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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  BEST CAR FOR THE MONEY AND THEN SOME - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By BIG JOHN - April 2 - 10:00 am

  BEST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED

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  Despite the faults, my favorite car ever - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By Rob - March 30 - 2:10 pm

  Ive never had more fun in a car than in my MINI JCW. It pulls hard from 2500-5000 RPMs, corners like no other, brakes instantly, and looks outstanding (mines dark grey with a black roof). Its nice to be the envy of everyone on the road, especially others driving a Cooper or Cooper S. In fact, the sense of community with other MINI drivers is one of my favorite aspects of the car. I was fortunate enough to be in a financial situation where I could afford the JCW, and the slight performance increase (and I mean slight - its not much) and exclusivity factor made the extra money worth it. HOWEVER, for anyone more sensible than I, the Cooper S is plenty fun and very much less expensive

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  The Most Fun Car Ever Built - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Tonnelier - March 15 - 8:10 pm

  Ive only had it for a week, but Im in love! Without a doubt, it the cutest thing on the road. It drives like a dream, hugs the road tightly, even without the Dynamic Stability Control or the Sport Suspension. The Harmon Kardon stereo is so good that you can hear piano jazz at 65 miles an hour with the top down. Power windows and top are standard, I believe, as are remote door and trunk locks. In fact, you can put the top down with the remote! The warranty covers all service for 3 years. And the "Ultimate" plan covers tire and windshield damage as well. The only drawbacks are backseat leg room and a tiny trunk. But if youre hung up on those things, buy a minivan!

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  Beatin it hard and loving it! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By mattrichter - March 15 - 2:00 am

  Ive had the car for about 6 months and already have 12000 miles on it. Every one was fun. I live in the hills above the Bay Area (near Skyline Blvd, for thos that know the area) and every day I drive up and down the hills and really love it! Motorcycles have to lean about 50 degrees to keep up with me. They can go faster, but really have to work it to do so. The car is great. There will be lots of "quirky" cars coming out (like the Honda Element) that are very practical. This is one that is more fun that almost anything Ive ever driven, and much less expensive for the quality, features and performance.

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  Mini BMW - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Bill J Jones - March 10 - 10:00 am

  Has the excellent electronics as my previous 323 BMW. However, AM radio reception just as poor. Everything else is a drivers heaven. Amazing handling. Changed my lease to a purchase. Im keeping this one.

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  I may be small, but I am safe and solid. - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By autooracle - February 25 - 11:33 am

  Great car. Handles better than a 911. If that corner says 30 and you are going 60. Hold on!! Very solid. Rattles can be a bit annoying. The dealer had to intall an anti rattle kit. So-far-so-good. Get rid of the run flat tires as fast as you can wear them out. Replacing them with another brand of tire will drastically improve your ride.

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  Excellent Engineering - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By JT - February 25 - 10:33 am

  Been driving about a month now in by base mini hardtop. Great car! Fun to drive. Sticks to the road. 42 mpg highway! Great engineering. Tons of room for pilot and passenger. Every feature thought through. The engine will stay on to ensure the car cools down, even if you shut it off. Hold the unlock button down on the remote and the windows go down and sunroof resets to vent. Standard sport button resets steering and gear ratio for more feel of the road. Very impressed. What other 40+ mpg car inspires you to get in every day?

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  Miles of Smiles - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Bug Squasher - February 24 - 10:13 am

  My car was delivered to me on the 22nd of June, a black JCW-equipped Cooper S. In the past 6 weeks I have put nearly 5,000 km on the odometer. If there is an organization that helps Cooper addicts, please get me the number! The car is such a joy to drive I find myself inventing reasons to go great distances, at the expense of other, often pressing, duties. Not only does the car have a stance and look that makes one think bulldog, but it also has that famous breeds faithfulness, tenacity and go-go attitude. I did thorough research on the car before I bought, and from that I anticipated at least one or two issues. Though still a young car I have yet to experience any problems at all.

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  Best Car Ive EVER had! - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By JimG - February 24 - 1:06 am

  This is a drivers car, fast, fun and tossable. Lots of creature comforts with good quality interior materials. Gas mileage is exceptional and a real surprise.

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  Just buy one! - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By Torj - February 22 - 9:43 pm

  I have owned many cars, from two seater roadsters to luxury sedans and I have to say the Mini tops them all. Excellent build quality, reliable, great gas mileage and pure driving excitement. I traded in my two year old Mercedes Benz for the Mini and I havent regretted it a bit! If you have been thinking about getting a Mini, do yourself a favor, test drive one and you will be sold.