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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  The Best of Times & Worst of Times - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By drea111 - September 3 - 4:56 pm

  I was a Mini Cooper Fan-Fantastic. every time, I saw another Mini Cooper driver I would wave emphatically or nod knowingly. Not so ecstatic now. After only 15,000 miles my 04 Certified Pre-Owned Mini Cooper S w/extended warranty fell-to-pieces. Here is the quick math (approx. miles): 38,700 miles Bought a Certified Pre-Owned Mini w/ extended warranty-April 08 38,708 miles Returned car because the rear bumper was two-toned-April 08 46,629 miles The crankshaft pulley, bolt, tensioner were repaired-Jan. 09 53,000 miles The Clutch, tire arms, tire bolts, tiresÂ…all need repairs-Oct. 09 The "True Cost of owning this Mini is just starting @ $6,600. Read the forums & know before you buy.

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  I lost a LOT of money buying a brand new MINI - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By EX MINI owner and RELIEVED! - September 3 - 7:45 am

  I bought my car brand new in 04. It was a daily driver. I drive responsibly, care for my vehicles, and prefer to hang on to a vehicle rather than trade up as soon as possible. I still have a 65 Bug, a 76 Chevy Nova and a 91 Cadillac on the road. The MINI was the WORST INVESTMENT I HAVE EVER MADE, IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. In somewhat chronological order, its failures included: constantly rattling speakers, replaced on two or more occasions; broken motor mounts (the dealer thought it was the clutch and replaced twice. Later, there was a recall on said motor mounts); Panel lights that would turn themselves off; Speedo and tach would randomly impersonate windshield wipers; Exterior trunk latch stopped working; fuel pump failure; Steering cooling fan failure; Steering rack needed replacement; Whining transmission. The car was well over 24K off the lot. 6 years later, with 80K on the odometer, I sold it for 3200.00 as to carry out the repairs would have cost a small fortune.

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  A wonderful car - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By fstecker - September 2 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Mini as a retirement present and have been surprised by the quality and the performance of the Mini S. Drawbacks are seating for older legs and a rear view mirror that is sculpted to match the outside rear view mirrors but limited in reasonable use. The auto is a great buy and Id recommend it to anyone who likes percise engineering.

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  Bang for the buck indeed - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By ChiliMini - September 2 - 10:00 am

  I have put 5000 minles on my MINI in 3 months without a glitch, and all of the fun factor of coars costing twice as much, and eyecatching crowd gathering exposure that a Ferarri would get for under 20k. Worth the wait of 3 months, and DO get the Harmon Kardon stereo upgrade, it is concert hall quality for the $550 it costs. Lie this baby into any corner and it sticks like crazy glue, loves revs, and 0 to 6 in 8.9 is fast enough for most of us. I am getting close to 40MPG at 65 on the highway. GTIs, and all the rest, eat my fun factor!!!

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  Go-cart - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By eric gilbert - September 1 - 6:16 am

  Ive had this car for a few months now and love to drive it. The S has super powers. Cuts well in traffic. The car interior is not intuitive. The computer settings are odd, and it takes some time to get adjusted to how it all works. The HVAC controls are really bad but, thats all minor stuff. Overall not a great family car but wholly momma it makes for a great daily driver. I nearly look forward to the commute. I got the standard seats which seem comfortable, but sticky in warm weather. The summer might kill me. Actual gas mileage with normal 50/50 highway/street commute 29.5 mpg. I was hoping for a few higher.

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  Mini is a great car - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Eamonja - August 27 - 6:23 am

  When I got the Mini I did not think it was powerful enough but I was sure wrong not only is it powerful enough it is the most luxurious car I have ever steped into. Its not like BMW luxurious its like leather couch luxurious. It is a very good choice to buy the Mini Cooper.

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  The little machine that could ... - 2016 Mini Cooper
  By Mini-man - August 26 - 2:39 pm

  It is a blast to drive - ALWAYS !! Handling is superb... we have the base trim with 3 cylinder, but the 172 max torque makes a quick spin and cornering capability. 16 inch sport wheels and tires provide just the right amount of road holding ability and stopping power. We have the 195/16 runflat tires as part of the sport package. Navigator is great, clear instruction and great voice command functions. Rear view camera and parking sensors work perfectly for tight parking spots. The seats are very comfortable. We love the dual sunroofs as well, and the Harmon Kardon sound system with unlimited tweeter sound and bass. The exhaust note is sporty. Our out-of-the-door price was $27,350 with $5,500 discount right around 2015 Xmas time. Dealer even gave us rear tinted windows for free. Nice!! Thanks. I and my wife both enjoy driving it every minute. Great commuter and sporty little machine.

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  I Love My Mini - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By sojurn79 - August 22 - 4:50 am

  My 2005 MINI Cooper is truly a fantastic car with so many options available that you get a completely customizable ride straight from the factory. I recommend this car to anyone who has to commute far, for in-town driving, or for someone who just wants a nice economical show-piece in your driveway. I couldnt be happier with my purchase.

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  2011 Cooper S - 2011 Mini Cooper
  By mini_ziggy - August 13 - 11:42 am

  My wife just traded her 11 Countryman for another 11 Cooper "S" -- she previously owned an 05 "S" and thought AWD was the way to go. She knew the minute we drove off the lot (w/Countryman) that she would be back for another hardtop--just no comparison. The 11 hardtop is great -- Mini has worked hard to refine the hardtop over the years and it shows. The quality of the car is outstanding whether youre talking about engine performance, handling, interior quietness...its all better!

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  Loving my new MINI - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By MINI Lover - August 4 - 10:00 am

  I have had this car for over a week now and I am LOVING it. I love the style of the interior and exterior. The best thing about this car is that I can zoom in and out of traffic easily as well as fitting into small parking spaces on the street. I enjoy the ride because it so fun to drive it and its easy to handle. It has such a good turning radius. What else can I say?