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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  Cool Ride - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By romeo427 - December 1 - 12:06 pm

  I just picked-up my 05 Mini Cooper "S." Its handling is, well, unbelievable! I am geting 27 mpg in combined driving. I have not gotten anywhere near the rated 32 mpg (automatic). This car is bigger than it looks. It is fun to drive. I was not impressed with the "go" factor in the recent east coast snow.

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  Fun things in small packages. - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Leslie - November 28 - 4:30 am

  This car has been great fun and I get plenty of looks! It is easy to drive and easy on the gas. Its relatively quiet, for a convertible, and grips the road when it corners. The ride is a bit rough but its worth it. The electric sun roof/top are fast and easy to operate.

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  How Fun is This? - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By GuitarBabe - November 26 - 11:20 am

  I love this car! Having always owned a 4-cyl. car, I feel it has plenty of power. Its fun to drive. It gets good gas millage. This car is just right for one or two people.

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  Best Car In The World. - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Mr.VD. - November 15 - 10:00 am

  I just got my MINI COOPER S and its so cool. First it looks cool and its fun to drive and its very fast for a 4 cilinder engine. I just love my mini cooper its the best car in the world.

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  Moms Mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By gioia - November 15 - 10:00 am

  What fun after 17 years of minivans and SUVs. I can do all errands without fuss or struggling into a parking spot. Even Costco is possible. Easy to maneuver, feel more in control of my auto and can enjoy the feel of the road again. Fuel efficiency is an added plus. Other Mini drivers always acknowledge me on the road.

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  For a better car, avoid high end options - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Don - November 11 - 12:40 pm

  The Cooper S convertible really DOES feel like a go-kart, it is a blast to drive, and people all want to make friends with such a cute little car. But the dynamic stability control is wildly overassertive (slammming on the brakes at the slightest chirp of wheelspin), the optional automatic climate control is a disastrous triumph of cutesy (shaped like the Mini crest) over ergonomic, and the optional Harmon-Kardon stereo upgrade is only marginal at best. If you delete these options, youll not only save money, youll have a MUCH better experience of the car...simple, direct, delightful. Mini gets into trouble when they try to get too fancy..but when they just go for fun, they get it right!

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  MINI s with JCW Tuner Kit - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By llblasi - November 10 - 10:10 am

  The Mini Cooper S with JCW tuner kit is a tight, fast pocket rocket that loves to be thrown into tight corners. The fun factor is definitly a 10.

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  BEST MINI EVER - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By MHW - November 10 - 10:00 am

  Best money ever spent on a car of any class

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  ECONOMIC SPORTS CAR - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By GARZA - November 10 - 10:00 am

  SO FAR THIS SEEMS TO BE A PRETTY GOOD CAR FOR THE MONEY.

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  Worth it - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Larry - November 7 - 8:23 pm

  I love to be in it and drive it. I know many people who have very expensive cars that prefer the mini as there regular car. It handles in traffic and can move into parking and tough spot easily...City traffic is a breeze. It hanles great in the Canyons of Los Angeles.......And it is a looker.