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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  Had to own it - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Al /Smokey - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Not the fastest car Ive ever owned but the most responsive and best handling car by far. Everything is in the right place for me, theres mosre than enough room and it just keeps getting better the longer I own it.

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  MORE THAN A FAD - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By JOHN GALT - July 21 - 2:00 am

  THIS CAR HAS BMW RUNNING ALL THROUGH IT. THE MOST AMAZING QUALITY OF THIS CAR IS ITS NOT AN SUV, A FAMILY CAR, OR A TRUE SPORTS CAR, BUT IT DOESNT KNOW THAT.

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  super - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By jerryast - July 21 - 2:00 am

  great car,fun to drive

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  the best thing invented - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By MOSES - July 21 - 2:00 am

  The best car in the world ever made not just for its looks but every thing about it.

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  mini sleek smart and styling - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By texr18 - July 21 - 2:00 am

  i own a mini cooper and its the best car i have ever had its fun to drive peppy comfortable and sleek style is amazing one thing you learn from owning a mini is expect people to ask you about it when they see you driving at times you feel like you belong to a club everytime you see another mini owner driving you say hi to one another even and you learn everyones name i love the mini and so do my frinds and family seeing as they are buying them

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  I love my Mini!!!! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By mini lib - July 21 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my Mini in July 03 in Nashville, Tennessee. I had first seen them on the movie The Italian Job and fell in love with them then, never dreaming I would ever own one. We dropped by the Mini of Nashville just to look and test drive one just to see what they were like, with a couple of hours I was the PROUD owner of a yellow Mini with black bonnet stripes. One week later I was offered more money than I paid for it and turned it down without blinking an eye. Thats how much I love it! Which is helps that I am only 48". The car fits me like a glove!!

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  My Green Gem - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Jawzwu - July 21 - 2:00 am

  I was on a windy freeway yesterday and my car felt just like a video game!! This thing is so much fun; it makes the drag of New York City driving seem less painful- except the pot holes where the S takes a real beating because of the stiff suspension. Otherwise the car is the most fun I have ever had in a sports car. Forget the hefty Porsches and BMWs and Lexus, you wont have 1/2 of the fun for the double price you paid. The attention this car gets exceeds anything. Like the dealer sales woman said, "You cant be shy to drive a Mini!" I get so many thumbs up from pretty girls I wish they would flash at me instead!

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  -- - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By osment - July 21 - 2:00 am

  should be all 11s up there!

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  Fun - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Fernando Sa - July 21 - 2:00 am

  This car is very fun to drive, fast and easy to handle. Best for city driving, excellent for small and medium trips.

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  Awesome Fun Car! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By spitball - July 15 - 2:00 am

  After waiting 6 months for our baby to be built, it finally arrived and we couldnt be happier. It is so much fun to drive and the ease of the rear seats folding down makes carry large loads a breeze! It is so cute to look at and is a perfect city car. There is always a parking space when you own a Mini! I disagree with Edmunds. The pick up speed on the Copper is excellent and is very peppy! We love our MINI!