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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  MINI not so MINI - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Porsche91108 - August 13 - 2:00 am

  i love the MINI, i think it is the best car out there for the money. There is so much room inside compared to what it looks like on the outside and the interior design is awesome. As for the exterior, i still have people look at the car when i drive by. It is so cool and fun to drive that i would recommend it to anyone. AWESOME CAR!!!

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  Convertible Top Problem - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By jean - August 9 - 6:50 pm

  Only one problem has turned up with my MINI. The convertible top got a wire rubbed and shorted out the wiring harness. They replaced the whole harness at no charge. Other than that, we love that little sweetheart!

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  Love, Love, Love It!!! - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By nlc1964 - August 8 - 11:30 pm

  I have wanted one since I saw the Italian Job. I decided to buy one for myself for my Birthday last July. I had to wait 14 weeks for it, but it has definitely been worth it! I got it with the Premium package,the Cold Weather package, Nightfire Red paint and black top/ bonnet stripes. Love the heated seats and mirrors during the cold northern Ohio winter, and have been loving the dual sunroof this Spring/ Summer. I must say, I was a little concerned about the upcoming Winter, but the Mini was a dream to drive in the snow as well. We got hammered a few times last Winter with a foot or more of snow, and the Mini handled the snow better than the Chevy and the Toyota I had owned previously.

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  2002 Mini - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Roger W Perman - August 8 - 2:10 pm

  I purchased this vehicle new and use it mainly to run around town in. I have in it for service one time with no major problems. The only problem I have ever had was the rear hatch had a problem staying closed. They fixed it.A great car, a great price, I would certainly purchase another one.

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  Awesome Car! - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By ohblackwater - August 4 - 5:00 am

  The MINI Cooper is an awesome car. I have driven 8,500 miles in mine and I have averaged 32.2 mpg with mostly in town driving. The power is good especially between 50 and 80 mph (I know that surprised me as well). The fit and finish are perfect. Im very picky and Ive owned this car for 6 months. I have yet to find a SINGLE defect in the car. I got the Premium and Sport packages. I will absolutely buy another MINI product. Theyre phenomenal quality and "Oh My GOD" fun to drive! This car is a go cart!

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  Great, Fun-to-Drive Car - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By engender - August 3 - 12:43 pm

  I have had some problems with carbon build up as mentioned in other reviews, but I have not had any other mechanical problems and Ive never had to have my MINI towed. To prevent the carbon build up, I was told to use a gas additive every month and drive in a spirited manner every so often. With my MINI S, I often find myself driving in a spirited manner. The horsepower is great for merging onto an interstate or passing slower cars on single-lane roads. Its also great for weaving in and out of rush-hour traffic. The main drawback is the rough ride. Ive hit potholes (and a ladder once) that have slammed my teeth together. However, the only damage done to the MINI was a broken headlight!

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  Finally got one - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By MiniAndMe - August 3 - 11:43 am

  I finally got my Mini Coopeer S. I had to go 1,500 miles to get it. The drive home was the most fun I have had in a while, breaking it in and getting to know it in one fell swoop. The passing is tremendous. The HK stereo is just about perfectly powered and balanced. The combo sun/moofroof is great for cruising, although the roofracks seem to whistle and deflect bugs to the sunroof. This is easy to fix though, they come off and cap in about 10 minutes. Im 62", and still have to move the seat up about 3 clicks from the back, but I pity the people in the back seat behind me. My wife loves it so much I think Ill get her a non-S to keep her out of mine! Drive one, youll love it.

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  So much fun. - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By MINImorphosis - August 3 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my MINI for 8 months now. It has had two recalls, a few minor manufacturing defects, and an overheating problem that still hasnt been completely corrected but I can overlook these problems because it is just so much fun to drive. The dealer I purchased it from treats your like royalty and provides you with a complementary loaner car which takes the major hassels out of the service issues. All maintainance is covered for the first 3 years, 36,000 miles. Cant think of any car on the road that is so much fun to drive for the money. Happy motoring:).

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  I Love My Mini - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Susan 232 - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Traded in a Toyota Sequoia for the Mini. Gas mileage is great. Handles wonderfully on the highway and never have problems in high winds. Car hugs the road and manuevers well. The interior is great and when inside, does not feel like you are in a small car. Great for parking in small spaces. Also find I can transport alot of "stuff" with the rear seats down if necessary.

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  I LOVE my MINI Cooper! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Ship2Shore - July 21 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car I have ever owned! Not only is it fuel-efficient and a pleasure to drive, but this car actually has a "personality".