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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  My Ford was more reliable. - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By bstndance - June 3 - 11:13 am

  I leased my Mini and had a great two year relationship with the car. Suddenly, after the two year mark its all downhill. It started with the fan always running even when the car was off. That turned into a water pump problem. Then the check engine light comes on randomly. The interior falls apart easily. The mini emblem on the steering wheel popped off when I pressed the horn. The windows and sunroof sometimes open when I unlock the car using the electronic fob. Now, the battery suddenly up and died in the middle of the day. I ran into a store for 15 mintues, came out and it was dead. Got jumped but the car died again the next day. Cant wait for my lease to finish!

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  cheap thrill - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By jfb - May 17 - 10:00 am

  The mini is very Zippy and the fuel consupsion rate is great!A bit too much plastic in the design. Very fu to drive.

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  SO I got one - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By alexN - April 28 - 2:00 am

  Well guys, I didnt even tried the jetta and accord after I went into my MINI. The car runs really good, so far no problems (into my first 1k miles); the seats are a little uncomftable after a while but the ride is incredible.

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  2015 Mini Cooper S - 2015 Mini Cooper
  By stewy_33 - April 22 - 7:06 pm

  I have 2015 Mini Cooper S 2 door with the 6 speed step-tronic Automatic. For getting around town the Mini is tough to beat. The car is equipped with an engine shut off when you come to a complete stop (you can disable this if you want) its a great fuel saver. The three modes you can part the car into actually have charter in each mode. In sport mode the comes alive and you can hear the waste gate working and the blow off valve chirping. Also the exhaust has a back fire rumble to it. In a few round about circles I had an issue with "flying objects"... this car handles like a go kart and anything not secured or in the glove box can go flying and hit the door/window!!!

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  Gotta Love It! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By bigblockrumble - March 29 - 10:00 am

  I have had this car for 15 months and still love it! It is a real kick to drive and corners like a go-kart. Suspension is stiff, but expected in a car that corners like it is on rails. I traded in a Porsche Boxster for this and have never regretted it. Not as refined, but just as tight and really more fun to drive hard. If you try it, youll like it!

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  deMini - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By deRazz - February 20 - 10:00 am

  Great fun, I am always looking for the back roads as I zig-zag between San Luis Obispo and San Francisco. Why bother with the freeway when there are curves just a few miles away? It adds only an hour or so the trip and it is only a drag if I get stuck behind a camper or trailer. (But I do not stay behind them for long!

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  Reliability? - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By used07? - February 7 - 8:16 pm

  The first mini i drove was a 03 cooper S and i fell in love with it. I just purchased a 07 cooper S used with only 42,000 miles and figured it was a good deal. WRONG! Within the first 3 weeks it wouldnt start and the problem was a coolant temp sensor (warranty covered). The car ran great for about another 3 weeks and now the motor knocks badly and it needs a timing chain according to the service department. Also the transmission has a slow leak. I am terrified about when the factory warranty is up. Mini made a huge mistake in my opinion by letting BMW take control of the motors. I definitely wish i bought a supercharged model rather than the turbo, just way too many issues for my liking.

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  A Great Ride - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Garnufa - February 2 - 2:00 am

  First car Ive ever owned that Im absolutely sure that most people on first view, want to pat it on the hood! Turns heads wherever I drive it. I loved the speed on European autobahns (138mph by my speedo), and the handling on twisty mountain roads. It is NOT fun on washboard or potholed roads (too many of those in Michigan). Its not really a car to me, more of a mid-life crisis antidote.

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  Yes, Its Cute - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By hippiechick - December 23 - 9:23 am

  Ive enjoyed owning my 07 MCS more than my two previous MINIs. The ride in the S is much more comfortable now that the Sport Suspension is an option and not a standard (back-breaking) feature. But I have had some weird things happen with the factory- installed iPod adapter, and sometimes the NAV screen just blanks. The dealer cant find anything wrong with it. The run flats roar on the highway, but replacing them made the ride quieter. Visibility is an issue: other moron drivers have plowed into my lane on 4 occasions. Luckily I was able to avoid them, but its still scary. Finally, this is definitely a single person car; any more than 2 people and its a tight fit for stuff.

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  Best handeling - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By tiaI - December 21 - 2:00 am

  With CVT it is slow getting off the line, but once uderway, it is one of the best handeling cars I have driven. If it werent such a dog, the CVT would be a great transmission. A lot of fun