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:

• 

  mini coopers rule! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By david - October 27 - 10:00 am

  its easy to drive, comfortable,size is just right, i love it. i have a red mini cooper.

• 

  Driving my mini with a smile on my face - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By minimom - October 27 - 10:00 am

  I love my mini. Has really good acceleration. It handles well, in turns, on road. Excellent and smooth ride on street and highway. Engine is nicely designed. Roomy enough interior. Nice interior design. Excellent heat and air. Good design overall.

• 

  My favorite car ever! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By drm - October 27 - 10:00 am

  I have owned a BMW, a Mercedes, a Saab, and an Audi, and the Mini is by far the best car I have ever owned. I enjoy driving it around town, and it is amazingly comfortable on long trips as well. The controls are well placed, the interior is surprisingly roomy and the ride, while sporty, is not rough. The handling is superior to any other car Ive driven, and, of course, it is by far the cutest car on the road!

• 

  LOVE this CAR! - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By pill grl - October 20 - 7:46 pm

  This car is incredible - if you are even thinking of purchasing one you must drive it before deciding against it. I get at least one comment per day like "nice ride," "awesom car," etc. A friend of mine said he was thinking about a MINI and bought a VW instead - all I said was you didnt drive one did you? He said "no - how did I know that" I said because you didnt buy one.

• 

  The Most Fun Ever - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Zooming Mini - October 16 - 2:56 am

  I have had my Mini for just over a month and have put 1300 miles on it already (this includes a 10 day trip out of town while Mini stayed home). Driving a Mini is the most fun I have ever had driving a car. It is a dream in busy city traffic and comfortable on my long drives to the beach.

• 

  Fun, Fun, Fun - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Debbie Califano - October 15 - 5:46 pm

  I actually won this car! It handles great. The warranty covers everything but the tires. On the highway I get 38 miles to the gallon. The design of the interior is techno! It looks small from the outside but there is plendy of room inside. There are a lot of unique things about this car, like if your wipers are on fast speed but you slow down your driving speed they adjust to that speed. The glove compartment has an air vent, so if you put your lunch in it it keeps it cool! The sunroof has a screen that protects you from the uv rays, and last but not least the smiles you get from everyone that pulls up next to you. The Minis seem to have a club you dont join, you just belong! :>)

• 

  Love my Cooper - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By LordW - October 14 - 2:00 am

  This is my Second Cooper, I had a Cooper CVT and it was a great car. Ready for something more, so I got me a new Cooper S.

• 

  Mini best - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By jp ent - October 14 - 2:00 am

  Outstanding vehicle with the price to value. A sports car that is cheap, economical and superb. Body is unique as are the colors and all packaged by BMW. What more could you ask for?

• 

  WOW! - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By cphoebus - October 10 - 10:10 am

  I just got my MINI Cooper S and I love it! Everyone wants to drive it and tells me how cool it is. I didnt like the looks of them at first but they grew on me. I am super happy with my new purchase! If you can afford it, definitely get the S model.

• 

  Love it, but not the maintenance expense - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By christalhp - October 4 - 7:36 pm

  I love my MINI, its quick, responsive and fun to drive. But Ive had to replace one run-flat tire for every year Ive owned it - 200-500/tire. Add that to the three times Ive had to replace parts for the window, the consistent rattling noises, and a guy wire in the door that pops off so I cant easily open the driver side door - Ive spent more money on my Mini in the past four years than I ever did on my first car - a Honda Civic SI. You WILL be paying BMW prices for labor and parts. The allure of the initial price tag of the Mini (substantially lower than a BMW) is overshadowed by the maintenence costs - with alll the electrical problems of a BMW to boot.