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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  Plaudits for the Mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Macadaeg - April 9 - 10:00 am

  This car captures peoples imagination for some reason. I cant wait to buy another one...

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  Mini Coopers Rock! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Mini Moe - April 9 - 10:00 am

  This car is so much fun to drive, I cant wait to get in it, even if I headed for work! I have owned other sports cars (Porsche, 280Z), and the MINI gives me the same road-hugging, hang on for the ride feel. The MINI is so manueverable in traffic, that I dont even think about rush-hour anymore. Even though I have had the car for going on two years, its still like brand new.

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  Mini surpasses expectations - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By SpikeZebra - April 5 - 8:10 am

  My expectations were high, but even then they were surpassed. The comfort for driver and passenger are excellent considering the size of the car. There is a bumper to bumper warranty. The car handles like a sports car, which it really is. You dont feel like you are in a subcompact. Our gas mileage isnt what is rated because we are constantly pushing it which isnt the fault of the car (okay, I guess it is). And it is an eye-catcher: we often notice people looking at us when we drive by. It is fun driving a unique car that is also a high quality vehicle.

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  Just got it - 2007 Mini Cooper
  By Ollie - April 2 - 9:13 am

  Went and bought a 2007 turbo S model. Its a fun car to drive. Bought it for the gas mileage, and I am not dissappointed. Turbo performance is awesome. Just have to get used to a smaller vehicle. Only problem so far is cd player doesnt work. At some point Ill have to take it in, but its a 130 mile drive to get there. Dealers are few and far between.

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  A MINI That Give You Alot! - 2008 Mini Cooper
  By Little Red Rocket - April 1 - 3:23 pm

  Have had my MINI for about 15 months. Id have more miles on it but living in sunny AZ, I love riding my Bikes. This is one fun car! Almost takes me back to when I owned a BMW 2002Tii. I had the JCW Performance Kit installed. Yes it really makes a difference! Not so much wth the JCW Brembo Brakes. Save yourself some money and stay with the OEM. Just about everyplace I park my MINI, people compliment it. My wife has an 06 Miata MX-5. Both cars have almost the same performance stats, but really feel different. The MX-5 is so smooth and natural. The MINI feels like every second it looks for a fight! What fun! Watch out for the options you order A $23K car cost over $40K easily Have fun!

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  The Bomb - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By minie - March 25 - 2:00 am

  This car is probably the most enjoyable car you can buy on a budget. Handling is the key with this car. It turns on a dime and is perfect for the city dweller. Its not the family car, but its perfect for everyone else. Nice BMW finish.

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  Who are these people? - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By tma - March 25 - 2:00 am

  I`m very pleased with the car overall.At times, I have to explain my decision to buy it,though.I have driven nearly all the recent BMW models and own a 325is.This car pulls like a miniature 540i and handles like a go- kart.It`s so responsive,that it makes my 325 feel like a stationwagon.I can see anger at service probs but who are these folks who buy one but bash the looks and the handling.Why buy it if you don`t like it.The perf. runflats are harsh over bumps but on smooth roads,life is great.I`m 6`1``and my 4 and 8 year old are cramped behind me,but they always want to ride in it anyway.Kids point,adults smile,everyone`s happy.

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  Awesome Car - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Tykoon - March 20 - 12:10 pm

  Talk about an awesome car. Ive had it just over a month...& I absolutely love it. Fun to drive and look at. Its a real attention getter. Im not worried about the reliability it has a warranty and it is a bmw. More than that It is just the most wonderful car. Its my first new car and I love it.

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  Rocket on wheels - 2012 Mini Cooper
  By joejh - March 13 - 3:57 pm

  Im always shocked at how exciting this ride is everytime my foot touches the accelerator. Its the grown-ups go-kart, on steroids. Mario can eat my dust! How did they put such a large herd of horses under that tiny hood? This car literally growls and thunders when I hit the starter. And whats even more shocking is the fuel economy. Still get low 30s even with my happy feet dancing on that gas pedal. And the bucket seats are perfection - I heard BMW has a PhD designing their seats. It has to be perfect in order to keep you in it!

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  Automatic Transmission (CVT) is OK - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By nesad1 - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Because most of my driving is spent in traffic commuting into Boston, and because my wife wont drive an standard transmission, I ordered my Mini with an automatic (CVT). Now, after a month of driving it, I am happy that I got the CVT. The CVT has one gear with an unfixed, huge range of variable gear ratios. It doesnt drive quite like other automatics, but its more than adequate once you get used to it. In addition, there is "sports drive" mode built in that makes it run at higher rpms and thus makes additional torque available in this mode. Its a lot of fun when youre driving on a road with lots of tight twists and turns.