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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  caught every one looking - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By mackie - January 6 - 10:00 am

  I have had my car 3 days. Every one looks and smiles. On the first family outing, We took the ferry accross the James river and were invited on the bridge of the ferry boat to inform the captain on "what kind of car that is?" He said " I look down on a thousand car a day and hardly pay any attention any more. But that car caught my attention."

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  My Mini Time - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Heinz O. Georg - January 4 - 6:30 am

  Before "Mini", I always drove BMWs.After the lease for my BMW 535 expired, my wife & I went to the BMW dealer. She expected that I would buy a new BMW.Just a short distance away from BMW was the Mini sales facility. I (German) always loved Minis (since I was a student). My wife (American) had no idea what a Mini is. I had changed my job & didnt need a big car anymore.I was free to choose the car, I really wanted. After my wife "inspected" the car, she still could not believe that I could become happy with a Mini. I looked to the Mini and she looked into my eyes and she knew that I was happy with it.

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  My Mini = Fun and Value - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Toma - December 31 - 10:00 am

  So far I have 5,000 miles on my Cooper, and have found everyone of them to be wonderful. I would like a little more power and probably would have that with the Cooper S and or a manual transmission rather than the automatic.

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  You owe this car a test drive! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By someblondeguy - December 31 - 10:00 am

  The engine really loosens up after break-in. The cars suspension is very tight, so those that want to feel like theyre floating on a cloud may I point you towards a 7-series. Let me ask you something: On gokarts is the ride cushy and bump-free? No. Do you feel connected to the road? Yes. Does driving one put a grin on your face? It darn should! This is a brand new from the ground up car. OF COURSE its going to have a few issues in its first production year, which I will gladly forgive. Thats what a warranty is for. Note: my Cooper S has been very good to me.

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  An SUV killer - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By titleguy - December 31 - 10:00 am

  Have put 4,500 miles on vehicle in about five weeks, and am gradually wearing thin of the attention vehicle is garnering wherever I drive. Bought the electric blue/white S version sight unseen, and, as of this writing, by far the most fun vehicle I have ever driven. Have yet to try more than 2 people, but plenty large and comfy for 2 large adults. IT IS A BLAST TO DRIVE!!

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  I love my mini - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Patrick Harper - December 31 - 10:00 am

  I love it and the look and feel is so cool. It fun to drive and runs down the road so nice.

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  I didnt know I could love a car - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By tica - December 27 - 8:06 am

  Have one year lease on a basic Mini. I got Minnie my Mini 6 weeks ago off the lot, so it came with features I would not have ordered, or known I wanted or needed- but now love. But worrying: From day 3 check engine light came on intermittently-gas cap issues, it seems- then went away. It went on again yesterday (1100 miles) when tank got low so that was ok. But its fun to drive and Im not even into cars (I thought.) Its like a go cart but feels super safe and you dont feel small. It is tight if youre on a long trip trying to stuff lots of stuff in the car but with one person you can do it, 2 may be tougher. But I love her! And gets lots of compliments!

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  The most fun car you will ever own - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By zellerware - December 25 - 4:30 pm

  Wow! This is truly the best handling car I have ever owned (beats 911, 3 series, A4 hands down in the handling dept). Fit and finish are superb.. Has such a fun feel. Feels like a mini F1 car when driving. I suggest special ordering one as there are so many cool options to build the car the exact way you want it. Get the "navagation" pack and "limited slip". Thanks BMW!

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  Cooper S - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By fgdrewry - December 24 - 8:50 pm

  Althought this car is less than a month old, I traded in a Hatchback Cooper S with 30,000 miles that I purchased 3 years ago. My evaluation would be the same for the MINI I traded except for performance. My new car has the John Cooper Works kit which boosts the horse power from about 167 to 207. This makes the car really get up and go. I have had numerous sports cars over the years--Maserati, Porsche, Corvette, etc. and this handles as well as any of them.

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  Pefect score - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By sassyad - December 20 - 2:00 am

  This vehickle is the best. It looks cool and is cool. ever driven a car with style? not yet. This is the best car i have ever and i mean ever driven