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:

• 

  Nothing "Mini" About It! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By cjkinpa - February 26 - 10:00 am

  What a great car! I drove an RX7 for the past 15 years and it was hard to give up, but with 2 little boys, I needed a back seat. I still wanted something fun and sporty though. The Cooper certainly fits the bill. Lots of power, even for the non-S version. A "big car" ride for such a little shrimp. And typical superior Beemer quality throughout. The Sport and Premium packages (leather, on board computer, sunroof, cd player etc.) make it feel even more like a luxury car. But the best part is the feel of this little guy gripping the road. It is an absolute joy to drive. Be prepared to stop and answer lots of questions about it.

• 

  Mini - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By MiniMan - February 26 - 10:00 am

  I love the car it is so fun to drive

• 

  Me and My BLUMEENI - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By BLUMEENI - February 24 - 2:00 am

  I have NEVER had so much fun in a car in my life!!!!! Now all I need to do is figure out how I can possibly blend in with the crowd.....but who would want to????

• 

  Fan For Life! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By CooperLove - February 24 - 2:00 am

  The Cooper is unlike anything on the road in terms of exterior styling, which I like. That aside, its really a lot of fun to drive/own. I cant recall any other car--besides maybe my first car as a teen--that has provided so much joy.

• 

  kool - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Micahel woolley - February 13 - 10:00 am

  its a wonderful wonderful car

• 

  MINI convertee - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By MINIconvertee - February 13 - 10:00 am

  Ive only had the MINI for a week now, but have already driven 800kms (500 miles). Previously I owned a 91 Toyota Celica, so the step up in performance and build quality is quite large. I have driven the car hard through the Adelaide hills (Australia) and have already outpaced a WRX! This car handles extremely well and has great gearing for tight and twisty roads. This car has so far lived up to all the great comments from current owners.

• 

  Adult Go Cart - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Chofgarden - February 13 - 10:00 am

  First economy car Ive owned in over 25 years, I much prefer it to our BMW 740 or 500 SL for sheer driving fun. Feels bigger inside than it has a right to. Though the ride is firm, the road and wind noise are minimal, and its comfortable on the freeway, though back roads and the twisties are its specialty. Build quality is quite good, utility is great, and Im averaging over 30 MPG. BMW nailed this one!

• 

  My MINI Soulmate - A Total Joy ! - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By AliMia/MINI-Neemo - January 29 - 9:20 pm

  I never thought that it was possible to love a car so much!! I Truly feel as as if it were my kindred spirit! I custom built this MINI Cooper-S Convertible on the MINI USA Website at least seven months before I bought it. I test drove four other convertibles, but they just didnt capture the spirit of who I am. Even though my test drive MINI wasnt a convertible, I loved the tight response the steering wheel delivered and was totally surprised by the room inside. Yes, its actually very spacious and accomodates all kinds of "personal junk" inside and out of sight from curious lookers. If youre a kid at heart - this is the car for you. Its a go-kart with soul. Plus it has super safety features and great power! It is exclusive and unique!

• 

  i luv my mini* - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By mini-bmw - January 29 - 2:00 am

  i bought my mini s when he was 5 years old w/65k on him. no problems w/ole mini, 10k miles & 8 months later. we seem thirstier than usual in regards to drinking oil & water-no leaks found. the mini people are more expensive than others, but its German. the BMW feel is felt throughout- quality, handling, throttle, & performance overall. its true w/the German autos; the harder you drive em, the better they perform. the kick down is nice-no problems passing others. holds the road well, rain or shine. ive had none of the issues others have mentioned. i dont think the mini was meant for stop & go traffic, it likes to run the roads. unlike others, i keep up on my maintenance. more than oil changes.

• 

  chili hot mini - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By yellekk - January 26 - 7:36 pm

  I got my mini convertible in Oct 2004. It is great to drive and draws stares where ever i go. It is very responsive and has quick pick up when needed. i highly recommend a Mini to anyone who loves to drive. My only complaint is the alarm system wasnt in when I got the Mini and after 2 months it is still not in. Apparently there was some problem on the alarm system for the convertibles and there is a delay in getting them to the dealerships for installation.