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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  mytmnee - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By janmerges - August 8 - 2:00 am

  My cooper is my favorite car ever driven. The handling is superior and unsurpassed by my other vehicles. I bought it just as a "fun" car and find myself driving it almost exclusively! If you get one, youll NEVER regret it.

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  Mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Alex05 - August 8 - 2:00 am

  The Mini is a extremely fun ride with a great look that will make heads turn.

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  Best vehicle Ive ever purchased - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By topshoe - August 8 - 2:00 am

  Quite simply, Ive owned a Ferrari teo Porsches, two Mersedes and three BMWs. The Mini Cooper S is by far, the best all around car Ive ever owned!

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  MINI 2003 Review - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By chrishauck10 - August 8 - 2:00 am

  My experience has been unbelievable and truly too much fun. The MINI has been a fun, affordable, and road tested motorcar for me from the start. No other compares, the Brits are back! Every other car on the road is just transportion, the MINI is a true motorcar.

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  Owner - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Rodney Marshall - August 8 - 2:00 am

  This is my second New Cooper S I had a 2002 and just replace it with a 2004, this is an awesome auto, I have owned lots of cars but the S is the most fun to drive

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  I thought I liked my vette............ - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By The Man NY - August 8 - 2:00 am

  I live in NY the cooper s got me through the snow with no problem. I surprise so many people when they find they either cant keep up or catch up and get lost in the corners. GREAT CAR I am 62" 255 and I FIT!!!!!!! NO PROBLEM

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  Mini-O-Fun - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Mini-mac - August 7 - 10:00 am

  Just got my Mini Cooper. One of the first, if not the first one, in Portland, OR. It is a blast to drive, really sticks to the corners. It is a real head-turner. Loving every minute of it! It really is recognizable as a mini, even though no one seems to remember the original. Everywhere I go, I have to inform people of the history of the car... but that is ok... It is part of the fun of owning the car.

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  Fun to drive when not being fixed - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By oliveb - July 26 - 1:59 pm

  I bought my 2007 MC used with 24,000 miles. It was the perfect first car for me -- small, easy to park, fun to drive. However, around 50,000 miles the cars reliability took a turn. This year it was in for service 7 times, towed twice. Everything from steering wheel locks to o2 sensors has needed to be replaced. It has started to overheat, and make discontenting sounds. Alignment pins have started rattling (not covered in warranty - $700 to fix). After a recent service trip the service light was at 10,000 miles and two weeks later its at 7,000 - no possible way I drove 3k in two weeks. My mom and sister both have brand new minis and love them, so perhaps this is a car not to be bought used.

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  My Mini an His Cooper S - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By connie - July 19 - 2:00 am

  I loved my husband Mini so much,that I told him he would look better in a Mini Cooper-S.Now we have 2 Minis.The Best of both worlds

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  2003 mini cooper - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By ken.lake - July 19 - 2:00 am

  I accepted the MINI in Salt Lake City, on 12/30/02. I drove the car to Austin Texas via Las Vegas. About 2100 miles in a week. The car was in snow storms, high winds, rain and sun. It performed perfectly. The trip averaged 33.1 mpg at an average speed of 64 mph. I have the on board computer. Most driving was done at 70 to 80 mph. It is comfortable, (lots of seat adjustments) and fun to drive. Besides getting comments everywhere I go. I really like this car.