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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  The S Stands for SUPER - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Lee Jones - October 4 - 10:00 am

  THis car has been very reliable and has had only one "problem" to return to the dealer - the back hatch warning light would be on about half the time when it was closed - a simple adjustment was made and no problem since. The MINI is probably the most fun to drive car in the world. It makes short or long drives enjoyable again and gives you the understanding about being "one" with the car. I really love it!

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  Most enjoyable car Ive owned - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Fred Stecker - September 29 - 6:20 am

  Ive had my Mini-S for two years and my only complaint is the distance to the dealership for free service. It is solid, roomy, and has a jackrabbit approach to exceleration. I just Love it! Logest trip 600 miles with no aches or pains! Despite several recalls the folks at MINI want you to love your experience with this auto.

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  PRIMO MINSTER MEAT - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By TINY H - September 25 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE THIS CAR! SMILE,SMILE,SMILE AND DRIVE,DRIVE,DRIVE! TORQUEY, FAST AND TURNS ON A DIME. COMFORTABLE FRONT SEATS (YES, EVEN ON LONG TRIPS) AND EXECUTED WITH FINESSE. BMW FEEL IS EVIDENT. (SOME OF THESE POOR REVIEWS I BELIEVE ARE FABRICATED. FORGET THE SOUR GRAPES AND JOIN THE CLUB. YOU WONT BE SORRY!!!)

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  Tire Troubles - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By 2003 Mini - September 24 - 3:30 pm

  Love this car, but the tires are difficult on it. You have to check the air pressure weekly since they are runflats and to replace them its around $200 per tire. Also, you cant get the tires replaced just anywhere. You must go to a certified foregin car dealer that uses a special machine to change run flats. This is the only downfall of this car so far, but its a biggie since changing all four tires can cost around $1,000 dollars.

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  German idea of the MINI - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By Mini driver - September 23 - 8:10 pm

  Excellent car to drive, no need for the larger engine, especially with the boost button provided. Corners nicely without additional sport suspension. Typical BMW ride, hard on the ground. Not a good car in snow. 6 speed transmission makes longer drives easy. Although small, it fits two adults and a full size cello in a hard case, but forget the back seat except for a dog rest. A nice reproduction of the original car and has been a real treat to drive.

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  Not So Mini!!! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Bob Bellamy - September 19 - 3:53 pm

  What a car!!! If youve never driven one, you dont know what youre missing!!! Not enough us in the word FUN!!!

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  Some issues, but a joy to drive - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By driverone - September 14 - 5:23 pm

  I was at the dealership taking advantage of the 36,000 mile maintenance warranty more often than Id like. First 36,000 miles: ball joint wore down, three sets of front tires (too much fun to drive), thermostat went out, front brake rotors replaced, tailgate sensor replaced, cd player skipped (radio replaced). After all is said and done, the MINI was a great car to drive. Even the convertible is faster than most cars on the road. Its easy to play leap frog in traffic with this little go-kart. Too bad they went to turbo, because hearing the whine of the supercharger was very comforting. I will miss the MINI, but not its potential for high maintenance costs and the small cargo area.

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  nickel and dime Fun - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By chandeau - September 11 - 2:46 pm

  Driving experience is fun fun fun. The reliability is not so fun. There is a design flaw where it wont start in really cold temps. My sunroof wont open when its really hot. I have it in the shop twice to get lights replaced and two other times for minor issues. The seats are great for short trips since they hug you in the seat...but for long trips my lower back aches terribly. Also, the center console opens on its own by merely brushing it with my arm, needs a better closing mechanism. The sunroom screen doesnt block enough sun.

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  2005 BMW MINI Convertible - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Tracey - September 11 - 6:43 am

  I have had my MINI Cooper Convertible for 3 weeks now and love it! Even though the car looks small on the outside, there is plenty of room inside. The back seat is very deep so your knees dont touch the back of the front seats. The gas mileage is excellent. There could be a few more comfort features in the cockpit, but everything you need to motor is right at your fingers. The convertible is one touch operation, no latches to fool with, and it has a sunroof option that no other cars have.

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  Love My MINI - 2015 Mini Cooper
  By wareagle06 - September 11 - 12:29 am

  This car was originally not my first choice. I took one test drive and from that point I was hooked. I was looking for an every day driver that was also fun and I found it in the MINI. It really does have go-kart like handling. The interior is well built with quality materials. The performance is outstanding (I have the S model with the 2.0 twinpower turbo engine). What really sold me was the no cost maintenance.