on. I have had it almost 3 years. I was dismayed to find they needed to replace the timing chain. They said they "upgraded it." With the amount of money I spent on the car, why would they need to upgrade anything? Im trying to sort things out before I give up the car I really love to call my own.

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  2002 MINI Cooper S - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By CqqPER - November 9 - 5:13 am

  For a first year of production vehicle, my Mini has been almost trouble-free. Its a bargain to boot. It is very well designed and constructed. This car is so much fun one should be issued at birth.