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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  Wow, what a fun little car! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Vroom2 - February 4 - 1:10 am

  I had initial doubts about my wifes choice of the Cooper S but I am happy to report that these were unfounded. This car handles like a dream, has plenty of power and is the coolest thing on 4 wheels. If youre looking for a performance compact and want to avoid the bland design of most of the compettion, then the Cooper S is a great choice.

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  Great Little Car! - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By DH - January 26 - 1:23 pm

  I bought the Mini base model in mid October 06 (red body and white roof) and its been so much fun to drive! It has great handling and solid steering, true to its BMW heritage and it really drives like a BMW! Though only 115 hps, it does not feel under-powered if you know how to work a stick shift. It is wonderful that the base Mini comes with Leatherette and not fabric since fabric covers eventually get all icky and cant be wiped down.

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  Hot Ride! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By HBMini - January 24 - 3:10 pm

  I already have another second Mini on order! My son just called to thank me for lending him the car for a road trip to San Diego. He said "Cruisin along the 405 following a BMW Dad, going 80 and getting 35.5 MPG, pretty amazing." The Mini is a blast to drive, with its go-cart-like handling and super brakes. On the downside it is short on brute horsepower, but hey getting to speed is half the fun anyway because the gearbox is as precise as is the clutch. The car is just for two since the rear seats are only good for small kids or small pets. this car is a great value. Happy motoring!

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  my toy - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By pedro fonseca - January 24 - 9:10 am

  I love my little car, i am 70 years old and I feel very confortable driven my mini, the power is more than enoug, already drive to Tampa at 70 and 80 miles per hour and run beautifull, stability is great and brake excelent, I just trade a BMW 330 convertible and i have more fun with my mini, every body look at the car and ask question. I wish if can running with regular gas but they recomended high grade that is expensive.

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  Its amazing, but... - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By miniryanide - January 14 - 2:00 am

  I found that if I really drive it like a sports car, the city gas mileage drops down to the 12-15mpg range! Drive it like your grandma and maybe you can get 25mpg. The leather is really cheap quality. After 3 months it is already creasing and showing signs of wear. Other than that it is definately a fun car, very safe and performs well. Be aware the service is done by BMW and that can lead to some frustration.

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  Fun Ride - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By cool guy - January 12 - 10:00 am

  Great little car

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  Cant Stop Driving It - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By RLP - January 12 - 2:00 am

  Unlimited fun-havent driven my 530i since I got the Mini. Superb design and build quality for the price.

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  too much fun - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By gobama1982 - January 10 - 11:38 am

  if you dont like strangers looking,asking questions,or huddled around your car when you go to get in it at the bank,store, restaurant ect . this may not be the car for you because trust me it will happen !!! if you love to drive ,have fun driving,love life,are a happy person then you need to own one !!!!

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  MONEY PIT! DONT BUY! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Chris P - January 8 - 12:16 pm

  I bought my 2004 mini cooper in the summer of 2008 used. I am the second owner. It is a blast to drive and gets tons of curb appeal. However, it is a complete piece of garbage. Literally over night about a month ago...the engine started to sound like a blender. After going to 2 mechanics to get opinions...I need a new transmission!...which baffles me since it is manual and i drive very carefully. Many other small problems, such as pwr windows breaking, airbag sensor light turning on, squeaky brakes, terrible to drive when A/C is on. It is SOOO expensive to maintain. I am currently looking to trade it in before problems get worse. Complete garbage. Dont waste your money.

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  What a deal! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Darren D - January 6 - 10:00 am

  The MINI Cooper S has NO competition! Think about it...sports car speed, sports car (or better) handling, great style & looks, great fuel economy for the performance, all at an unbelievable price! Compared to the WRX which I was seriously looking at, the MINI has more low-end torque (no turbo lag here), better handling, more luxury options, better looks and is $4,000 LESS! Plus, a 6-speed manual! I have to agree with some of the others - if you cant get the S to move with the 6-speed manual, you arent a very good driver. A good driver will have great acceleration and power at any speed. Very highly recommended. Make sure you test drive the S.