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:

• 

  Older and Wiser - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Green Skunk - December 24 - 10:00 am

  My original Mini "S" was more fun to drive, however now that I am older and maybe a little wiser, I dont miss having to carry a complete tool kit in the boot just to keep motoring. The new Mini is 10 times more comfortable and the handling is almost as good even though it weighs twice as much. Sometimes getting older with new toys isnt all bad.

• 

  2008 JCWorks, Sidewalk special edition - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By MINIMAN55 - December 18 - 3:03 pm

  Head turner, slick styling. The supercharger whine, exhaust note, and g-force experienced when I punch it are addicting, not to mention illegal. Rough ride on bumpy roads but amazing handling and control. The back seat is small (its a MINI, duh!). Muscle car performance at 28 mpg and I aint sparing it. For traveling fast and light, whether commuting or having fun, you cant beat it. Leather, stereo, ergonomics are excellent (Im 63"). Automatic climate control works well and doesnt bog the engine at all. Looking up at Civics and Priuses in traffic took some getting used to, but if I dont want to look at them I dont have to - punch it and watch them get smaller.

• 

  Mountains Are No Object - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Happy Mike - December 17 - 2:00 am

  My Chili Red Mini Cooper S takes the Mountains with ease. Driving from Salt Lake City, Utah to Park City, Utah averaging 32 m/g plus including around town driving in SLC. From ordering my Mini Cooper S to receiving my Mini, the Murry of Mini dealership was a 10. I have had the opportunity to drive it in 5 inches of snow and no problems. The Lapis Blue Leather with Anthracite interior surface is dynamite looking. The Anthracite interior eliminates the plastic interior look compared to the silver color inerior.

• 

  Go Kart for Adults - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Bob Shepherd - December 15 - 10:00 am

  My Mini is simply the best car Ive ever owned, and that includes a 912 and many antiques. Its also the most fun you can have on 4 wheels. When I was 10 we had a Go Kart. This car is that much fun, and more.

• 

  Great Car - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By nimwad - December 12 - 2:00 am

  Just what we expected! Small car, good gas mileage, thrilling ride. Great value for price. Our BMW 540 is stronger and more comfortable by far, but when we leave the house we head for the MINI. Weve had it less than four months and have put almost nine thousand trouble free miles on it. It has many of the same standard features that are on our 540. Thinking of getting a second one! Go motoring!

• 

  Great little car - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Paul Jones - December 1 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Mini Cooper S for 1 year. When I bought it, I thought I would sell it and make a few dollars on the inflated prices of 2002. After driving it for a few days - I had to keep it. This thing handles better than 98% of the cars on the road. It has great power, all the comforts of any luxury car, and is very safe too. The performance aftermarket is very strong too, so there are no compromises to owning this foreign brand (thanks BMW!) I would give the car a big thumbs up.

• 

  Crowd Pleaser - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Catherine A. Gearhea - December 1 - 10:00 am

  My son introduced me to Minis last year. I loved it, ordered one, waited seven months for my own. It has lived up to all my expectations and then some.

• 

  Boos Baby - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Amber 88 - December 1 - 10:00 am

  I absolutly love our mini its so cute and so adorable in my family its like a little brother. My dad cares more about that than he does my real brother and i lol not really but he does love it more than anything else he owns.

• 

  My Coooool MINI S - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By DAA94 - December 1 - 10:00 am

  Ive been driving my new 2003 MINI Cooper S for only about 7 weeks now, but it is by far the coooooolest car Ive ever owned or driven. It handles like a "go kart" and with the "S" (supercharged) engine, it really stands up and moves! Best performance is when youre in the "power band" (above 2,000 rpm). But speed isnt all of it; just tool around at traffic speeds, and your aware of many glances and some outright open-mouthed stares from other drivers and pedestrians.

• 

  S as in Superior - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Paul Julian - December 1 - 10:00 am

  This car is about as close to perfection as any that I have owned. The last one that provided this much pure fun was my 67 XKE which I still own.I cant find a single fault with either the design or the build or with BMWs marketing.No dealer add ons,just straight forward pricing.These guys are setting the standard!