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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  And Away We Go............. - 2003 Mini Cooper
  By MINI BURG - November 11 - 10:00 am

  After 8 months of reviewing and reading I purchased my Pure Silve MINI and it has been a true joy to drive.The only problem, so far, is that I cant get the interior lights to work when the door opens. Also it is a hassle to drive 100 round trip to the dealership for a fix.It is the first new car for me in 18 years and I plan to drive it for the next 8. It has put the fun back in driving again.I paid $24,368.00 for mine which has a grand added on for Lo JAck.Thats ok, except the police out here are equiped for Lo Jack. Also it would be nice to barter a bit, I couldnt with a line up waiting to buy the same MINI that I did!BEEP!!BEEP!!!

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  Small But Mighty - 2006 Mini Cooper
  By Small but Mighty - November 6 - 6:46 am

  Ive owned my MINI for almost 5 months now and I cant begin to explain how much I love this car. Everything from the toggle switches inside to the supercharged 1.6L engin make me smile ear to ear. it is the only car that Ive owned that makes me look forward to driving in the morning. Its simply amazing.

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  I LOVE MY YELLOW MINI! - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By MiniYellow - October 31 - 10:00 am

  I love this car! Its fun to drive, its fun to just look at! It makes me smile whenever I see it and when I am driving it I see that it makes other people smile as well!

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  Great Alternative - 2010 Mini Cooper
  By es - October 29 - 10:00 am

  This car is perfect for my daily 20 mile, one way commute. Fits into 50% more parking spaces - such a pleasure in NYC. Performs great although gear-shifting in auto lags a bit. Switching to manual takes care of that. Love the look and roomy interior (cant speak for backseat.) Gas mileage a little less than estimated (27) but still very good (24-25). Sport mode is a little jumpy for city driving (for me) but great for highway. Overall very very pleased with purchase.

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  MY SECOND MINI S IN 4 YEARS! - 2009 Mini Cooper
  By RAM - October 27 - 6:43 pm

  this car is A+++ in my books my second Mini S in 5yesrs this one is out of this world... A pleasnt experience

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  Great Mini - 2004 Mini Cooper
  By England - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Great driving, great looks ,good fuel mileage, ride is good a little choppy because of short wheel base. Would but it again.

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  Funtastic!!!! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By williblu - October 24 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love my Mini Cooper S. I get excited when I have to go on a trip. I find my self forgetting to do multiple errands on one trip so I can take the car out again for a spin! The car drives like a dream, does great u- turns. Features and controls are comfortable and within easy reach. Overall, I am very pleased. The only thing to watch out for is that if you want one, you will have to wait and the dealers are adding a hefty markup because they are in such high demand. My advice - Get two!

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  Awesome!! - 2002 Mini Cooper
  By venture - October 19 - 2:00 am

  Having seen a mini at a dealership in my hometown,I was going to buy it on the spot! My husband has the cooler head of the two of us and researched and found the nearest dealer Century Mini, in Greenville SC. I love the fact that our dealership sponsers owner appreciation nights and the maufacturer sends us little gifts in the mail. I have had a wonderful experience with this vehicle, the only problems being that the safety bag light malfunctioned and the trim on top of the front windshield kept coming loose ( both have been fixed). I highly recommend this vehicle for those who want to follow the path less traveled

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  Super fun car - 2005 Mini Cooper
  By m,inimini - September 21 - 5:36 am

  Normally drive a BMW X5 and will still use it when taking out clients. Drive about 75 miles a day and this mini convertable is a gas. The 5 speed manual is perfectly syncronized and the automatic top, which can also be used as a sunroof, is one touch Am already getting over 30mpg in the city and 40 on the highways....but most of all, its FUN

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  Enjoyable Ride - 2010 Mini Cooper
  By jekahrn - September 13 - 1:33 pm

  This is a great little car, it has speed, maneuverability,and is comfortable! I drive 3 hrs a day one way to work, and the gas mileage is 40 to 42! I find that Shell gas works the best, any other and the mileage fall to 38. Bluetooth works well and be sure to get the better radio. All in all, a good choice.