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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  Service stinks! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By *** - March 30 - 7:26 pm

  While I love driving my 2-week old Mini, the service available stinks! After only having my Mini for 2 weeks, the Service Engine light came on and the car lost power. When I called my BMW dealer, they told me I could get in 1 week later! They only have 1 Mini repair person! I also called area BMW dealers and havent received return calls. Be careful when buying this car to ensure there are more certified repair people for MINI in your area!

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  Driving While Smiling - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Jim W. - March 27 - 2:36 am

  Ive been driving my MINI S 6-speed since August, and always buckle up smiling... something I cant say about my previous car - the 03 Jetta 5-speed from VW (a great car itself). This car has very sporty handling, great styling inside and out, and an engine which I would rather listen to than any radio or music! I love the bright red and chrome accents inside. You just never forget that you are driving a special car. I dont race about, but any time a curve comes along I cant help but raise the revs and enjoy the thrill of this cars cornering. The fit and reliability so far have been excellent - some features like the toggles may seem quirky but thats the British touch!

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  Just had the car for a month or two - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By jlevy - March 26 - 1:20 am

  Ive got a minimally optioned Cooper S (LSD, HID lights, arm rest, 16" wheels, no sport suspension). The handling of the car is very good. It reminds me of an MR-2 I used to have and is much more responsive than the WRX I traded for it. Its just plain fun to drive. Torque steer and the LSD can conspire to twist the wheel a little - use two hands. Power from the 1.6 turbo motor is very nice - not as fast as the WRX I traded (Cobb stg 3), but very useable low end torque and nicely spaced ratios in the manual 6 speed trans.

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  Fun - Fun - Fun - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By aw - March 25 - 12:53 pm

  This car is a must have. Driving with this car is so much fun, especially with the top down. It feels and drives like a sports car. Driving over backroads let you think whether you ever want to stop driving, or as I said to my wife, Once Mini ... Mini forever. Everything in this car is made for fun. And for a convertible of its size, you can still transport 4 people or load the back of the car easily because the seats fold flat.

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  A Dream Come True - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By sonofdoug2 - March 21 - 10:00 am

  Never has a car grabbed my attention the way the new MINI did when it came on the market. At first, the idea of owning one was more of a dream than a real possibility. After I graduated from college, I moved home and paid off my loans. Since I was living at home, I was able to save up quite a bit for a down payment. Now my dream car is a reality, and I love it more and more every day.

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  A brand new MINI with dead USB port - 2010 Mini Cooper
  By ymc - March 19 - 10:00 am

  We bought a brand new MINI a few weeks ago. Before we signed the purchased contract, we found the iphone/USB port does not work. The dealer insured us that was just a very minor and common issue in some 2010 mini and could be fixed easily by updating software upgrade or just replacing a small united called ULH box (where all the wires for the usb/ipod connect). He said if we can wait for a few hours they can fix it. We were so stupid and believed his words, and took the car since we run out of the time stay over there. Now it turns out a very serious problem, after I send the car back for them to fix. They cannot fix the USB port in a few hours but request a few days.

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  Remember When - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By cutter 4 - March 8 - 2:00 am

  This car put the fun back in driving, even heavy traffic. No more just going from place to place, the fun is back and your smiling. You look for a reason to drive. Only had the car 3 months, and not one single problem. The car is tight and fun. Im 62" and no problems. You might miss making a big haul but most of your time is spent driving alone so why not enjoy it!

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  Its a blast. - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By BimrJim - March 2 - 10:00 am

  Its a blast. I had it on order since December, Picked up last of July. Paid MSRP with no dealer installed options required. Car is tight, no rattles. Everything works. Only thing available (at the time of purchase) it does not have is seat warmers. They forgot--- Handles like a go-cart with windows. Excellent fit and finish.

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  I love my Go-Cart! - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Chris M - March 1 - 1:30 am

  In spite of having the automatic transmission completely replaced and losing some of my faith in my car because of it, I still love driving it. The fuel economy vs. performance cant be matched. This car has a good quality feel but the ride can be a little rough at times. A long trip will leave you feeling fatigued. It is responsive and quick. However, I have had issues with people in huge SUVs not seeing me and almost moving over on me. :)

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  Love my MINI! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Mini Girl - February 27 - 8:46 am

  I love my Mini! This is the best car I have ever had. I cant complain. The gas milage is awesome, I can park it anywhere I want, and for a little thing the power is unreal! The stereo system is awesome too. I recomend anyone to get a Mini. Oh yeah one more thing, this little car gets a lot of attention!