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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  Not What You Think - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By kLINGON1 - September 14 - 4:43 am

  I have about 3000 miles on this car with, thus far, no defects. I bought the car because fo the retro looks, handling, fuel economy, and relatively low price given the abundance of features. I was correct in all these suppositions but greatly underestimated how disagreeable the ride is. Even after abandoning the pathetic runflats for top rated normal performance tires, the ride is jiggly under all conditions but the smoothest roads. Now those of you not bothered by this and there must be many, fine. However, this is by NO MEANS a discounted BMW. BMWs work magic somehow in the first 10 cm of suspension travel, soaking up road inperfectis while keeping phenomenal traction. This is no BMW

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  I loooooooooove it! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By *Sam I Am* - September 14 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my MCS for almost a year, and now I could never be without one. Its not perfect, BUT I DONT CARE!

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  Great Car - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By vicseeley5934 - September 14 - 2:00 am

  Great car with great performance. Enjoy the ride except can be jarring especially over rough roads.

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  MINI Cooper S - GREAT Car!! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Michael Burchill - September 8 - 10:00 am

  Simply the best vehicle I have ever purchased. Ive owned VWs, Acuras and Hondas - none of them have been as problem-free as my MINI. ...30 mpg is a plus too.

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  Awsome Mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By yeki - September 8 - 10:00 am

  I couldnt quite afford the Cooper S, so I got the Cooper. I find it to be much more than I ever expected. The handling alone makes this car the most fun you can have with your cloths on (or off, if thats your thing). Its got plenty of s;.t to get you moving. Much more than most mag reviews give it credit for. If the reliability is there, I dont think Ill buy anything else, except maybe an S.

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  My Lil Mini Cooper "S" - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Angie Zemzicki - September 7 - 3:06 am

  This is the car for adventurous folks. Not a family (not enough space for passengers in back seat). Great gas mileage, especially with todays prices at the pump. Handles like a fancy high priced sports car.

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  Miss it, but GLAD its gone! - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By zmr359 - August 30 - 9:21 am

  I bought my Cooper used w/ 68,000 miles. W/in 4 months this happened: First the key fob quit locking/unlocking door & would instead spontaneously open all the windows. Then the drivers side door handle quit working so I had to roll window down to get out, until window quit too, then I had to crawl out passenger side. Electrical issues caused all windows + sunroof to open when it rained which ruined the cloth seats. Then it started running out of gas before it was on E. Doors locked shut once so my bf had to crawl out window & I had go out trunk so I could roll window up. Then the tranny quit! $5k for a rebuilt! So then I had to give car back to bank 6 months after I got it.

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  Iove my 2016 mini !!!!!!!! - 2016 Mini Cooper
  By Pedro - August 25 - 10:37 pm

  I trade in my 2013 VW cc & Love my new mini no regret , more fast and fun to drive .

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  "Coop" - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By April - August 21 - 9:10 pm

  Got my car in June. I had a VW Beetle before so Im used to a small car but Coop seems to be getting smaller everytime I get in. Leatherette seats make you sweat & the doors wont stay open. The cup holders are not usable, except the one in the back & the arm rest is in the way of that one. It drives fun when you go fast but in the city with stop & go traffic, it jumps a lot. Not sure if thats normal, but the dealership assures me that it is. Its been in the shop 2x since Ive gotten it, the first time b/c my check engine light came on & I asked them to check the "jumpyness". They reset the computer & replaced recalled parts but then it became really jumpy & was smoking. Got it back today.

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  Fun in car form. - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By sgsuperman105 - August 9 - 8:46 am

  This is one of the best cars I have driven. The last car I drove constantly was a Jaguar X-Type Sport and I would still pick the MINI over the Jag. Great classic look and a really fun interior. Handles like a go kart. I do wish that I could have a little more power. I also wish I had bought a sunroof.