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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  2002 Mini Cooper S - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Lisa - September 17 - 10:00 pm

  This car has been a real joy to drive. Not only does it handle exceptionally well in all weather conditions, it gets great mileage and has been very reliable. I replaced the run-flat tires with some wider softer tread tires, and that really made the car ride much more smoothly. I just carry a can of flat fixer in case I ever get a flat, which I have not in all the years Ive owned it. I always tell people that the mini is not a luxury car, it drives like a sports car. The design is extremely utilitarian, which I like! I think everyone should own a Mini!

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  Awesome - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Cressy - September 9 - 5:20 am

  I traded a huge F150 Supercrew 4x4 for my Mini Cooper S and have never regretted it - this car is awesome. It does 0-60 in the 6s, and gets 30 mpg. What more can I say!

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  Great, But Would I Buy Another One? - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By Hippie - September 7 - 2:13 am

  My MINI has NAV and all options. It reminds me of my 7 series except its smaller, more fun to drive, and its never in the shop. Had a few quirks iPod installer screen getting stuck, but it resolved itself. Speaking of maintenance, I havent needed any. Nothing. Nada. I have almost 12K miles on the car, and the coputer says it will be another year before it will need its first service. That said, we started shopping around for a larger vehicle because were adding to our family, and the prices were being quote for trade in are near ridiculous. $22K trade value in for a $34K car? Lease it, but dont buy it.

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  Great Little Big Car - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By DC - September 6 - 1:33 am

  This is the best sports car that Ive ever owned. Ive had a Porsche 911, 924, Mazda RX-7, and a couple of Lexus models. The Mini Cooper is stable, fun to drive, and well put together. It is a little car on the outside but a big car on the inside.

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  I Love My Car - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By MJM - August 27 - 1:40 am

  Ive had my Mini Cooper for only a week however I love this car and just about everyone that sees its ask me questions about it.

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  Great Fun! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By c. t. ricks - August 21 - 10:26 am

  This is the most fun to drive vehicle I have ever owned. The automatic transmission is great around town, but the option to shift yourself adds great fun and enhanced performance during play time. The full convertible with the option to use it as a sunroof adds fantastic variety, especially in rapidly changing weather conditions.

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  Lovin my mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Danielle R. - August 18 - 10:00 am

  I have had no problems with my Mini Cooper S since I bought it back in January 2004. I commute about 30 miles every day in traffic and it has not missed a beat. It actually makes the drive fun. It handles and rides like a well bilt sports car. When I drive it in the canyons, it hugs every corner and curve with ease. I have no comlants about it.

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  best car ever - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By DREW - August 16 - 1:36 am

  My MINI Cooper S Convertible will take you for a ride. And is the perfect cure for a midlife crisis and its also fun to drive. It handles great and is very comfortable it gets great mileage and its performance is unbelievable. Its a real eye catcher and lots of people will wave the interior is comfortable and stylish. Go vuy one today.

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  My Cooper S - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Cars4me89 - August 15 - 10:00 am

  My Mini is Indi Racing Blue with white wheels white roof, white bonnet stripes, with siding on the inside, and blue leather seats. Super quick for its 1.6 litre. Turn the key in the ignition and it roars to life. Real head turner.

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  The meek need not apply. - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By AnotherBobby - August 8 - 2:00 am

  I was initially impressed with the cars design and the amount of room they managed to gleam from such miniscule dimensions. After a short test drive and a long wait while my specd MINI was being built, Im impressed with the handling, ride, and overall driving experience. You really do have to keep the revs up off the line which took a couple of days to adjust to. However, dont even notice that anymore. This car is an incredible blast to drive. The ergonomics are great. Dont understand why so many people complain about the controls. Just adds to the character.