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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  What a car!! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By BERANDY - July 14 - 10:00 am

  When I first saw this car I knew it was for me. Im a total car freak and have spent my life constantly trying to find out all there is to know about all the cars on the road. Finally here was a car with such character!! Just seeing all the little chrome details on the exterior was enough for me. Until this car came along I was afraid I was doomed to a life of all-one-color cars! Thank you BMW!

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  I like it - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By Cool Blue - July 14 - 4:46 am

  This car has replaced my motorcycle as my fun vehicle. While its small, at least I can take my wife and kids with me for a ride now. The retro/modern styling makes the car truly unique and the superchargers whine combined with the deep exhaust note are heavenly on your ears. Lots of customization options from the dealer and third parties.

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  Big things in Small package - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By Mini Me - July 8 - 10:00 am

  This is great car and its very fun to drive. You get a lot of attention and respect on the streets. The base Mini Cooper is a little weeker than the S but its more comfortable for daily driving. The interior is very attactive and classy.

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  So Far So Good - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By coop35 - July 6 - 7:40 pm

  Drove the Civic SI, MazdaSpeed3, GTI, A3 and R32 before finally ordering the Cooper S. If you dont go crazy with options MINI is reasonably priced. Engine is hugely satisfying at any range while still averaging 28 mpg combined cycle and has great resale value. The options list is as huge as a 911s which costs 4 times as much. There are tons of options for after-market parts. I love the free maintanance program.

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  8th day review ..after driving 250 miles - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By gohan - July 3 - 10:00 am

  The car is great handles going around curves fast. And I just love it.

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  2006 Mini Convertible S - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Jim - June 25 - 9:36 pm

  I have driven owned a lot of BMWs (5 - a 745, two 740s, and three 325s) and one Mercedes (E350 4Matic) - nothing is as much fun to drive as the Mini. I have upgraded to the JCW airbox and muffler. This is a totally awesome car.

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  What was I thinking? - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By Madeline - June 25 - 10:00 am

  I should have just bought a BMW instead of compromising with a Mini. I think I was deceived into thinking the Mini was simple a small version of a BMW 3 series. It is not. Do not get fooled as the novelty wears off quicker than any other car I have owned.

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  A Star Car - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Fivechip - June 23 - 7:26 pm

  I traded a 2003 Mini Cooper in on the 2006 Mini Cooper S Convertible and wow what a difference in power and smoothness. The 6-speed transmission shifts like butter compared to the 2003s 5-speed transmission. I loved the 03 model but the 06 is so much better.

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  Great car up to a point - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By Robert - June 17 - 4:30 pm

  Everything was fine until the warrenty ran out. I bought my Mini in April, 2004. The car ran great until my extended warrenty expired at 75,000 miles. The first thing to go out was one of the engine sensors - that was about $700. A little later I took it in for a tune-up. The dealer noticed that a seal was leaking and with the tune-up I was out another $1,300. As I was leaving they mentioned that some item in the suspension would need to be replaced soon to the tune of another $1,000. About two months after that I lost the power steering. Enough was enough, I traded it in on a Honda. Its a great car if you can afford the maintenance

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  Booo for Mini - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By CIndy - June 16 - 4:36 pm

  My transmission and clutch went out on my car at nearly 68,000 miles. I had to spend $4,000 to have them replaced. I learned how to drive a car with a manual transmission so the problem isnt me riding the clutchor abusing the car. This car is junk. Id NEVER tell anybody to buy one again!