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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  Fun & cute but not perfect !! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By miniMac - January 11 - 2:00 am

  This car sure gets a lot of looks, which is good (and bad sometimes). Real fun around town. I love how cute my mini is ! Great on gas, but its not too comfortable on long trips. Didnt even test drive other cars b/c I wanted this just based on how cute it looks ! Not as reliable as I wished it would be !!

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  Runabout Plus! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By johnnie3 - January 6 - 8:53 pm

  This is an amazing automobile for what I got it for. I drive a lot coming and going to work and wanted something other than the traditional Toaster-Box commuter car (PT Cruiser, Toyota Yaris, Ford Focus, etc.) This car has as much equipment as my larger SUV and is just a comfortable and Im a rather large fellow of 6, 250 lbs. I can still even get four folks in for a run to the movies, mall or what have you. I love it and so far and Im glad that I bought it. I wish I could have gotten a smarter salesperson at the Mini dealer who told me that there was no certified used program thus causing me to get one someplace else. Whatever, I do most of my own maintenance anyway.

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  Get One, Youll be Glad You Did - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By MGCMAN - December 26 - 10:00 am

  Want to feel 18 again? Be a celeb in your neighborhood? Change from an introvert to an extrovert? Then get a MINI Cooper S. This car begs you to take that bend just a little bit faster, spend some extra time driving the long way home, and talk to complete strangers about it every time you fill up, or even stop for a traffic light. You will enjoy this car.

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  smooooooooth - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By dfm - December 20 - 2:00 am

  This car is more fun to drive than my rx7 was or my mercedes 560sl. fast, smooth and percise handling...fantastic.

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  17 Month Review - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By robymoss - December 14 - 2:00 am

  My love afair continues with this car! More step-off power would be nice, but once underway, the car is a blast to drive. Anyone looking for a fun-to- drive yet economic car would do themselves a favor by taking one for a test drive.

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  I miss my Miata!!! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By fhender - December 12 - 10:00 am

  I turned in my Miata and thought I should get a MINI. Cool ads in the mags. Test drove one and thought it was cool. After just three weeks I miss my Miata so much. The MINI supposedly is faster, but I can barely get to 60 in less than 10 seconds. Also, I have had to take it in for service twice in the first month. Not a good choice.

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  neenee - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By David Callicutt - December 3 - 10:00 am

  The car is reliable,fun to drive and has great gas mileage and a killer stereo.

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  An Excellent Adventure - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Fanfare - December 2 - 3:46 am

  Never was a car person,but LOVE this car. Great road feel,well-engineered for cheap, and an attention-getter (unforseen outcome). While no 50 mpg,Im feeling smug with prices at $2.50 per gallon. Dont be deceived by size.Have pictures of car loaded for ski weekend for 2 adults with 3 pairs of boots, 2 pairs of skis, and a snowboard. Not even packed. Only thing Ive had to borrow a car for was to borrow a ladder. Both are better borrowed. Couple of little troubles (Power steering pump {made noise,took it in}, loose battery conection {had it towed,felt stupid}, vibration on sunroof easily resealed. All under warranty,as are oil changes every 10K. What a peach. Buying out the lease.

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  Outstanding - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By arkytect - November 30 - 2:00 am

  I love this car!! Im glad MINI sent me a journal for my car because I have a lot to write about. I love the solid feel, great handling and performance, and comprehensive styling of this vehicle. Most thoughtfully designed car Ive ever owned, and Ive owned both foreign and domestic.

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  minis a gank - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By donbon - November 30 - 2:00 am

  The interior build of the minis leaves a lot to be desired. I chose not to buy one after *really* lusting after them.. the reason? The controls and gauges inside all have visible and poorly worked mold seams. Thats just inexcusable. The interior is also about as plastic as a Fisher Price toy car walker my 3-year old likes to put around in. The faux aluminum panels wont fool anyone. Performance-wise, I find the minis (the basic, that is -- i havent driven the "S") to lag really badly in 1st and do not much better in second. Yeah, it handles ok, but accelerates like molasses.