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 Mini Cooper S - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Londoner@aol.com - June 23 - 6:50 pm

  My 2006 Mini Cooper S is fun, fast, and It gets admired constantly. Its zippy and has an amazing amount of room in it for storage.

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  Kittys Mini Cooper - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By kitty - June 23 - 6:10 pm

  Ordered mini Cooper ........took 45 days to recieve...........Outstanding car. Comfortable.....Head Turner !!

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  Annoyances Trump Fun - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By goldsbar - June 21 - 4:40 pm

  Ive owned several fun cars in my life and this one just doesnt measure up. The annoyances really got to me after a while. Not a lot of engine for the price. Run flats had horrible grip off the line. Tires chirped at the slightest provocation. Horrible gas mileage - low 20s - for the size of the car and power. Engine was annoying and very economy car like. Didnt give that "I want to go faster" feeling. Huge blindspot with the top up. Yes, it was fun to drive even at slow speeds which is important. Handling is very good but not great by any means. Better cars for the money out there!

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  This is a fun but wacky little car! - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By KarenZ - June 21 - 8:06 am

  Pros: handling fuel efficiency (my avg 30.4, I think) parking (mwah, ha ha!!!!!...that little space is mine all miiiiiine!) power/acceleration dash layout fit and finish reliability ipod-friendly ($12.00 male-male cord. Plugs right in...totally easy!) Cons: Very jerky acceleration Somewhat jerky braking The seat belt thing gets caught in the space where the door jamb is.Ive tweaked my back/shoulder muscles a few times. Hate that! Awful cupholders. If you can get a soda cup out without crushing it, you are amazing and you should become a surgeon. Trunk locks when doors are locked. Even if youve already "popped" it. Annoying! Wind wiper controls stink. And only two intermittent speeds.

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  MINI S - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By peterb - June 20 - 10:00 am

  great car ! I have had no problems and lots of smiles per mile! I love this car

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  Comfort Problem - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By Very Diffrent - June 19 - 2:03 am

  The car runs like a charm, design is unlike any other. Pick up is great on sport mode. Not quick without sportmode on, sometimes its annoying trying to pass others in traffic. My problem with the car is the arm rest. first of all its a option and even with it inside its low and very un omfortable. Maybe its because I didnt get leather seats? Other than that car is solid. One small thing I started hearing some noise on the driver side back tire like as if something was stuck to the tire but there wasnt anything there. I got get it checked

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  Its cool Mom! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By 35 momma - June 15 - 10:00 am

  My kids woke up the next morning and wanted me to drive them to school. They loved it.Come to find out, we are the only family in the whole school that has such a cool,fast sporty car! We love it!

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  love my mini - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By love my mini - June 12 - 2:50 pm

  Absolutely the most efficient and fun car to drive. It is safe and fuel economy the tops. The space inside the car is abundant. I dont feel intimidated by tractor trailers when I am driving. I usually dont like regular cars as I drive a GMC Safari in the winter and like to sit up high when I drive but the MINI is the perfect car for me. I do garage my car for the winter, but I see so many that I feel they do great in all types of wheather. I recommend it to every one.

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  Gotta love the Mini! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By bttrflyscales - June 9 - 6:13 pm

  I love this car all around! This vehicle is fun to drive the style is like nothing Ive ever seen and I love the fact that I can be unique with my car. I dont know any other car that matches it.

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  WOW! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Mr. MINI - June 9 - 2:00 am

  What a great car to drive. Pass everything on the road but a cop. Fun Fun Fun! I love it!