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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  NICE - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Gladygarcia - August 28 - 10:00 am

  i enjoy driving it

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  Best little car made. - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By jottowag - August 28 - 10:00 am

  I have no complaints. I love everything about it. My gas milage is not quite what was stated. Driving around Honolulu, I average about 20 MPH.

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  A Year with a Mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Christie FIsher - August 28 - 10:00 am

  This is a fun car to drive. People see me on the road and smile. It is extremely stable and handles well. Because it is a "driving machine" the ride is a bit rough. The main problem I have had is that it shifts quite roughly. Sometimes I have to try many times to get into reverse. I have asked the dealer about this and have been told I do not know what I am talking about. The rubber gasket around the top of the windshield has come apart three times now. The cruise control is not very good. When I set the cruise control, it lunges and usually slows down a few mph from where I set it.

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  Another Miniac - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By RodgerMcConnell - August 26 - 1:20 pm

  I love my Mini. I have the Chile Red convertible with white stripes and the car seems to glow. Mine is powered by the JCW engine kit which adds considerable lower end power to the handling equation, and while Ive grown a little jaded with the 207 HP power plant, the Mini is an absolute joy to drive. Its quick to accelerate and the precise steering engenders total confidence in the Minis predictability. All this and the Mini is soooo stylish. I live in Montana and Im accorded near rock-star adulation while on the road or even when its parked. While the car is a great social icebreaker, all the attention is almost embarrassing. People of all ages simply love this car!

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  Too much maintenance, too much time - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By MAM - August 25 - 10:33 pm

  Its a fun car to drive, great gas mileage, cute etc, but very expensive for repairs. In one year, Ive spent $2500 out of pocket on a car I bought brand new from the dealer, in addition to the gas to get to the dealership (100 miles roundtrip in DC traffic) and taking time off work (they close at 7pm).

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  Try the CVT automatic model - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By GaGirl - August 21 - 10:00 am

  Try the CVT model. You can drive in automatic, sport drive, or shift manually. This is a great vehicle. Go test drive one and see for yourself. It is more spacious on the inside than it looks. We put dogs, luggage, 2 adults---and were off! FUN to drive, and you get lots of questions.

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  Its LOVE - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By sabinka - August 20 - 8:20 pm

  My Mini Cooper is my sixth convertible...and it is the BEST one yet. It handles like a dream even she likes to fly. This is by far the best car Ive ever owned. PS: my boyfriend owns/ d rives vintage muscle cars and he loves to drive the MINI too.

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  2005 MINI Cooper S - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Sam Mannos - August 19 - 4:20 pm

  The S Cooper is not only fun to drive, it is practicle. Everyone that sees it or has an opportunity to drive one, wants one. We are looking forward to the new Mini Cooper S models coming out. We will probably add a second one to our family next year. When they build a 4 door Cooper S, we will immediately order one.

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  Like a supercharged go-cart on rails - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Tim C - August 19 - 2:00 am

  Got the car in August. Wow! Great styling, great handling, and an increadible head turner. My 16 year old car-fanatic of a son had been after me to get the Cooper S and he was right on. People stop me getting in and out of the car. They pull up along side me (on two lane roads) to chat about the car. I get smiles and the thumbs up whereever I go. And again going their is a gas. The bigest problem is that there arent enough winding roads to let it loose on....

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  MINI Cooper Convertible Rocks! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Newton - August 17 - 6:53 am

  I waited 3 months for my 2005 MINI Cooper S Cabrio and it was worth the wait!!! I have not been disapointed. In fact, Ive been grinning like the Cheshire cat for the past two weeks. Every day I have been approached by someone commenting on it: "Classiest Cooper Ive ever seen!" "Way Too Cool, Thumbs UP!" "What is it?" "I WANT YOUR CAR, REALLY BAD!" "Hey! Youre driving my car!" "Love your car!" I feel like a celebrity, may have to get a press agent if the attention keeps coming! The fun factor in the MINI is way off the chart! But in the end it is also a well-built solid car with great safety features and way better fuel economy than my hubbys SUV. You dont just drive it, you wear it!